Congratulations, U-M School of Nursing Class of 2014! (pictures added)

Submitted on May 5, 2014

Dean Potempa, faculty, alumni, families, and classmates proudly salute UMSN degree recipients.

As gray skies gave way to sunshine on flowering branches, thousands of well-wishers gathered at historic Hill Auditorium on the campus of University of Michigan on May 3, to recognize the School of Nursing class of 2014.

“We are here to celebrate your achievements, to share your appreciation for your faculty mentors, and to share the joy with your families and friends who today witness the accomplishment of your professional goals,” said Kathleen Potempa, Ph.D., RN, FAAN, Dean of University of Michigan School of Nursing (UMSN) in her welcoming remarks. “Today we celebrate with you as you begin your professional life, dedicated to the service of society through practice, scholarship, and the mentorship of others.”  Dean Potempa highlighted graduating students’ excellence at all levels, including:
 
  • Doctoral: emerging leaders in research and clinical practice, making discoveries and contributions that will advance prevention of disease and promotion of health. 
  • Master of Science: advanced practice nurses who will fill critical roles in health care at a time when primary care and other providers of their specialties are in great demand.
  • Baccalaureate: graduates whose curriculum gave them more experience leading projects to improve quality and safety of patients than any group in the country at the baccalaureate level.

Student Speakers

The ceremony included remarks from three students representing each of the degree levels. The speeches highlighted academic memories, embraced school spirit, gave gratitude to their supporters and acknowledged the exciting challenges ahead.
  • Lenette Jones (Doctoral): “There has never been a better time to be a nurse with a doctoral degree. As we enter this new phase of our career, there is a critical need for nurses prepared at the doctoral level –both PhD and doctor of nursing practice, also called DNP. There are vulnerable populations that need us – they need us to generate and apply new knowledge, so that they can receive the best care, regardless of age, race, class, or gender.”
  • Alexandra Stencel (Master of Science): "'Forever, Go Blue.' Our mantra. The words every Michigan graduate lives by. They’re comforting words, because I know wherever I go and hear them chanted or sung, I know there’s family close by. But 'Forever, Go Blue,' shouldn’t only be a comfort to you and me. Our patients, the people we signed up to care for, to heal, to protect, will find those words a peaceful reminder that they’re in good, capable hands."
  • Kristina Quitos (Baccalaureate): “All of the graduates here have become more than simply leaders in health; we are also leaders in love, patience, and compassion. Our ‘Michigan Difference’ education and life lessons we have learned at U of M have given every one of us the opportunity not only to enhance our leadership but to also become the best versions of ourselves.”

Awards

  • R. Faye McCain Awards: Rachel Geml, Viktoriya Kagan
  • Josephine M.  Sana Award: Abigail Machoka
  • Mary M. Schroder, RN Scholarship Award: Ariel Loll
  • Frank and Mary Reynolds Memorial Awards: Kristen Choi,  Audrey Cialek, Emily McKenzie
  • Dorothy Salibian Donabedian Award: Janna Kramer
  • Ellen H. Toporek Memorial Award: Megan Stoddard
  • Ella E. McNeil Award: Daniel Ochylski
  • Jennifer S. Joscelyn Memorial Fund Award: Caroline Mencio
  • Emilie Gleason Sargent Award: Monica Vasquez
  • Judy M. Judd Alumni Award: Angela Simwenyi
  • Gerald deKalands Certificate of Excellence: Shelby Canon
  • A. Josephine Brown Award: Jessica Page
  • Hazel M. Avery Maternity Nursing Award: Elyse Deshaw
  • Nursing Business Faculty Award to an Outstanding Graduate Student: Kyle Karajankovich
  • Jane Wilson Coon Undergraduate Student Award: Ariel Loll
  • Nursing Business and Health Systems Program Award to an Outstanding Undergraduate Student: Jacob Wardach
  • Honors Program Outstanding Project Award: Jillian Kay/Dr. Jody Lori
  • Dumas Leadership Awards for Nursing Excellence: Jennifer Ragnoni, Minna Sarah Navvab
  • Bonnie Kaye Mallory-Foreman Awards: Kelsey Olinik, Meagan Ruth Chuey
  • Penny F. Pierce Award: Kimberly Kozlowski
  • Sally Lechlitner Lusk Award: Clara Julien
 

Teacher of the Year

Associate Professor Julia S. Seng, PhD, CNM, FAAN, was selected as the 2014 Mae Edna Doyle Teacher of the Year. The award recognizes excellence in evidence-based teaching, knowledge of subject areas taught, skillful communication and presentation, ability to stimulate and challenge students’ intellectual capacity, demonstrated interest in students, and impact on students’ professional lives. This award honors the memory of Mae Edna Doyle, a distinguished graduate from the Class of 1938. Dr. Seng teaches and mentors undergraduate and graduate students at both the School of Nursing and the Department of Women’s Studies. Her research focuses on the effects of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) on women’s health and childbearing.
 
Each year the winner of this award is selected through nominations from faculty, staff and students. During the graduation ceremony, Dean Potempa read a few passages from the nominations including this one from a student, “Julia is an exceptional mentor. She focuses on each of her students with an absolute awareness of their strengths and weaknesses, and requires the best they can bring. Julia is supportive and encouraging, while at the same time exacting in her standards. She does not hesitate to require another, and another, and yet another, revision, each time providing concrete, specific feedback to improve the work. Her expectations create a climate of support for each student to bring their best work, to expect critique, to work harder, to improve. I am a better clinician, researcher, teacher, and person because I have had Dr. Seng's mentoring for the past three years.”
 
Congratulations to all, and Go Blue!