Student Awards

Award

Criteria

Eligible Nominees

Jeanne Frances Hopkins

Undergraduate or Graduate nursing student who has achieved academic excellence while embarking on a uniquely Penn curricular opportunity. May include a strong secondary interest evidenced by elective course work and related extracurricular activities, Penn athletics, a coherent cluster or minor, or a dual degree. BSN/MSN is excluded as a dual degree.

Undergraduate or Graduate Student

Awarded to a nursing undergraduate who is graduating with a minor in Nutrition or a second major in Nutrition Science, and who has demonstrated academic excellence and exemplary achievement in education, service, and/or research. This award was established in honor of Penn Nursing alumna JoAnn Nallinger Grant, HUP’62, Nu’72.

Undergraduate

Henry O. Thompson Prize in Ethics

Master’s or doctoral student - student essay focused on ethical thinking and action

MSN or PhD Graduates

Ann Wolbert Burgess Endowed Student Award

Honoring demonstrated excellence and leadership in nursing, with a preference for psychiatric or mental health nursing, as evidenced by a doctoral dissertation that holds significant promise as a contribution to nursing knowledge. The student must have successfully defended the dissertation proposal at the time of nomination and have either graduated or be scheduled to graduate in May or August of that year. The student’s chair needs to include a letter indicating this anticipated completion date.

PhD Graduates

Claire M. Fagin Award

A high level of leadership within the School, University, or larger community (one award will be given)

BSN, MSN, DNP or PhD Graduates

Dean’s Student Award

Epitomize the philosophy of the School of Nursing. [Student leadership, citizenship, social activism.] (one award to be given)

BSN, MSN, DNP or PhD Graduates

The Rosalyn J. Watts Diversity Scholar Leadership Award

Graduating BSN Senior whose outstanding qualities of scholarship and leadership exemplify a commitment to the Penn SON Office of Diversity and Cultural Affairs goals by serving as a role model, as well as a leader of programs and initiatives that promote meaningful interaction among diverse groups to strengthen the multicultural, social, and scholarly climate of the Campus and School of Nursing.

BSN

Theresa I. Lynch Award

Consistent contribution to the advancement of the School of Nursing. [Criteria similar to that used in selecting the Dean’s Award recipient may be implemented in the selection of this award recipient. In addition, Dean’s Award nominations may alternately be considered for this award.] (one award will be given)

BSN, MSN, DNP or PhD Graduates

Norma Lang Award

Undergraduate or master’s graduate who has demonstrated excellence in academic/scholarly practice. Preference will be given to graduates that have demonstrated excellence in Penn Nursing Network practices as well as activities with clinician educators in their practice settings. Specific contributions can include: leadership, innovative practice models, student led research, and/or commitment to a specific community/patient population. Students may be nominated from someone in the practice setting or they may self-nominate (one award will be given).

BSN, MSN, DNP Graduates

Mary D. Naylor UG Research Award

Contributions to advancing nursing knowledge through research activities. Specific criteria to be included: initiative, creativity, intelligence, and persistence.

BSN

Teaching Assistant Award

Cognitive Competence includes: constructs course assignments; interprets abstract theories/ideas clearly; utilizes new or unexpected situations to show relationship to subject under study. Professional competence includes: sets achievable goals for students; demonstrates technical skill in nursing activities; shows interest in making contribution to the improvement of nursing; participates w/standing faculty in SON activities. Interpersonal competence includes: respects confidentiality of student relationships; demonstrates confidence in the student; allows expression of diverse points of view; follows through on commitments; gives constructive evaluation without humiliating student; establishes environment conducive to discussion. Research Assistants and Course Assistants are not eligible.

Teaching Assistants

Joyce E. Thompson Award in Women’s Health

Leadership and excellence in maternal and child health. The nomination in the form of a one-page essay, if student is self-nominating, or a one-page letter, if clinical faculty member/instructor is nominating, must address how the nominee demonstrated these qualities.

MSN or DNP Graduates

Dorothy Mereness Award

Exceptional ability in scholarly writing. [Could include, but is not limited to, scholarly writing for a research project.] A writing sample or paper must be submitted along with the nomination (one award will be given).

BSN, MSN, DNP or PhD Graduates

Marion R. Gregory Award

Distinguished doctoral dissertation. Dissertations are to be considered by doctorally-prepared faculty. A copy of the proposal to be submitted with the nomination. The student must have successfully defended the dissertation proposal at the time of nomination and have either graduated or be scheduled to graduate in May or August of that year. The student’s chair needs to include a letter indicating this anticipated completion date.

PhD Graduates

Sigma Theta Tau Award

Academic achievement and leadership.

BSN, MSN, DNP, & PhD Graduates

Alumni Spirit Award for Graduating Students

Given to BSN, MSN, or PhD graduate graduating in the current year who contributes to the achievement of the Alumni Society goals by fostering loyalty to the school and university, maintaining the professional and social bond among their classmates and promoting professional development during their student experience at Penn. May be individual or group.

BSN, MSN, DNP or PhD Graduates