UW School of Nursing Convocation Honors 21 Students During Virtual Presentation

Twenty-one graduates of the University of Wyoming Fay W. Whitney School of Nursing were honored during the school’s first-ever virtual convocation. The convocation, presented in Zoom format, was Friday, May 15.

Students receiving awards, listed by hometowns, their majors and descriptions of the awards, are:

-- Buffalo: Nicole Thiele, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) graduate, is the recipient of the Beverly McDermott Award for demonstrating leadership and political activism. Thiele was active in leadership as treasurer in the Student Nurses Association (SNA).

-- Casper: Jayme Donaldson and Travis Williamson, of Rapid City, S.D., both Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)-Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) graduates, are co-recipients of the DNP Project Excellence Award for excellence in DNP scholarship. They worked with several primary care clinics associated with the Sheridan Veterans Administration Medical Center to improve clinicians’ knowledge about and ability to screen for opioid use disorder, as well as to refer patients with opioid use disorder for medication-assisted treatment.

-- Donaldson also is the recipient of the Susan McCabe Psychiatric/Mental Health Graduate Award for demonstrating academic excellence, passion for knowledge and superior clinical practice.

-- Casper: Bailey McCoy, a BSN graduate, is the recipient of the Dorothy Tupper Senior Memorial Award for demonstrating caring, compassion and interpersonal communication.

-- Cheyenne: Kelsey Kolkman, a BSN graduate, is the recipient of the School of Nursing Spirit Award for demonstrating exceptional spirit and enthusiasm.

-- Cheyenne: Jenna Nazminia, a DNP-Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) graduate, and Heather Judkins, a DNP-PMHNP graduate from Lander, are co-recipients of the Dr. Patsy Hesen Haslam Leadership Award for demonstrating leadership and grace.

-- Cheyenne: 2nd Lt. Nicholas Palczer, a 2019 BSN graduate, is the recipient of the Professional Nurse Award for demonstrating excellence in practice, community service and professional service.

-- Colorado Springs, Colo.: Jenna Kindt, a BSN graduate, is the recipient of the Carol Macnee Scholarship Award for demonstrating excellence in scholarship and/or research.

-- Driggs, Idaho: Stephen Dunn, a student in the Bachelors Reach for Accelerated Nursing Degree (BRAND) program, is the recipient of the Dorothy Tupper Senior Memorial Award for demonstrating caring, compassion and interpersonal communication.

-- Dubois: Daniel Petrus, a graduate of the BRAND program, is the recipient of the Rudolph “Rudy” and Louise Answelmi and Jeri Kirk Family Trust Nursing Scholarship for demonstrating leadership and responsibility.

-- Fair Oaks, Calif.: Elsa Blankenburg, a BSN graduate, is the recipient of the Amelia Leino Memorial Award for demonstrating academic excellence.

-- Gillette: Crystal Sullivan and Greta Skagen, of Cheyenne, both DNP-FNP graduates, are co-recipients of the DNP Project Excellence Award. The honor is given for demonstrating excellence in DNP scholarship. Recognizing the importance of annual adolescent wellness visits and how few teens take advantage of these visits, Skagen and Sullivan worked with two pediatric clinics at Cheyenne Regional Medical Center to increase the percentage of adolescents who obtained annual wellness visits.

-- Lander: Anne Peick, a graduate of the BRAND program, is the recipient of the Beverly McDermott Award for demonstrating leadership and political activism. She participated in a unique clinical opportunity and partnered with Colorado Coalition for the Homeless to address the needs of these patients.

-- Laramie: Juston Johnston, a DNP-FNP graduate, is the recipient of the Change Agent Award for demonstrating commitment to improving and changing health. While participating in his fall 2019 clinical in Denver at Apex Clinic, a primary care clinic that focuses on meeting the needs of the LGBTQ population, Johnston presented an open forum on transgender health care to other DNP students and members of the school of nursing community.

-- Laramie: Torey Skaar, a BSN graduate, is the recipient of the Gertrude Gould Memorial Award for demonstrating excellence in public health nursing. While at Albany County Public Health, Skaar administered vaccines to adults and children, helped screen for HIV and participated in disaster preparedness activities. Maternal/child home visits were her favorite activity.

-- North Pole, Alaska: Alexandra Smith, a BSN graduate, is the recipient of the Rudolph “Rudy” and Louise Anselmi and Jeri Kirk Family Trust Nursing Scholarship for demonstrating leadership and responsibility. During her time at the Cheyenne Veterans Administration Medical Center, Smith exhibited leadership in planning the care for patients with complex medical conditions and assisting the nurses in coordinating the multidisciplinary management of patients.

-- Parker, Colo.: Emily Dyson, a BSN graduate, is the recipient of the Lina Kennedy White Memorial Award for demonstrating interest in and aptitude for gerontology. During her time at PACE Clinic in Cheyenne, which is the program for All-Inclusive Care of the Elderly, Dyson participated in interprofessional rounds each day and practiced a variety of skin care, dressing changes and treatments.

-- Platteville, Colo.: Emily Artzer, a BSN graduate, is the recipient of the Gertrude Gould Memorial Award for demonstrating excellence in public health nursing. She completed a change project that focused on homeless people in the Denver, Colo., area. Artzer provided bottled water and informational material directly to homeless people to help them learn about resources they have in their area.

-- Rawlins: Kimberly Gulbrandson, a graduate of the BRAND program, is the recipient of the Passion for Nursing Award for demonstrating passion in nursing.