College of Nursing Faculty, Staff, Students Recognized for Annual Awards
The College of Nursing recently recognized faculty, staff and students for their contributions to the CON. Award recipients are typically celebrated during Commencement and the end of semester banquet, hosted each spring. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, Commencement and the banquet had to be canceled. The following faculty and staff award recipients were recognized during a virtual meeting on April 27th. Student award recipients were recognized during Dean Niederhauser’s remarks in the College of Nursing virtual Commencement ceremony on May 7th. Visit https://commencement.utk.edu/ to see the entire ceremony.
The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nursing Faculty was awarded to Mary Lynn Brown. This award was created as a way to demonstrate appreciation to faculty for their commitment and inspirational influence on their nursing students.
The Outstanding Undergraduate Clinical Faculty Award was presented to Erin Morgan. The Outstanding Clinical Faculty Award is selected by undergraduate students and described as a faculty member who is extremely knowledgeable, provides an optimum clinical learning environment, and demonstrates care and concern for student learning.
Jason Kiernan was recognized with two awards: the Outstanding Undergraduate Classroom Faculty and The Volunteer Award. The Outstanding Classroom Teaching Award is awarded to a faculty member whose knowledge, enthusiasm, and instructional style inspire students and motivate them to learn. The Volunteer recognizes a CON novice baccalaureate or graduate program nurse educator who has demonstrated excellence in the academic teaching, research or service role early in their career.
The Outstanding PhD Faculty Award was presented to Joel Anderson. The Outstanding PhD Faculty Award recognizes a faculty member who is selected for their commitment and inspirational influence on their nursing students.
Tracy Brewer was honored with the Outstanding DNP Faculty Award. This award goes to a faculty member has shown excellence in teaching in the DNP program.
The Power T Award was given to Noelle Cooper. The Power T Award goes to a staff member who is efficient and productive. This staff member is also positive, responsive and cheerful and exceeds expectations of job responsibilities.
The Rock was awarded to Maria Hurt. The Rock recognizes nurse faculty or teams of nurse faculty in the baccalaureate or higher degree program who have demonstrated an innovative teaching, research or service oriented method or approach in their academic course or clinical instruction.
The Smokey was awarded to DeLyndia Green-Laughlin. The Smokey recognizes one adjunct faculty member who demonstrates excellence in the academic teaching role, research or service.
The Torch was awarded to Missy Miller. The Torch recognizes a faculty or staff member that exhibits a strong character of selflessness, humility, and sacrifice for the greater good. This person also consistently models College of Nursing core values.
The Top Collegiate Scholar Award and the Heins-Laning Leadership Award went to Morgan Elizabeth Graham. It is a distinct honor to be named by the University of Tennessee as a “top collegiate scholar” in an undergraduate major. In a curriculum as demanding as nursing, it is a remarkable accomplishment to have the highest GPA in the class. The Heins-Laning Award was established by Margaret Heins and Jack Laning and is presented to the BSN graduate who best reflects the philosophy of the College of Nursing and demonstrates promise of being an outstanding professional nurse.
Gabrielle Thress was the 2020 recipient of the Sylvia Hart Award. The Sylvia Hart Award is given by Gamma Chi Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing. This award is given to a graduating undergraduate student who demonstrates academic excellence, leadership, and practice and has a clear philosophy of nursing.
The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nursing Students was created recognize and celebrate nursing students for the above-and-beyond care and compassion shown to patients and their families. The DAISY In Training Award was created to remind students, even on the hardest days of nursing school, why they want to be a nurse. This award accepts nominations from peers, and was selected through a blind review. This year’s recipient was Laura Phelps.
The PhD Academic Excellence Award recognizes a graduating PhD student for their outstanding performance in scholarly work during their time in the program. This year’s recipient was PhD student Ashley Roach.
The Outstanding Dissertation Award went to Marissa Bunch. This award is given by the Gamma Chi Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing. This award honors a student who had an outstanding dissertation. Bunch has submitted three papers for publication since her defense.
Melissa Hessock was selected for the Outstanding DNP Project Award. This awardee is recognized for excellence in Evidenced Based Practice Research. This award is given by the Gamma Chi Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing.
The final awards presented were the Kudos Award. This award is for a faculty or staff members in the College of Nursing that have made a significant, positive or fun contributions to the work environment. Congratulations to the following on being nominated for a Kudos Award.
Carrie Monroe
Diane Carr
Laurel Cox
Molly Minninger
Allyson Neal
Derrick MacGillivray
Andi Damewood
Damion Batchelder
Virginia Fowler
Jada Russell
Susan Hébert
Lindsay Burke-Melton
Mary Lynn Brown