Kupenda’s Program Officer Wins Outstanding Public Health Graduate Student Award!

by Kupenda

This spring, our Program Officer, Rebecca Heidorn, won Liberty University’s Outstanding Master of Public Health (MPH) Student Award in the Community Health Promotion concentration.

Rebecca, a Maine-based public health professional and graduate student, was selected for this honor due to her commitment to serving marginalized populations, both locally and internationally.

A Champion for Children with Disabilities

Rebecca has worked with Kupenda for the Children since 2021. As our program officer, she supported the development of a Child Case Management mobile application that enables local leaders and Kupenda staff in Kenya to provide counseling support and referrals to children with disabilities. The app also tracks the children’s health and development so Kupenda can ensure they are progressing and address individual and programmatic needs to maximize impact. Our Kenyan staff reports that the mobile app has saved and improved the lives of hundreds of children with disabilities in Kilifi, Kenya.

Invested in Local and Global Communities

Rebecca has contributed to the development of two guides in partnership with Christian Connections for International Health (CCIH). The first, a Maternal Mental Health Toolkit for Engaging Faith Actors, is designed to equip diverse faith actors with the information and tools needed to raise awareness, deconstruct myths, and address barriers that inhibit positive maternal mental health—so that women, families, and communities can thrive. The second, an Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health (ASRH) Guide, supports faith actors in discussing ASRH and sharing effective program interventions that have been successful in both majority and non-majority Christian contexts. Rebecca advocated for the inclusion of a section highlighting the unique needs of adolescents with disabilities and Kupenda’s response, and she also incorporated scriptural support throughout the guide. Earlier this month, Rebecca also presented about the life-saving impact of Kupenda’s community health promoters’ disability training program at the CCIH 2025 Change Agents for All conference.

Rebecca’s work extends beyond her professional role. She is a lead teacher at her local church, where she fosters belonging and biblical understanding among young children.

Rebecca’s journey through Liberty’s MPH program has been shaped by her faith and a deep belief in the potential of local communities—especially the Church—to lead lasting health transformation. Whether she’s working with students in Maine or partners in Kenya, her approach centers on compassion, dignity, and justice.


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