Excellence awards
Each June at the annual graduation celebration, at least five students are recognized for excellence in the school’s core attributes of leadership development, interprofessional and interdisciplinary education, transformative research, cultural inclusiveness and innovative technology. A Teaching Excellence Award recognizing a faculty member was added in 2016. Below are photos and a list of all excellence award recipients at previous graduation celebrations.
2024 Student Excellence Awards
From left, Val Torrico, Marla Shauer, Mary Anjielen Artille, Chaulette Palafox and Santiago Garcia III
Nursing faculty recognized five students with awards of excellence highlighting the school’s five core attributes:
- Excellence in Leadership: Santiago Garcia III
- Excellence Collaboration: Mary Anjielen Artille
- Excellence Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: Val Torrico
- Excellence in Community Connection: Chaulette Palafox
- Excellence in Innovative Solutions: Marla Shauer
2024 Dean’s Excellence Awards
2024 Commencement Ceremony
School of Nursing students, staff and faculty also submitted nominations for the Dean’s Excellence Awards, which honor staff and faculty in three areas. Those include teaching, research, and diversity, equity and inclusion. Those recognized are:
- Excellence in Teaching: Brent Luu and Cara Sandholdt
- Excellence in Research: Alex Fauer
- Excellence in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: Piri Ackerman-Barger
2023 Student Excellence Awards
From left, Aliyah Bell, Felix Howard and Victoria Le (Not pictured: Ashlyn Oller and Monica Godden)
Nursing faculty recognized five students with awards of excellence highlighting the school’s five core attributes:
- Excellence in Leadership: Ashlyn Oller
- Excellence Collaboration: Victoria Le
- Excellence Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: Felix Howard
- Excellence in Community Connection: Aliyah Bell
- Excellence in Innovative Solutions: Monica Godden
2023 Dean’s Excellence Awards
2023 Commencement Ceremony
School of Nursing students, staff and faculty also submitted nominations for the Dean’s Excellence Awards, which honor staff and faculty in three areas. Those include teaching, research, and diversity, equity and inclusion. Those recognized are:
- Excellence in Teaching: Michelle Touw
- Excellence in Research: Jessica Draughon Moret
- Excellence in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: Sheri Kuslak-Meyer
2022 Student Excellence Awards
From left, Aldreen Venzon, Irene Turner, Jessica Dyatlov and Ju-A Son
Nursing faculty recognized five students with awards of excellence highlighting the school’s five core attributes:
- Excellence in Innovative Solutions: Aldreen Venzon
- Excellence in Community Connection: Jessica Dyatlov
- Excellence in Leadership: Ju-A Son
- Excellence in Collaboration: Irene Turner
- Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion: Sophia Crosby
2022 Dean’s Excellence Awards
From left, Dean Stephen Cavanagh awards Associate Professor Gordon Worley with the Excellence in Teaching Award.
School of Nursing students, staff and faculty also submitted nominations for the Dean’s Excellence Awards, which honor staff and faculty in three areas. Those include teaching, research, and diversity, equity and inclusion. Those recognized are:
- Excellence in Teaching: Gordon Worley
- Excellence in Research: Julie Bidwell
- Excellence in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: Susan Adams
2021 Student Excellence Awards
From left, Jonathan Trask, Nicole Vance, Hannah Davis, Erika Gonzalez and Mohammed Jawara
Nursing faculty recognized five students with awards of excellence highlighting the school’s five core attributes:
- Excellence in Innovative Solutions: Jonathan Trask
- Excellence in Community Connection: Nicole Vance
- Excellence in Leadership: Hannah Davis
- Excellence in Collaboration: Erika Gonzalez
- Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion: Mohamed Jawara
2021 Dean’s Excellence Awards
From left, Kathryn Sexson, Deb Bakerjian and Brent Luu
School of Nursing students, staff and faculty also submitted nominations for the Dean’s Excellence Awards, which honor staff and faculty in three areas. Those include teaching, research, and diversity, equity and inclusion. Those recognized are:
- Excellence in Teaching: Kathryn Sexson
- Excellence in Research: Deb Bakerjian
- Excellence in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: Brent Luu
2020 Student Excellence Awards
From left, Amber Ross, Laura Schaffer, Loralyn Taylor, Selu Vargas and Breanne Harris
Nursing faculty recognized five students with awards of excellence highlighting the school’s five core attributes:
- Excellence in Leadership Development: Amber Ross
- Excellence in Interprofessional Education: Laura Schaffer
- Excellence in Transformative Research: Loralyn Taylor
- Excellence in Cultural Inclusiveness: Selu Vargas
- Excellence in Innovative Technology: Breanne Harris
2020 Dean’s Leadership Awards
From left, Piri Ackerman-Barger, Cara Sandholdt and Fawn Cothran
School of Nursing students, staff and faculty also submitted nominations for the Dean’s Leadership Awards, which honor staff and faculty in three areas: Diversity and Inclusion, Teaching and Research. Those recognized include:
- Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion: Piri Ackerman-Barger
- Excellence in Teaching: Cara Sandholdt
- Excellence in Research: Fawn Cothran
2019 Student Excellence Awards
From left, Victoria Ngo, Misara Bambao, Jason Kao, Ann Tadas and Addie Newby
Nursing faculty recognized five students with awards of excellence highlighting the school’s five core attributes:
- Excellence in Leadership Development: Addie Newby
- Excellence in Interprofessional Education: Ann Tadas
- Excellence in Transformative Research: Jason Kao
- Excellence in Cultural Inclusiveness: Misara Bambao
- Excellence in Innovative Technology: Victoria Ngo
2019 Dean’s Leadership Awards
From left, Matt St.Amant, Kate Turpin and Debbie Ward
School of Nursing students, staff and faculty also submitted nominations for the Dean’s Leadership Awards, which honor staff and faculty in three areas: Diversity and Inclusion, Teaching and Research. Those recognized include:
- Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion: Matthew St.Amant and Kate Turpin
- Excellence in Teaching: Cara Sandholdt
- Excellence in Research: Jill G. Joseph
2018 Student Excellence Awards
From left, Heather M. Young, Sarina Fazio, Cody Potter, Elaine Talley, Emily Jing and Malalai Yusufzai
Nursing faculty recognized five students with awards of excellence highlighting the school’s five core attributes:
- Excellence in Leadership Development: Malalai Yusufzai
- Excellence in Interprofessional Education: Emily Jing
- Excellence in Transformative Research: Elaine Talley
- Excellence in Cultural Inclusiveness: Cody Potter
- Excellence in Innovative Technology: Sarina Fazio
2018 Dignity Health Dean’s Leadership Awards
From left, Terri Harvath, Sheryl Catz, Sam Sankaran-Walters and Heather M. Young
School of Nursing students and faculty also submitted nominations for the Dignity Health Dean’s Leadership Awards, which were made possible by the Dignity Health Dean’s Chair for Nursing Leadership Endowment. The awards honor staff and faculty in three areas: Diversity and Inclusion, Teaching and Research. Those recognized include:
- Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion: Jann Murray-García
- Excellence in Teaching: Sam Sankaran-Walters
- Excellence in Research: Sheryl Catz
2017 Student Excellence Awards
From left, Dean Heather M. Young, Barbara Abeling, John James, Sarah Reed, Jerry Yang and Hayatullah Niazi
Nursing faculty recognized five students with awards of excellence highlighting the school’s five core attributes:
- Excellence in Leadership Development: Hayatullah Niazi
- Excellence in Interprofessional Education: Jerry Yang
- Excellence in Transformative Research: Sarah Reed
- Excellence in Cultural Inclusiveness: John James
- Excellence in Innovative Technology: Barbara Abeling
2017 Dignity Health Dean’s Leadership Awards
From left, Dean Heather M. Young, Associate Professor Elena O. Siegel and Family Nurse Practitioner Director Elizabeth Rice and Maricel Lumaquin
For the first time, students and faculty submitted nominations for the Dignity Health Dean’s Leadership Awards, which were made possible by the Dignity Health Dean’s Chair for Nursing Leadership Endowment. The awards honor staff and faculty in three areas: Diversity and Inclusion, Teaching and Research. Those recognized include:
- Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion: Maricel Lumaquin
- Excellence in Teaching: Elizabeth Rice
- Excellence in Research: Elena O. Siegel
2016 Student Excellence Awards
From left, Associate Dean for Academics Theresa Harvath, Dean Heather M. Young, Goretti DeNava Arreygue, Gloretha Wilcots, Sally Moyce, Annie Ngo Tat and Alexandra Sabella
Nursing faculty recognized five students with awards of excellence highlighting the school’s five core attributes:
- Excellence in Leadership Development: Alexandra Sabella
- Excellence in Interprofessional Education: Annie Ngo Tat
- Excellence in Transformative Research: Sally Moyce
- Excellence in Cultural Inclusiveness: Gloretha Wilcots
- Excellence in Innovative Technology: Goretti DeNava Arreygue
2016 Teaching Excellence Award
From left, Associate Dean for Academics Theresa Harvath, Assistant Adjunct Professor Kupiri Ackerman-Barger and Dean Heather M. Young
For the first time, students and faculty submitted nominations for the Teaching Excellence Award, the recipient deserving special recognition for his or her enthusiasm in the classroom, teaching innovations, responsiveness to students, and ability to stimulate thought, involvement and independent efforts by students. Associate Dean for Academics Theresa Harvath presented the inaugural award to Kupiri Ackerman-Barger, an assistant adjunct professor and assistant director for the Master's Entry Program in Nursing.
2015 Student Excellence Awards
From left, Dean Heather M. Young, Donn Kropp, Dale Risenhoover, Pam Ibanez, Satish Mahajan, Jerry John Nutor and Rocio Hernandez
Nursing faculty recognized six students with awards of excellence highlighting the school’s five core attributes:
- Excellence in Leadership Development: Rocio "Cio" Hernandez
- Excellence in Interprofessional Education: Jerry John Nutor
- Excellence in Transformative Research: Satish Mahajan
- Excellence in Cultural Inclusiveness: Dale Risenhoover and Pam Ibanez
- Excellence in Innovative Technology: Donn Kropp
2014 Student Excellence Awards
From left, Robin MacPherson-Dias, Katherine Kim, Bertha Odhiambo and Deborah Greenwood
Five students were recognized by nursing faculty with awards of excellence highlighting the school’s five core attributes:
- Excellence in Leadership Development: Lauren Burke
- Excellence in Interprofessional Education: Robin MacPherson-Dias
- Excellence in Transformative Research: Katherine Kim
- Excellence in Cultural Inclusiveness: Bertha Odhiambo
- Excellence in Innovative Technology: Deborah Greenwood
2013 Student Excellence Awards
From left, Christy Solorio, Issa Sidibe, Kimberly Higgins, Sergio Camarillo, Anita Depatie and Dean Heather M. Young
Five students were recognized by nursing faculty with awards of excellence highlighting the school’s five core attributes:
- Excellence in Leadership Development: Kimberly Higgins
- Excellence in Interprofessional Education: Issa Sidibe
- Excellence in Transformative Research: Christy Solorio
- Excellence in Cultural Inclusiveness: Sergio Camarillo
- Excellence in Innovative Technology: Anita Depatie
2012 Student Excellence Awards
From left, Charles Johnston, Ren Bee, Jody Johnston, Linda Luna, Jennifer Mattice and Dean Heather M. Young
Five students were recognized by nursing faculty with awards of excellence highlighting the school’s five core attributes:
- Excellence in Leadership Development: Charles Johnston
- Excellence in Interprofessional Education: Ren Bee
- Excellence in Transformative Research: Jody Johnson
- Excellence in Cultural Inclusiveness: Linda Luna
- Excellence in Innovative Technology: Jennifer Mattice
