Six Districts and Seven Universities Recognized By Kognito for Outstanding Leadership in Promoting Mental Health Literacy

NEW YORK, October 8, 2020 — Kognito, a leading health simulation technology company, is recognizing the work of 17 school districts and institutions across K-12 and higher education who have demonstrated unwavering commitment to supporting student mental health. 
The second annual Kognito Education Awards recognize unique approaches in promoting mental health literacy. Rising stress, anxiety, and depression among young people have prompted administrators to proactively train educators, staff, and students on how to support at-risk students and motivate them to seek treatment services.

The awardees who were recognized for their efforts in the 2019-2020 school year are as follows:

K-12 Awards

• Excellence in District Mental Health Literacy – Recognizes a school district that has worked tirelessly to support student mental health during the 2019-2020 academic year.
  • Awarded to the Florida Department of Education
• Excellence in District Mental Health Literacy – Recognizes a school district that has worked tirelessly to support student mental health during the 2019-2020 academic year.
  • Awarded to Alief Independent School District in Houston, Texas
• Excellence in School Mental Health Literacy – Recognizes an individual school that has worked tirelessly to support student mental health during the 2019-2020 academic year.
  • Awarded to Orange County Public Schools in Orlando, Florida
• Implementation Innovator – Recognizes a school or district that has gone outside of the box in their approach to training their teachers and staff.
  • Awarded to Miami-Dade County Public Schools in Miami, Florida
• Excellence in Mental Health Advocacy: District Leadership – Recognizes a district leader who has gone above and beyond to support and advocate for mental health initiatives at their school.
  • Awarded to Dr. Deitra Bryant-Mallory, Senior Deputy Chief of Student Supports, District of Columbia Public Schools in Washington, D.C.
• Excellence in Mental Health Advocacy: District Leadership – Recognizes a district leader who has gone above and beyond to support and advocate for mental health initiatives at their school.
  • Awarded to Jacqueline Rodriguez, LCSW Coordinator, Sacramento City United School District in Sacramento, California
• Excellence in Mental Health Advocacy: District Leadership – Recognizes a district leader who has gone above and beyond to support and advocate for mental health initiatives at their school.
  • Awarded to Rikki Bullard, SCORE Project Coordinator, Robeson County School District in Lumberton, North Carolina
• Excellence in Mental Health Advocacy: Community Outreach – Recognizes a school staff member who has gone above and beyond to support and advocate for mental health initiatives at their district/school.
  • Awarded to Daniel Adamek, Executive Director at Little Orange Fish in Hunstville, Alabama
• Excellence in Mental Health Advocacy: Staff/Teachers – This nomination is for teachers who have been strong advocates in supporting student wellness.
  • Awarded to Tim Evans, Regional Enrichment Center Site Supervisor, New York City

Higher Education Awards

• Campus Leader in Mental Health Literacy – Recognizes institutions that have worked tirelessly to support student mental health during the 2019-2020 academic year.
  • Awarded to the Stony Brook University in Stony Brook, New York
• Campus Leader in Mental Health Literacy – Recognizes institutions that have worked tirelessly to support student mental health during the 2019-2020 academic year.
  • Awarded to SUNY College at Geneseo in Geneseo, New York
• Campus Leader in Mental Health Literacy – Recognizes institutions that have worked tirelessly to support student mental health during the 2019-2020 academic year.
  • Awarded to Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania
• Campus Leader in Mental Health Literacy – Recognizes institutions that have worked tirelessly to support student mental health during the 2019-2020 academic year.
  • Awarded to California Community Colleges
• Excellence in First-Year Implementation – Recognizes institutions that have strategically focused their mental health initiatives on incoming students.
  • Awarded to Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa
• Implementation Innovator – Recognizes institutions that have gone outside of the box in their approach to training on campus.
  • Awarded to Hillel International in Washington, D.C.
• Rising Star – Recognizes institutions that might be at the beginning of their journey yet have demonstrated great promise in their ability to support student wellness.
  • Awarded to Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
• Student Leader in Mental Health Literacy – Awarding a student who has gone above and beyond to advocate and advance mental health initiatives at their school.
  • Awarded to Veronica Mixon, Undergraduate Student, The University of Alabama at Birmingham
• Changemaker in Mental Health Literacy – Awarding a faculty or staff member who has gone above and beyond to support and advocate for mental health initiatives at their school.
  • Awarded to Lisa Schwiebert, Professor & Senior Associate Dean for Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs, The University of Alabama at Birmingham
• Gatekeeper In Action – Awarding a faculty member, staff member, or student who has applied the mental health literacy skills they’ve acquired in real life to support a student in distress. 
  • Awarded to Rebecca Wren, Director and Counselor, Sul Ross State University in Alpine, Texas

“These districts, universities, institutions, and individuals have made a tremendous impact in their communities, and we’re proud to partner with them,” said Glenn Albright, Ph.D. Co-Founder of Kognito. “As more schools see the need for mental health initiatives—especially in today’s COVID-19 environment—these incredible organizations are leading by example and showing how impactful Kognito’s simulations can be in driving change. Together, we are helping educators, staff, and students gain knowledge, skills, and confidence so they can have meaningful conversations about mental health.”

Kognito announced the winners in a webinar on Oct. 6, which can be viewed here.. Kognito is the only company with evidence-based health simulations listed in the National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices, and its simulations have been deployed by more than 10,000 State agencies, districts, and schools to train more than 400,000 educators. 

About Kognito

Kognito is a health simulation company whose evidence-based simulations harness the power of role-play conversations with virtual humans to improve social, emotional, and physical health. Learn more at kognito.com.