UB Nursing Students Receive Awards at Commencement

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

They are:

• Valerie Demmin of Grand Island, the Shirley D. DeVoe Communication Award presented to a graduating graduate student who had demonstrated superior skill in communicating with and for his or her patients and clients. The award is endowed by Devoe, a distinguished alumna and friend of the nursing school.

• Christina DeLuca of North Collins, the Shirley D. DeVoe Communication Award presented to a graduating baccalaureate student who has demonstrated superior skill in communicating with and for his or her patients and clients.

• Isabel Molina of North Tonawands, the S. Mouchly Small Award recognizing a graduating graduate 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. The award is endowed by a distinguished nursing alumna, Sophie Small, to honor her late husband, S. Mouchly Small, UB professor emeritus of psychiatry.

• Keith Mages of Orchard Park, the S. Mouchly Small Award recognizing 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

• Lenore Nigrelli of Buffalo, the Sigma Theta Tau, Gamma Kappa Chapter Award presented by the national nursing honor society to encourage and recognize superior scholarship, leadership and achievement in nursing. The award recognizes a graduating graduate student who possesses these characteristics and who is a current member of the chapter.

• Megan Rizzitello of Williamsville, the Sigma Theta Tau, Gamma Kappa Chapter Award presented by the national nursing honor society to encourage and recognize superior scholarship, leadership and achievement in nursing. The award recognizes a graduating baccalaureate student who possesses these characteristics and who is a current member of the chapter.

• Tammy Smith of Lockport, the Ruth Gale Elder Award for Excellence in Nursing Research recognizing a master's-degree student who has demonstrated outstanding knowledge and ability in research and who holds special promise for leadership in nursing research. Smith also received a scholarship from the Nova G. Petsan Scholarship Fund, established by the late Nova G. Petsan -- a 1922 graduate of UB -- for the purpose of providing scholarships to undergraduate and graduate students in the UB School of Nursing.

• Carolyn Ingram of Brampton, Ontario, the Ruth Gale Elder Award for Excellence in Nursing Research recognizing a doctoral student who has demonstrated outstanding knowledge and ability in research and who holds special promise for leadership in nursing research

• Amy Woods of Liverpool, the Ruth T. McGrorey Award for Excellence in Nursing recognizing a baccalaureate student who has demonstrated outstanding knowledge of nursing theory and excellence in nursing practice. This award is named in honor of Ruth T. McGrorey, dean of the School of Nursing from 1966-73.

• Michael Fachko of West Seneca, the Anne Walker Sengbusch Award for Leadership in School and Community Activities recognizing a graduating graduate student who has provided notable service and leadership to the School of Nursing, the university and/or the community. This award is named for Anne Walker Sengbusch, founding dean of the School of Nursing (1936-65).

• Laura Contreras of Spring Valley, the Anne Walker Sengbusch Award for Leadership in School and Community Activities recognizing a graduating baccalaureate student who has provided notable service and leadership to the School of Nursing, the university and/or the community.

• Saleemah Elamin of Buffalo, the New York State Nurses Association District I Award presented to one graduating senior from each of the area nursing schools who demonstrates professionalism in nursing in her/his interactions with clients and colleagues, and intends to practice nursing in District I

The students who received scholarships are:

• Doctoral student Wannapa P. Suttiamnuaykul of Thailand, the Coletta A. Klug Fund Award established by faculty and alumni to honor Coletta A. Klug, former chair of the Department of Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing and professor emeritus in the School of Nursing. The award, endowed by Klug, provides monetary support for educational, clinical or research activities in psychiatric mental-health nursing by the selected baccalaureate and/or graduate student recipients.

• Janinne M. Blank of Lancaster, the Millard Fillmore Scholarship established by the Millard Fillmore Hospital Class of 1953 to be awarded to a registered nurse who graduated from the Millard Fillmore Hospital School of Nursing and is pursuing further study at the UB School of Nursing.