College of Nursing Awards
The College of Nursing is grateful for our students, faculty, staff, partners, supporters and friends. Our College of Nursing awards are one way we celebrate and thank the outstanding individuals whose commitment to teaching, learning and leading inspires the next generation of nurses.
The public relations and communications subcommittee accepts nominations for the following College of Nursing awards each year:
Recognizes an individual who has made a significant contribution to the improvement of healthcare and overall quality of life or to the advancement of South Dakota State University College of Nursing. Nominations and supporting documents are due by April 1, 2027. For questions, please contact Amanda Mitchell.
Categories
Nominees for this award may be selected from one or more of the following categories:
- Distinguished service to the healthcare professions.
- Distinguished service to the healthcare professions in South Dakota.
- Distinguished service to the South Dakota State University College of Nursing.
Criteria
Criteria upon which the award may be based in each category are as follows:
- Distinguished service to the healthcare profession: The individual may or may not be a healthcare professional. The nominee will have made a significant contribution to the improvement of healthcare and overall quality of life through distinguished service in any of the following categories:
- Education
- Administration
- Service to the healthcare professions
- Service to the community
- Legislation
- Research
- Distinguished service to the healthcare professions in South Dakota: The individual may or may not be a healthcare professional. The nominee will have made a significant contribution to the improvement of healthcare and overall quality of life in South Dakota by distinguished service in any of the following:
- Education
- Administration
- Service to the healthcare professions
- Service to the community
- Legislation
- Research
- Distinguished service to the South Dakota State University College of Nursing: The individual may or may not be a healthcare professional. The nominee will have made a significant contribution to the advancement of South Dakota State University College of Nursing in one of the following ways:
- Consistently supports and promotes the College of Nursing toward the attainment of its goals.
- Demonstrates the ideals, philosophy and purpose of the college.
- Practices in the healthcare profession as a professional: performing the roles and functions of a scholar, provide, educator, collaborator, advocate, therapeutic agent, leader, coordinator or researcher.
- Support the quality of healthcare professionals in some visible way.
No more than one award will be given annually, nor will it be necessary to grant an award each year. Persons currently employed by the College of Nursing are not eligible for the award. Persons with emeritus status may be considered.
Two letters of support should accompany the nomination.
Nomination Process
Previous Recipients
- 1979-1980: R. Esther Erickson
- 1980-1981: Inez Hinsvark
- 1981-1982: Joy Nelson
- 1982-1983: Anna Haugen Berdahl
- 1983-1984: Alice Olson
- 1984-1985: Mary Fuller Schnelker
- 1985-1986: Bernice Wittkopf
- 1986-1987: Carol J. Peterson
- 1987-1988: Genevieve Johnson
- 1988-1989: Margaret Cashman
- 1989-1990: Cathy Wasem
- 1990-1991: Beth Hanson
- 1991-1992: Barbara Klug Redman
- 1992-1993: Betty Shiefelbein
- 1993-1994: Maralee Dennis
- 1994-1995: Evelyn Peterson
- 1995-1996: Phyllis Newstrom-Niimi
- 1996-1997: Barbara Goddard
- 1997-1998: Bonnie Frederickson
- 1998-1999: Patricia Gross
- 1999-2000: Rebecca Nelson
- 2000-2001: Gloria Thompson
- 2000-2001: June Peterson Larson
- 2001-2002: Diana Berkland
- 2001-2002: Noreen Davis
- 2001-2002: Rita Haxton
- 2002-2003: Mary Helen Harris
- 2003-2004: Joan Nelson
- 2004-2005: Nancy Nelson
- 2005-2006: Adele Jacobson
- 2006-2007: R. Maclean Smith
- 2007-2008: Leonard Little Finger
- 2008-2009: Coral Joffer
- 2009-2010: Edward R. Mailloux
- 2010-2011: Carole and Alan Johnson
- 2011-2012: Linda Kropenske
- 2012-2013: De Ann Eastman-Jansen
- 2013-2014: Debra Worth
- 2014-2015: Rita Haxton
- 2015-2016: Jackie Gilbertson
- 2016-2017: Carmen Hansen
- 2017-2018: Stacey Tait-Goodale
- 2018-2019: Rebeccah Johnson
- 2019-2020: Deb Soholt
- 2020-2021: Jill Franken
- 2021-2022: Brenda Anderson
- 2022-2023: Mary Kraljic
- 2023-2024: Lois Tschetter
- 2024-2025: JoAnn Goodale
- 2025-2026: Kay Foland
Recognizes a South Dakota State University civil service or professional staff member currently employed in the College of Nursing who demonstrates significant leadership, commitment or dedication to the mission and values of the College of Nursing. The award will be presented during the May summit. Nominations and supporting documents are due by April 1, 2027. For questions, please contact Amanda Mitchell.
Criteria
- The nominee must be employed part time or full time in the College of Nursing the year in which they are nominated.
- The nominee must hold a CSA (civil service) or NFE (professional staff) position.
- The nominee may not have been a recipient of the award seven years prior to nomination.
- Nominees who are not recipients in one year are eligible for consideration the following year. An updated nomination must be submitted.
- A nominee for the College of Nursing Award for Excellence may also be eligible for other college or university awards.
- The nomination materials, letter of nomination and two supporting letters of support (separate from letter of nomination) must meet the submission deadline of April 1. Incomplete nominations will not be considered.
Nomination Process
Previous Recipients
- 2011: Lori Maher
- 2012: Mary Davenport
- 2013: Susan Rosen
- 2014: Meghan Peterson
- 2015: Jenny Kerkvliet
- 2016: Jackie Kirby
- 2017: Barb Ogaard
- 2018: Jenna Cowan
- 2019: Sherry Asper
- 2020: Gale Folsland
- 2021: Laura Jacobs
- 2022: Amanda Mitchell
- 2023: Shianne Ovall
- 2024: Susie Leahy
- 2025: Ruth Tvedt
- 2026: Mary Davenport
Recognizes nursing faculty who go beyond expected teaching, shaping the next generation of nurses through mentorship, leadership and compassionate education. Nominations and supporting documents are due by April 1, 2027. The award will be presented during the May summit. For questions, please contact Amanda Mitchell.
Criteria
- The nominee must be employed part time or full time in the College of Nursing the year in which they are nominated.
- The nominee must hold a faculty rank of instructor, lecturer, senior lecturer, clinical assistant professor, clinical associate professor, clinical professor, assistant professor, associate professor or full professor and not be in an administrative role (dean or assistant and associate deans).
- Serves as a role model and mentor for professional nursing.
- Demonstrates enthusiasm for teaching, learning and nursing that inspires and motivates students.
- Demonstrates interest in and respect for learners.
- Is fair and unbiased in their treatment of individual students.
- Excellent interpersonal skills.
- Develops collaborative working relationships with students and colleagues.
The nomination materials must include one letter of nomination and two letters of support. Incomplete nominations will not be considered
Nomination Process
Previous Recipients
- 2022: Annette Ray
- 2023: Venita Winterboer
- 2024: Theresa Garren-Grubbs
- 2025: Sue Basset
- 2026: Traci Gislason
Recognizes an outstanding second to fifth semester undergraduate student. The DAISY Foundation, as part of its service to the nursing profession's role in patient care, established the Student Award to provide colleges and schools of nursing a national recognition program that they may use to recognize and celebrate nursing students who demonstrate commitment to care and compassion and make the nurse-patient connection that makes such a difference in the healthcare experience. Nominations are due by April 20, 2027. Incomplete nominations will not be considered.
Criteria
- The nominee must be a second to fifth semester student in the College of Nursing at the time of nomination.
- One letter of nomination will be submitted in the nomination materials describing how the nominee meets the following criteria:
- Demonstrates compassion when working with patients and families.
- Demonstrates enthusiasm for learning and growth within the nursing field.
- Demonstrates advocacy for patients and families.
- Demonstrates collaboration and interpersonal skills when working with the healthcare team.
- As part of the nomination review process, the College of Nursing will also review the nominee's compliance of performance standards to confirm eligibility for this award.
Nomination Process
Previous Recipients
- 2026: Addison Abler (fourth semester Brookings standard BSN student)
Recognizes an outstanding professional staff or educator within the College of Nursing who consistently goes above and beyond in their role, demonstrating unwavering dedication, innovation and excellence in healthcare education. The award will be presented during the May summit. Nominations are due by April 1, 2027, at 5 p.m.
Criteria
The recipient of this award is a forward-thinking leader who embraces new technologies, implements cutting-edge teaching strategies and fosters an environment of continuous growth and improvement. They are champions for student success, preparing the next generation of healthcare professionals with the skills, knowledge and adaptability needed to meet today’s evolving workforce demands. Their passion for education and commitment to excellence drive them to seek out new opportunities, refine best practices and elevate the standards of healthcare training. With a tireless work ethic and an innovative mindset, this individual not only meets challenges with enthusiasm but also inspires those around them to strive for greatness. This award honors their dedication to shaping the future of healthcare through exceptional teaching, simulation-based learning strategies or innovative program development.
The Excellence in Healthcare Innovation award recognizes superior professional achievement by a professional staff or educator that is forward-thinking and embraces change. A professional staff or educator is chosen annually and will receive a plaque and monetary award of $1,500.
Eligibility: All regular, full-time professional staff or educators who have been employed with SDSU for more than two years are eligible for consideration.
Nomination Requirements:
- Nomination form should include multiple perspectives with specific examples of how the criteria are met: innovation, forward-thinking leader, cutting-edge technology and teaching strategies, tireless work ethic and meeting challenges with enthusiasm.
- No more than two single-page letters of support are required with the nomination application. It is not required.
- Nomination or letter of support must be from a direct supervisor. (Format limitations: 11-point font or larger, 1” margins).
Nomination Process
Nominators should provide a complete nomination letter for the Excellence in Healthcare Innovation and Education Award. Submit nominations to Mary Anne Krogh by April 1, 2027, at 5 p.m. Nominations and supporting materials received after the deadline will not be considered. Candidates cannot nominate themselves, but nominators may consult with nominees to obtain information for the packages. We strongly encourage nominators to work in teams for this process.
Previous Recipients
- 2025: Dianne Smith
- 2026: Christina Plemmons
Criteria
The outstanding researcher award is applicable to research-specific productivity. Faculty can receive the award multiple times if they have not received the award after 2017. If a faculty has previously received the outstanding scholar award, they remain eligible for the outstanding researcher at any time.
Outstanding scholar is applicable to all scholarly efforts that are not considered research, but could serve as a stepping stone for the outstanding researcher award.
Nomination Process
Upload a one to two page word document that's single spaced with 11-point Arial font and one inch margins and that outlines the following information:
- Category (researcher or scholar)
- Impact of researcher or scholar (note: does not have to have impact in all areas to be nominated)
- Practice
- Community
- Policy
- Service
- Outcomes of research or scholarship
- Publications
- Grants (please provide whether a training or research grant)
- Presentations
- Awards (please state the purpose of the award)
- Mentorship of students or peers
- Please provide level of students
- Please provide internal or external peers
- Partnerships cultivated by the researcher or scholar
- Please indicate who and how
Previous Recipients
- 2025: Danielle Schievelbein (researcher)
- 2024: Theresa Garren-Grubbs (researcher)
- 2023: Brandi Pravecek (researcher)
- 2022: Mary Isaacson (researcher)
- 2021: Alham Abuatiq (scholar)
- 2020: Sarah Mollman (researcher)
- 2019: Cynthia Elverson (researcher)
- 2018: Mary Minton (researcher)
- 2017: Barbara Hobbs (researcher)
- 2016: Polly Hulme (researcher)
- 2015: Heidi Mennenga (researcher)
- 2014: Mary Isaacson (researcher)
- 2012: Lois Tschetter (researcher)
- 2011: Cristina Lammers (researcher)
- 2010: Howard Wey (researcher)
- 2009: MaryLou Mylant (researcher)
- 2008: Sandra Bunkers (researcher)
- 2007: Nancy Fahrenwald (researcher
