UB Nursing School Graduates Receive Awards

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Eighteen students in the University at Buffalo School of Nursing received awards and scholarships at the school's commencement ceremony in May.

Lynn Marie Smith of Parkhurst Boulevard, Buffalo, the Shirley D. DeVoe Communication Award given to a graduate student who has demonstrated superior skill in communicating with and for her patients and clients. The award is endowed by DeVoe, a distinguished alumna and friend of the nursing school.

Sharon Eileen Zimmerman of Baycrest Drive, Rochester, the Shirley D. DeVoe Communication Award given to an undergraduate student who has demonstrated superior skill in communicating with and for her patients and clients. The award is endowed by DeVoe, a distinguished alumna and friend of the nursing school.

Rita A. Mack of Fries Road, Tonawanda, the S. Mouchly Small Award, which is endowed by a distinguished nursing alumna, Sophie Small, to honor her late husband, a professor emeritus of psychiatry in the UB School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. The award recognizes a graduating baccalaureate student who has demonstrated superior knowledge and skill in psychiatric mental-health nursing and who exhibits an understanding of, and sensitivity to, the special needs of clients and their families, as well as the ability to respond to these needs.

Patricia L. Travers of Albright Road, Ransomville, the Sigma Theta Tau, Gamma Kappa Chapter Award, from Sigma Theta Tau, the national nursing honor society, to encourage and recognize superior scholarship, leadership and achievement in nursing; awarded to a graduate student who possesses these characteristics and who is a member of the chapter.

Michelle Lynn Wania of Erath Drive, Rochester, the Sigma Theta Tau Gamma Kappa Chapter Award, from Sigma Theta Tau, the national nursing honor society, to encourage and recognize superior scholarship, leadership and achievement in nursing; awarded to a graduating baccalaureate student who possesses these characteristics and who is a member of the chapter.

Jane E. Poss, of Breezewood Commons, East Amherst, the Ruth Gale Elder Award for Excellence in Nursing Research, established by Elder, a former dean of the nursing school. The award recognizes a doctoral student who has demonstrated outstanding knowledge and ability in research and who holds special promise for leadership in nursing research.

Anne Margaret Galko of Inwood Place, Buffalo, the Ruth Gale Elder Award for Excellence in Nursing Research, established by Elder, a former dean of the nursing school. The award recognizes a graduate student who has demonstrated outstanding knowledge and ability in research and who holds special promise for leadership in nursing research.

Janice S. Fisher of Linwood Avenue, Tonawanda, the Ruth T. McGrorey Award for Excellence in Nursing in honor of McGrorey, a former dean of the nursing school. The award recognizes a baccalaureate student who has demonstrated outstanding knowledge of nursing theory and excellence in nursing practice.

Patricia Carole Newman of South Freeman Road, Orchard Park, the Anne Walker Sengbusch Award for Leadership in School and Community Activities, named for the founding dean of the nursing school. The award recognizes a graduating student who has provided notable service and leadership to the nursing school, the university and the community.

Joan M. Brady of Woodlawn Drive, Great Valley, the Coletta A. Klug Fund Award established by faculty and alumni of the school to honor Klug, a former chair of the Department of Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing and professor emeritus in the nursing school. The award, endowed by Klug, provides monetary support for educational, clinical or research activities in psychiatric mental-health nursing by the selected graduate student recipient.

Karen W. Manning of Zimmerman Road, Hamburg, the Millard Fillmore Scholarship established by the Millard Fillmore Hospital Class of 1953 and awarded to a registered nurse who graduated from the Millard Fillmore Hospital School of Nursing and is pursuing further study at the nursing school.

Isabel K. Komornieki of North Avenue, West Seneca, the A. Margaret Larsen Memorial Scholarship named for the first faculty member to hold a doctorate in the UB nursing school. Larsen was instrumental in beginning the master's program in nursing at UB. Scholarship, activities and need are considered in the selection of the recipient.

Isabel Kozak of Greenbrier Lane, North Tonawanda, the A. Margaret Larsen Memorial Scholarship named for the first faculty member to hold a doctorate in the UB nursing school. Larsen was instrumental in beginning the master's program in nursing at UB. Scholarship, activities and need are considered in the selection of the recipient.

Peter Anders of Embassy Square, Tonawanda; Jennifer L. Datta of Baywater Drive, Getzville; Brian Jackson of Shoreham Parkway, Buffalo, and Mary Ann Meeker of East Holland Road, Holland are recipients of the Nova G. Petsan Scholarship Fund established by Petsan, a 1922 graduate of the nursing school. Demonstration of high-grade scholarship in scholarly courses and of financial need are prerequisites for the award of this scholarship.