In a year when COVID-19 took so much, over 300 students at the School of Nursing and Health Studies mustered the necessary resilience and determination to complete their degree programs successfully.
SONHS honored the outstanding achievements of these proud graduates via Facebook Live on December 8, seven months to the day after the school’s inaugural virtual awards event.
During the SONHS Fall 2020 Virtual Awards ceremonies, a total of 10 individual awards and 305 degree pins were presented symbolically to newly minted graduates in the following programs: Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice, Master of Science in Nursing, Master of Science in Health Informatics, Post Graduate Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing, Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Bachelor of Science in Health Science, and Bachelor of Science in Public Health.
Dean Cindy L. Munro praised the SONHS grads for reaching this “summit of academic achievement.”
“Your determination did not go unnoticed,” she continued. “The challenges you overcame along the way only cemented your sense of purpose and your drive to reach this important pinnacle in your life’s journey.”
Among those honored was Jennifer Wisniewski, B.S.N. ’20, a recipient of the Excellence in Academic and Clinical Performance Award. “I was extremely thrilled and excited to be recognized,” she said. “The Accelerated B.S.N. program was challenging, but my hard work and focus definitely paid off. The ’Canes community was a major influence on my overall success.”
Munro called upon all of the graduates to celebrate themselves, as well as the family, friends, and faculty members who helped them reach this milestone moment. In particular, she praised the school’s clinical hospital partners who went to great lengths to make sure SONHS students could gain hands-on experience safely throughout the pandemic.
“In this historic moment, the world is looking to health professionals and health systems for global solutions and guidance as never before,” said Dean Munro, highlighting the World Health Organization’s designation of 2020 as the International Year of the Nurse and Midwife. “Graduates, this is your time to shine, and I have no doubt you will shine brilliantly.”
Before concluding the awards ceremonies, Munro asked attendees to email personal graduation photos to SONHS@miami.edu since group photos were still not possible.
With COVID-19 cases on the rise nationwide, University of Miami President Julio Frenk had announced December 1 that previously scheduled in-person Fall Commencement ceremonies would be replaced with virtual events. “We did not arrive at this decision lightly,” explained President Frenk. “Unfortunately, the rising case counts, and other concerning data points, suggest that we are in the midst of another spike in infections.”
Still, Wisniewski was looking forward to celebrating UM’s live-streamed Commencement with friends and family from her native South Florida, to New York, Tennessee, Texas, and Colorado. “Despite the current circumstances,” she said, “the University of Miami is making it special for all of us.”
Fall 2020 Individual Awards:
- B.S.N. Excellence in Academic & Clinical Performance: Jennifer Wisniewski, B.S.N. ’20
- B.S.N. Excellence in Leadership: Monika Bello Derkacz, B.S.N. ’20
- B.S.N. Spirit of Nursing: Damian Roman, B.S.N. ’20
- B.S.H.S. Excellence in Academic Performance: Varun Krishnan, B.S.H.S. ’20
- M.S.N. Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Excellence in Academic and Clinical: Isabel De Quesada, M.S.N. ’20
- M.S.N. Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Excellence in Academic and Clinical: Duprou Beliard, M.S.N. ’20
- M.S.N. Family Nurse Practitioner Excellence in Academic and Clinical Award: Staniesha Rodriguez, M.S.N. ’20
- Post-Graduate Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing Excellence in Academic and Clinical: Dawn S. Smith-Walsh
- B.S.N.-D.N.P. Nurse Anesthesia Excellence in Academic and Clinical Performance, Agatha Hodgins Award: David Josam, D.N.P. ’20
- D.N.P. Excellence in Academic and Clinical Performance: Jennifer Cordo, D.N.P. ’20
Other Recognition:
Camille Dang, B.S.N. ’20, Shanelle Hodge, B.S.N. ’20, and Julia Sather, B.S.N. ’20, received special graduation stoles in recognition of their contributions as ambassadors in the school’s PEERS program.
For UM Commencement updates, visit commencement.miami.edu
