Students Award

Dr. Jerome Kaplan Outstanding Graduate Paper

The OAGE Outstanding Graduate Student Paper award honors Dr. Jerome Kaplan, Ph.D., M.S.W (1922-2009), who was a major leader in gerontology at the local, state, national and international levels for over 50 years. Dr. Kaplan was the founding president of the Ohio Network of Educational Consultants in the Field of Aging (ONECA, formerly OAGE), the president of the Gerontological Society of America, the president of the Ohio Research Council on Aging, and the editor of The Gerontologist. Dr. Kaplan was affiliated with the Ohio State University and the University of Akron Institute for Life-Span Development and Gerontology.

Eligibility criteria:
Nominations must be made by an OAGE member. Submit an online nomination with:

1. Graduate students whose abstracts are accepted for presentation at the OAGE annual conference and have registered for the conference.
2. Students must be the lead author on the paper. If a student co-authors with a faculty member, only the lead author (student) will be considered for the award and the faculty member must state that the majority of the work is that of the student’s. If a student co-authors with another student(s), only the lead author will be considered for the financial award, but all co-authors will be provided a certificate.

Submission Process:
Submit an online application with:

1. A full paper (limit of 20 pages following the APA 7th edition format) demonstrates:
   • Importance of the topic, research problem, question, or issue.
   • Adequacy of the methodological approach and/or logic of the argument.
   • Adequacy of the implications.
   • Clarity and style of writing.
2. A letter of support from the faculty advisor.

Nature of Awards:

• The awardee presents at the annual conference.
• The awardee receives a certificate and a cash award.
• The awardee is recognized at the annual conference.

Dr. Jerome Kaplan Outstanding Graduate Paper 2025

Isha Karmacharya

Scripps Gerontology Center, Miami University

Best Undergraduate Paper

The OAGE Outstanding Undergraduate Student Paper award honors and remembers Professor Arnedia Smith, who was a well-liked and well-respected educator with a strong dedication to gerontology education. Professor Smith worked at Edison State Community College for 13 years and died after a brief illness at age 40. She was an original member of the Ohio Network of Educational Consultants in the Field of Aging (ONECA, formerly OAGE). Professor Smith was very prominent in promoting the development and advancement of gerontology programs throughout the region and state and co-chaired ONECA’s annual conference. She was involved with professional workshops designed to assist educators and service providers in the field of aging.

Eligibility criteria:
Nominations must be made by an OAGE member. Submit an online nomination with:

1. Undergraduate students whose abstracts are accepted for presentation at the OAGE annual conference and have registered for the conference.
2. Students must be the lead author of the paper. If a student co-authors with a faculty member, the lead author (student) only will be considered for the award and the faculty member must state that the majority of the work is that of the student’s. If a student co-authors with another student(s), only the lead author will be considered for the financial award, but all co-authors will be provided a certificate.

Submission Process:
Submit an online application with:

1. A full paper (limit of 20 pages following the APA 7th edition format) demonstrates:
   • Importance of the topic, research problem, question, or issue.
   • Adequacy of the methodological approach and/or logic of the argument.
   • Adequacy of the implications.
   • Clarity and style of writing.
2. A letter of support from the faculty advisor.

Nature of Awards:

• The awardee presents at the annual conference.
• The awardee receives a certificate and a cash award.
• The awardee is recognized at the annual conference.

Jenae Fisher

Arnedia Smith Outstanding Undergraduate Paper 2025

College of Health and Human Services, Bowling Green State University

Best Conference Theme Paper

The OAGE Best Conference Theme Paper is to recognize outstanding student paper relevant and related to this year’s conference theme.

Eligibility criteria:
Nominations must be made by an OAGE member. Submit an online nomination with:

1. Students whose abstracts are accepted for presentation at the OAGE annual conference.
2. Students are expected to register for the annual conference to present their work.
3. Students must be the lead author of the paper. If a student co-authors with a faculty member, the lead author (student) only will be considered for the award and the faculty member must state that the majority of the work is that of the student’s. If a student co-authors with another student(s), only the lead author will be considered for the financial award, but all co-authors will be provided a certificate.

Submission Process:
Submit an online application with:

1. A full paper (limit of 20 pages following the APA 7th edition format) demonstrates:
   • Importance of the topic, research problem, question, or issue.
   • Adequacy of the methodological approach and/or logic of the argument.
   • Adequacy of the implications.
   • Clarity and style of writing.
2. A letter of support from the faculty advisor.

Nature of Awards:

• The awardee presents at the annual conference.
• The awardee receives a certificate and a cash award.
• The awardee is recognized at the annual conference.

Best Conference Theme Paper

Tochukwu Okolie

Scripps Gerontology Center, Miami University

Marc Molea Student Innovation Award

This award highlights innovative products, services, programs, technologies, and designs conceived by students that promote the well-being and quality of life of older persons.

All students, including those from non-aging focused majors such as engineering, business, architecture, communications, and the fine arts, are encouraged to submit an entry for consideration. Rather than traditional abstracts or papers, this award recognizes and celebrates diverse and innovative products, services, programs, and designs.  Entries may range from well thought out ideas that are on the drawing board to developed products, programs, and services that are in use today.  

Past winning and honorable mention entries, include - Resident Mental Health Tracker; CareWire Digital Caregiver Assistant; Intergenerational Book Club; Incontinence Underwear with built-in UTI indicator; Pet and Older Adults Program; Helping Everyone Reach Engagement (HERE): A Nursing Home Communication App; Pendant System Innovation; and “When I’m Big…” Program.  

Due to the vast array of possibilities, students (individual or team entries) are asked to provide a no more than three-page (double-spaced) proposal which includes a problem statement, landscape analysis, and a description of the product, service, program, or design. If available, students may submit a picture or diagram, business plan or a video.

The winning entry will be select by the OAGE Awards Committee, receive a cash award and be recognized on the OAGE Website and at the Annual OAGE Conference.

The Submission Deadline for 2026 consideration has not yet been finalized. To submit an entry visit: OAGE Student Paper Awards - OAGE.

Listen to the recording link below that provides information about all Student Awards (e.g., Graduate and Undergraduate Papers, Conference Paper and Innovation). Previous student award winners discussed their papers and innovations.  

Student Award Informational Session Recording Link

Passcode: 173415

 Educators are encouraged to discuss OAGE Awards as part of their lesson plans. 

If you have questions about the Marc Molea Student Innovation award, please contact Marc Molea at mmolea@yahoo.com.  

2024 Marc Molea Student Innovation Award Recipient

Grace Seipel

College of Health Sciences and Professions, Ohio University

Submit a Nomination

The nominations for the 2025 Student Awards are now closed. Information regarding the 2026 Student Award nominations and application process will open in early Fall 2025.

If you have any questions regarding the OAGE Student Awards, please contact Dr. Jessica Krok-Schoen, Chair of the Awards Committee via email: Jessica.Schoen@osumc.edu