Graduating Student Awards

Our students work so hard. At the end of their UIC Nursing careers, it's time for a little extra reward.

These awards are available to students in any UIC Nursing degree program who are in their last term of study and will have graduated or will be due to graduate by next May, when the award is conferred. For instance, any student finishing their degree in August 2023, December 2023 or May 2024 is eligible for the May 2024 awards.

Cardew-Mullane Award in Clinical Excellence and Leadership Heading link

Established by Mary Kelly Mullane, second dean of the UIC College of Nursing, this award recognizes outstanding clinical skill and leadership abilities in graduating students. The award also serves as a memorial to Emily Cardew, Mullane’s predecessor as dean. More than one student can win this cash award, which is sponsored by the UIC College of Nursing Alumni Association and is customarily given at the May commencement.

Selection Criteria – Student nominee must:

1. Be due to graduate in or before next May. (See page header for clarification.)

2. Be nominated by faculty or staff members, alumni or peers

3. Have demonstrated clinical excellence:

  • Exceeds course expectations or is considered outstanding
  • Is innovative
  • Serves as a role model
  • Is collaborative and interdisciplinary in nature
  • Incorporates patient/family/community
  • Shows exceptional caring
  • Demonstrates exceptional decision-making
  • Is dedicated to evidence-based practice

4. Have demonstrated leadership abilities:

  • Involved in extracurricular activities that promote nursing and/or nursing practice
  • Evidence of leadership roles
  • Evidence of community service/membership
  • Future plans include the potential for leadership

At least one (1) letter of support from someone who can speak to the nominee’s academic history must accompany a nomination. Upload the letter via the nomination form.

2024 nominations are due Mar. 15.

2019 Trevor Barnum, Irene Yankellow

2018 Alina Kraynak, Sarah Ball Schrock

2017 Bianca Ramiro, Stephanie Tiwari

2016 Julie Nebe

2015 Julio Rojas

2014 Mohammad Jamal Deen, Shannon Leigh Jeffery

2013 Leslie Moore

2012 Kathleen J. Deguzman

2011 Rebecca Doran

2010 Maureen Smith, Whitney Woerner

2009 Nancy Anderson, Angela Lepkowski

2008 Kathleen Kobler, Megan Smyrniotis

2007 Taryn A. Vesley, Amy Jessup

2006 Keke Lin, Sherr Ann Elorpe, Stephanie Sapacone

2005 Charlie Yingling, Marie Dusio

2004 Melissa Grybowski

2003 Mary Peterson & Catherine Ryan

2002 Holli DeVon & Sijeoung Kim

2001 Joanne Zimmerly, Angela Black, Dawn Wright

2000 Julie Pizzi & Bridget Owen

1999 Katherine Loan Han

1998 Margaret Dykeman & Amanda Sperry

1997 Sarah Ailey, Catherine Cerone, Elizabeth Hoover, Latanya Luckett, Jill Rogers & Margaret Schulz

1996 Linda Franczyk & Diane Hartwig

1995 Phyllis Powell Pelt

1994 Sandra DiVarco, Kristine Meece & Linda Talley

Graduating Student Recognition Award Heading link

Established in 1996, this cash award is given in recognition of academic excellence and initiative in actively supporting the UIC College of Nursing. More than one student can win this award, which is customarily given at the May commencement.

Selection Criteria – Student nominee must:

  1. Be due to graduate in or before next May. (See page header for clarification.)
  2. Be nominated by faculty or staff members, alumni or peers
  3. Have a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 in all work attempted
  4. Be recognized as outstanding by both peers and faculty
  5. Have been an active participant in college and campus activities
  6. Have been an actively involved in community service activities (health, political, religious, civic)

At least one (1) letter of support from someone who can speak to the nominee’s academic history must accompany a nomination. Upload the letter via the nomination form.

2024 nominations are due Mar. 15.

2019 Monica Luciano, Madeline Baxa

2018 Celine Dalde, Bingqian Zhu

2017 Noor Bader, Keke Lin

2016 Sarah Farabi

2014 Mohammad Jamal Deen, Taryn McCoy

2013 Mary McNamara

2012 Charles Yingling

2011 Rachel Gowler

2010 Sally Berko

2009 Hayedeh Sohrabi, Zareena Yasmeen

2008 Amy Cory, Ann Konkoly, Bridgette Williams

2007 Janel Smith

2006 Dana Goldberg, Drew Freeman, Laura Sweeny, Lora McCelland

2005 Johanna Delgado

2004 Mara Clark, Ashley Hruska, Mai Nyguyen & Amber Oberheim

2003 Stella Sabourin & Maura Capaul

2002 Candace Greer

2001 Autumn Schumacher, Lillian Ferrer & Nancy Gutierrez

2000 Joan Martalloto & Claudia Whitaker Hannon

1999 Elisa St. Pierre

1998 Fern Fitzhenry & Patricia Decker

1997 Judith McDevitt & Timothy Hudson

1996 Regina Shasha & Sarah Wittmeye