Bill Baldyga [1] and Janna Stansell were recognized by the Illinois Public Health Association for achievements in public health.

Baldyga was one of three people to receive the Excellence in Public Health Policy Award for his contributions in developing and disseminating evidence-based public health programs. Baldyga, IHRP associate director, is an investigator in the Illinois Prevention Research Center [2] and has developed a program that trains public health professionals on using evidence-based practices. The program will be online later this year.

IPHA named Stansell, a graduate student in the School of Public Health and an IHRP research assistant, Public Health Student of the Year for her “outstanding academic achievement and for promoting volunteerism among her fellow students.” Stansell has worked on the “Fit and Strong! [3]” study at IHRP since September 2006.

Baldyga and Stansell were presented their awards at the Illinois Public Health Association annual awards luncheon on April 10 in Springfield.