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Public Health Workforce Development Scholarship Recipients

The Public Health Workforce Development Scholarship will be administered by KPHA in the amount of $2,000 and is payable at the rate of $1,000 per semester paid directly to the student’s school to provide general academic assistance for one year.

Eligibility requires an awardee to be employed by a local health department, public health organization, or health related agency. Preference will be given to students looking to enhance their education in the public health field in which they serve. Applicants must be a member of KPHA to be awarded the scholarship.

2025 Recipient: Alex Halsey

Alex Halsey
Certified Community Health Worker
Lewis County Health Department

Alex Halsey is a Certified Community Health Worker at the Lewis County Health Department, a position he began in 2023. Alex describes himself as “Passionate about improving community health.” He looks forward to continuing his education and making meaningful contributions to improve the health and well-being of those in Lewis County and beyond.

Alex is a student at Eastern Kentucky University pursuing a Bachelor of Social Work degree.

2024 Recipient: Kasey Burkhead

Kasey Burkhead
Support Services Supervisor & WIC Coordinator
North Central District Health Department in Shelby County

Ms. Kasey Burkhead is a Graduate Student at the University of Louisville School of Public Health and Information Sciences pursuing her MPH degree. She is employed by the North Central District Health Department, serving as the Support Services Supervisor & WIC Coordinator at the Shelby County Health Department. In her role she seeks ways to make clinic services more accessible to underserved communities. Kasey volunteers in her community through the Fusion 502 organization and is a member of Kentucky’s Medical Reserve Corps. Her goal is to obtain her MPH and continue to advance at the health department to eventually become a Public Health Director.

2023 Recipient: Hanan Yusuf

Hanan Yusuf

Hanan Yusuf is a graduate student at the University of Kentucky pursuing a Masters in Public Health with a concentration in Epidemiology. In addition to graduate studies, Hanan is a student intern with the Kentucky Department of Public Health and a part-time employee with the Disability Resource Center at UK. Hanan desires to alleviate health disparities in underserved and rural communities.

2021 Recipient: Grace Donaldson

Grace Donaldson

Grace Donaldson is from the Pennyrile District Health Department. Grace is employed in Health Education and Community Outreach at the health department. She is pursuing her Masters in Public Administration with a focus in community and public health at Murray State University.