As Commencement Ceremonies got under way at the Hard Rock Stadium for the first time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the University of Miami School of Nursing and Health Studies hosted its Spring 2021 Awards Ceremony via Facebook Live.
During the ceremony, Dean Cindy L. Munro recognized the school’s more than 260 newly minted graduates in the following programs: Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing Science, Master of Science in Nursing and Post-Master’s Certificate (Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner), Master of Science in Health Informatics (online), Bachelor of Science in Nursing (traditional and accelerated tracks), Bachelor of Science in Health Science, and Bachelor of Science in Public Health.
“You have exemplified what our health professions are about—putting the needs and outcomes of the communities we care for first and working together to find optimal solutions,” Dean Munro told the graduates. “Now is your time to rejoice and celebrate!”
She went on to praise members of the Class of 2021 for their resilience in adapting to the “life-altering pandemic,” noting, “you uplifted your fellow students, adapted to new ways of learning, and reached out into the community.”
Following these introductory remarks, Associate Deans Nichole Crenshaw and Arsham Alamian presented the following individual student and community partner awards:
- Bachelor of Science in Public Health Excellence in Academic Performance: Brianna Paradise Ferrarie
- Bachelor of Science in Health Science Excellence in Academic Performance Award: Elena Acevedo Extrand
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing Excellence in Academic & Clinical Performance Award: Jayme Schrank
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing Excellence in Leadership Award: Julia Weiss
- Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing Excellence in Academic & Clinical: Sara Colliton
- Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing Excellence in Leadership Award: Joseph Mojica
- University of Miami Hospital Clinical Performance & Service Excellence Award: Sashamara Perez
- Jackson Health Systems Academic Excellence Award: Nicholas Caicedo
- VITAS Healthcare, Compassionate Heart Award: Jasmine Mompoint
Dean Munro presented the 2021 SONHS Faculty Clinical Excellence Award to Assistant Professor of Clinical Brenda Owusu, director of the Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Program and co-director of the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Program. Teacher of the Year was awarded to Associate Professor of Clinical Juan M. Gonzalez.
She also recognized the valued contributions of two other SONHS educators: Assistant Professor of Clinical Linda Parker, a registered and licensed dietician retiring after over 20 years of service, and instructor Jacqueline “Jackie” Gonzalez, M.S.N. ’87, D.N.P. ’13, who recently retired as senior vice president and chief nursing Officer of Nicklaus Children’s Hospital.
Among this Spring’s graduating class were 14 ambassadors from the school’s PEERS Program, which supports prospective and incoming students and families: Caroline Christopher, Micaela Garvey, Sabrina Ginsburg, Alexandra Guixens, Doreen Gustave, Molly Lowell, Chastity Scarlett Mannings, Adrian Parra, Nicole Perez, Tyana Pierce-Renzi, Spencer Schwartz, Sarah Shanahan, Dana Webb, and Kathryn Wells.
View full ceremony on Facebook at https://bit.ly/3fhy7jK.
