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.
Past Award Winners Heading link
Cardew-Mullane Award
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:
- Be due to graduate in or before next May. (See page header for clarification.)
- Be nominated by faculty or staff members, alumni or peers
- Have a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 in all work attempted
- Be recognized as outstanding by both peers and faculty
- Have been an active participant in college and campus activities
- 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.
Past Graduating Student Recognition Award Winners Heading link
Past Graduating Student Recognition Award Winners
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