2026 HEI Student Lodging Assistance Award Information

Application Information

The application period is open from May 15 - June 30, 2026. Applicants will be notified of a decision on or before July 31, 2026.

Applicants must be current student member of Ohio SOPHE. Applicants can confirm their membership status by logging into the Member Area of the website. 

Eligibility Requirements for Applicants: 

• Must be attending an Ohio institution of higher education.
• Must be enrolled in a health education or related program  - full time and part time students may apply
• This lodging assistance cannot replace funds that have already been set aside to provide lodging for student attendance at the Health Educator's Institute (HEI) through your institution or another organization. 

NOTE: If you are a recent graduate and still a student member of Ohio SOPHE, please refer to the Professional lodging support information and register for the conference as a Professional member. 

Awards

The student award will provide one-night of lodging for student members who register for the full conference and stay at the lodge for both nights, Wednesday, October 14 and Thursday, October 15, at Maumee Bay Lodge & Conference Center. You will need to pay for one night's lodging. Scholarships are non-transferable! 

NOTE: 

• Ohio SOPHE will directly pay Maumee Bay for all eligible lodging assistance; members will NOT be reimbursed by Ohio SOPHE for any lodging costs. 

• This award covers the cost of the room rate and applicable taxes for one-night only; members also need to pay for one night on their own. 

• This award does not include any other expenses, such as, but not limited to, room service, telephone calls, and hotel amenities, purchases, or any damage to your room. 

Timeline  

• Application period is from May 15- June 30. The deadline to apply is June 30 at 11:59 p.m.

• Applicants will be notified of a decision by July 31. 

• Awardees will have 10 days to accept and provide additional information requested by Ohio SOPHE. If awardees do not respond within 10 calendar days of notification, Ohio SOPHE will consider the award forfeited. 

Expectations for Awardees:

• Attend and participate in the full conference, including the awards dinner. 

• Awardees are responsible for travel and incidental expenses.

• Awardees may be asked to volunteer for up to an hour during the conference outside of sessions. Volunteer activities may include staffing the registration table or selling raffle tickets during mealtimes to support student scholarships.
• Awardees may be asked to provide a testimonial about HEI/Ohio SOPHE at the close of the conference.

• Failure to attend the conference in full may result in the awardee being billed for all or a portion of the award value (approximately $168).
• Students scholars will need to book their own room. OSOPHE will facilitate this process once awardees are determined. A deposit equal to one nights’ lodging will be due to the lodge at the time you make your reservation. In addition, a hold will be put on your card at check in for any incidentals. 
  

Application Review Process: 

1. All complete applications will be assigned a number and the individual’s name and demographic information will be removed prior to being assigned for review.
2. Each application will be reviewed by multiple people using a standard rubric that aligns with the questions in the application.
3. Reviewers will consist of the Ohio SOPHE Professional Development Committee, the Board of Directors and/or members who wish to assist with the process.
4. Each reviewer will certify they have no conflicts of interest.
5. Applicants must have the support from their faculty advisor. 

Application Instructions: 

1. Click here to begin the application, which must be completed in one sitting.
2. It is recommended that applicants download the PDF version of the form, answer the questions using a Word document and then copy and paste their responses directly into the form.
3. Closing the form before submission will result in the need to start a new application.
4. Applicants will be asked to provide their faculty advisor’s name and email address.
   • Faculty advisors will receive an email from Ohio SOPHE (membership@ohiosophe.org) within a few minutes of the applicant submitting the form, requesting them to verify their support for the applicant to attend the conference. (Hint: Ask faculty advisors to check their spam folder.)
   • Applicants are strongly encouraged to inform their faculty advisor of the required sign off prior to submitting the application.
   • Faculty advisors are required to complete the (five minute) survey received from membership@ohiosophe.org by July 1 at 11:59pm.  Applications that do not have documented faculty advisor approval may not be considered complete or reviewed.

Please contact Ohio SOPHE's Professional Development Chair: Loressa Gonyer (gonyerld@gmail.com) with questions.