Niccole Smith is this year’s recipient of the Dr. John J. Benton Endowed Scholarship.

“When I saw that I was named the recipient of the Dr. John J. Benton Endowed Scholarship, I was overjoyed,” Smith said. “I am so grateful to be recognized for my academic and community involvement.”

The Dr. John J. Benton Endowed Scholarship is awarded to Master of Public Health students who demonstrate integrity, humility, compassion, scholarship and a good sense of humor. The scholarship was established by the children of John J. Benton, M.D., a Gainesville native and graduate of UF’s class of 1942. He went on to serve as a lieutenant junior grade in the U.S. Navy, earning a medical degree from Johns Hopkins University and completing a pediatrics residency at Indiana University. He maintained a private practice in Panama City for many years before pursuing a public health career and leading public health departments in Florida’s Washington, Gulf, Franklin and Bay counties.

Smith graduated in May with an M.P.H. in the social and behavioral sciences concentration. She served as a Florida AHEC Scholar through the Suwannee River AHEC and a This is Public Health Ambassador through the Association of Schools and Programs in Public Health.

“The UF M.P.H. program has provided me with so many ways to be involved,” Smith said.

In addition to her volunteer work and community engagement, Smith was a program assistant for Healthy Start of North Central Florida and Central Florida Healthy Start Coalitions. She completed a final program internship in the community initiatives department at WellFlorida Council, where she worked in maternal and child health.

“I hope to continue working in a family and child health career, focusing on improving health outcomes, health promotion and education, and applying skills I learned in my academic and professional involvement,” Smith said. “I also intend to remain in the Florida Public Health Association, promoting public health and reducing health disparities in the state of Florida.”