2026 Mary Selecky Public Health Memorial Scholarship

Washington Poison Center (WAPC) is proud to announce the first annual Mary Selecky Public Health Memorial Scholarship. WAPC established this annual fund to honor the extraordinary legacy of Mary Selecky, a transformative public health champion, mentor, and member of WAPC’s Board of Directors.  

This scholarship supports the next generation of public health leaders who embody Mary’s deep commitment to community, innovation, and compassion. Funds will support undergraduate and graduate students in public health or adjacent fields to collaborate on projects with WAPC’s Public Health Education Team to strengthen community health and safety.  

About Mary Selecky (1947 – 2025) 

Mary Selecky was a transformative leader of public health in Washington State, recognized for her pragmatic leadership, creative problem solving, and unwavering commitment to serving local communities. Her distinguished career in public service spanned more than four decades.  

Beginning in 1979, Mary served as the administrator for the Northeast Tri-County Health District for 20 years, covering Ferry, Pend Oreille, and Stevens counties in northeastern Washington. Mary was a fierce advocate for the unique healthcare needs of rural communities like the one she called home. She then became the Washington State Secretary of Health in 1998, and served for 15 years under Governors Locke, Gregoire, and Inslee. In this role, Mary led groundbreaking efforts in tobacco prevention, childhood immunization, emergency preparedness, and cross-border collaboration.  Under her leadership, Washington State achieved a 30% reduction in adult smoking rates and a 50% reduction in youth smoking rates. 

Mary joined the WAPC Board of Directors in 2022, quickly becoming a trusted voice and advocate for our mission to prevent and reduce harm from poisoning. At one of her final WAPC board meetings, Mary reflected on the evolving nature of public health, offering words that now resonate even more deeply: “I was thinking about my 40-plus years in public health, and how many times we had an opportunity to reinvent ourselves to face the future. We have to keep looking to the future and make the changes—and let go of the stuff we need to let go of.” 

To carry Mary’s forward-looking vision directly into reality, WAPC established the Mary Selecky Public Health Memorial Scholarship. This scholarship serves as our investment in the future, supporting the next generation of public health leaders who possess the innovation, community mindset, and compassion needed to keep improving public health. 

Mary visiting Washington Poison Center as Secretary of Health in 2010

Award Details 

  • Award amount: $1,500 
  • Number of awards: 1 
  • Submission deadline: August 11, 2026  
  • Award announcement: end of August 2026 
  • Funds will be dispensed directly to the student, and may be applied to tuition, project expenses, or to defray costs of living during hands-on experience.  

Eligibility Criteria 

  • Academic Enrollment: Current enrollment in a Public Health or closely related degree program (examples include social work, health administration, public policy, medicine, nursing, pharmacy, etc.).  
    • Undergraduate or graduate level studies are eligible.  
    • We welcome projects that are part of a program’s degree requirements, such as practicum, capstone, or thesis projects.  
    • Independent projects are also eligible, provided the student identifies a faculty or subject matter advisor (i.e., site supervisor, community partner, etc.).  
  • Regional Connection: Must be a resident of Central or Eastern Washington or currently studying at an institution within Central or Eastern Washington.   
  • WAPC Collaboration: Applicant proposals must include collaboration with WAPC’s Public Health Education team. Students currently working on an active project with WAPC are eligible. Students are also welcome to propose a new project idea that aligns with WAPC’s mission to prevent and reduce harm from poisoning.  
    • If you are proposing a new project idea, we strongly encourage you to reach out to WAPC’s Public Health Education team (educators@wapc.org) prior to applying to discuss your concept and ensure its feasibility.  

Please submit any questions regarding this scholarship or application to educators@wapc.org. 

Examples of Past Projects

  • Investigating medication management practices and perceptions among older adult immigrants and refugees in Washington
  • Evaluating “Know Drugs:” A middle school substance use prevention and harm reduction curriculum
  • Development of vaping health messages for college students
  • Evaluation of drug screening and management in pediatric opioid exposures
  • Case study of intentional self-poisoning among teen callers
  • Recommendations and materials for WA Poison Center communications with Spanish-speaking communities
  • Developing safety materials for dental patients based on common dental-related exposures
  • Developing education for service workers who engage with immigrants and refugees to increase understanding of the role of Poison Centers within the United States healthcare system

Application Form