1. Health Insurance Literacy Initiative (HILI) Special Awards Edition June, 2016
Health Insurance Literacy Initiative Team Receives Multiple State and National Awards
Shown here from left to right:
Michelle Rodgers, Director, and Maria Pippidis, Extension Educator, University of Delaware Cooperative Extension
Lynn Little and Bonnie Braun, Co-Leaders, University of Maryland Extension
Mia Russell and Virginia Brown, Extension Educators, University of Maryland Extension
Patsy Ezell, Assistant Director for Family Consumer Sciences, University of Maryland Extension
Teresa McCoy, Assistant Director for Assessment and Evaluation, University of Maryland Extension
USDA-NIFA Priester Health Award
The USDA, National Institute for Food and Agriculture’s Jeanne M. Priester Award was presented
to the Maryland and Delaware Extension team during the April, 2016 National Health Outreach
Conference in Roanoke, VA.
The award recognized the Smart Choice Health Insurance™ program for outstanding contributions
to the Cooperative Extension System and the public in the area of individual and family programming
for health and wellness.
Thanks to Patsy Ezell for nominating the group.

2. University of Maryland College of Agriculture and Natural Resources
Lynn Little, Virginia Brown, Mia Russell and Bonnie
Braun were presented the Integrated Research and
Extension Excellence 2016 Award at the April AGNR
College Convocation. The Award recognizes
demonstrated and consistent pursuit of excellence in
creating and testing the University of Maryland
Extension Smart Choice Health Insurance™ program.
The team was the first in the nation to recognize the
need for consumer education following passage of the
Affordable Care Act.
Thanks to Teresa McCoy for nominating the team
and to team member Maria Pippidis, Extension Educator, University of Delaware Cooperative
Extension for her work in creating the program.
American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (AAFCS)
 Jewell Taylor Graduate Fellowship
Mia Russell, Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Educator, was selected
to receive the 2016 $5000 Jewell Taylor Graduate Fellowship to support her
doctoral research. The fellowship was established through a generous bequest
from Jewell L. Taylor, a dedicated family and consumer sciences professional for
more than 50 years. She held positions as a county home demonstrations agent
and in business as a utility home economist. Mia will be honored at the opening
session and during a reception at the annual AAFCS conference in Bellevue, WA
in June.
 Legend in Family and Consumer Sciences
Bonnie Braun, Professor Emerita, will be honored as a “Legend in
the Field” during the annual conference in June. She and other
awardees will be recognized during a reception at the Annual
Conference. They will meet with emerging leaders to share their insight.
Her personal story of leadership will be published in the new book,
Leaders in Family and Consumer Sciences.
Acknowledgement
This health insurance literacy initiative was developed with funding from University of Maryland Extension, the College of
Agriculture and Natural Resources, and University of Delaware Cooperative Extension. Contact:
Bonnie Braun, bbraun@umd.edu
The University of Maryland, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources programs are open to all and will not discriminate against anyone because of race, age,
sex, color, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, religion, ancestry, or national origin, marital status, genetic information, or political affiliation, or gender
identity and expression
Dean Beyrouty presented the award.