UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing and its Alumni Society Board presented awards to undergraduate and graduate students, engaged alumni, faculty and staff at the annual Awards Celebration reception and dinner on Thursday, March 14, at the Penn Stater Hotel and Conference Center.
Student awards recognize academic achievement, leadership skills and contributions to the college, community and the University. Alumni awards recognize alumni who have a record of significant professional achievements and acknowledge their dedication to the college and their respective communities. Similarly, college awards acknowledge faculty, staff and students for their dedication. Awards and recipients include:
Alumni Society Board awards
- The Paula Milone-Nuzzo Alumni Volunteer of the Year Award
- Lauren Thümm, who earned a bachelor of science in nursing in 2008
- The Emerging Professional Award
- Jill Orr-Russell, who earned a bachelor of science in nursing in 2019
- The Alumni Achievement Award
- Laura Bush Wiggins, who earned a bachelor of science in nursing in 1994
- The Undergraduate Student Service Award
- Sarah McCloskey and Sarabeth Miner, who are both fourth-year nursing students
Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing Awards
- Staff Appreciation Award
- Abigail Zlockie, instructional designer
- Janet A. Williamson Excellence in Teaching Award
- Marie Yoder, nursing instructor
- Beta Sigma Student Achievement Award
- Maeve Riley and Aidan McCleery, who are both fourth-year nursing students
- Kim Gedney-Guzik Memorial Award
- Grace Matte, fourth-year nursing student
- Norris Himes Adult Critical Care Student Nursing Award
- Anthony Giordano, fourth-year nursing student
- Janet A. Williamson Graduate Award in Nursing
- Oluz Wangi, third-year doctoral student
- Mark T. Kolanowski Award for Excellence in Ph.D. Nursing Research
- Kaléi Kowalchik, fourth-year doctoral candidate
Each award nominee is evaluated by the Nursing Alumni Society Awards Committee, with consideration of many different criteria. These recipients have been formally recognized by the Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing as exemplifying what it truly means to be a nurse or nurse educator.
Photos from the event can be viewed here.
For more information on the alumni awards, click here, and the faculty and staff awards, click here.