College of Nursing Employee Awards, Scholarships, Fellowships, and Grants

Eligibility Criteria

This award recognizes excellence in teaching, whether classroom or clinical or both and will be awarded annually to a member of the faculty or teaching academic staff of the College of Nursing. Although the intention is to be inclusive, preference may be given to educators early in their teaching career who demonstrate potential for exemplary, committed, and long-term dedication to nursing in higher education. A constant pattern of excellence in teaching should be evident. Student evaluations should be included in determining the award.

Considerations for the award may include, but are not limited to:

• expertise in assisting students to gain theoretical knowledge and transfer it to client care,
• role modeling professional nursing practice,
• creativity in promoting learning,
• exemplary professional development in an area of nursing expertise, and
• application of research findings to nursing.

CeCelia Zorn Exemplary Teaching Award Nomination Form

Eligibility Criteria

The Dean’s Award for Administrative Professional Excellence will be based on a demonstration of behavior associated with positively contributing to the quality of work life for all employees of the College of Nursing while honoring their personal work-life boundaries. This award is given to one administrative professional at the university staff or professional academic staff classification and may not be split.  This award is not intended to be a reflection on an individual’s annual performance review and may be awarded in recognition of contributions towards a project, goal, or other short-time endeavors in addition to daily enterprise.

Considerations in positively contributing to the quality of work life for all employees may include, but are not limited to:

• Exemplifies empowerment and generosity,
• seeks continuous improvement of self and the College,
• demonstrates a proactive, data-driven, and collaborative approach to problem-solving,
• strives to create an environment of trust through open and honest communication, or
• is a leader in role modeling the prioritization of self-advocacy and overall well-being.

Dean's Award for Administrative Professional Excellence Nomination Form

Eligibility Criteria

The Ihle Family Award will be based on the demonstration of behaviors associated with caring and awarded to a nursing student, alumni, or member of the faculty/IAS of the College of Nursing.

Considerations in caring may include, but are not limited to:

• performance of nursing responsibilities in an unusually sensitive, caring way,
• a paper, project, or other creative endeavors that reflect the importance of caring in nursing practice,
• performance of teaching or administrative responsibilities in a manner that models the caring attributes associated with nursing, and
• activities that reflect a commitment to a caring colleagueship with peers, health care providers, and/or clients.

Ihle Family Award for Caring Nomination Form

Eligibility Criteria

This award recognizes excellence in clinical instruction and will be awarded annually to a member of the faculty or teaching academic staff of the Department of Nursing.

Considerations for the award may include, but are not limited to:

• collaborative relationships with agency staff,
• expertise in assisting students to transfer theoretical knowledge to client care,
• role-modeling professional nursing practice,
• creativity in promoting learning in practice environments,
• exemplary professional development in an area of clinical expertise, and
• application of research findings to clinical instruction.  A constant pattern of excellence in clinical instruction should be evident. 

Patricia M. Ostmoe Award for Faculty and Academic Staff Excellence in Clinical Instruction Nomination Form

Eligibility Criteria

This award recognizes excellence in service and will be awarded annually to a member of the faculty or teaching academic staff of the School of Nursing.

Considerations for the award may include, but are not limited to:

• consistent and outstanding service in department, school, college, university, and/or UW-System activities,
• outstanding leadership/service in academic, professional, and/or community organizations,
• participation in health-related policy-making activities, and
• service/leadership in the delivery of health care for the community.

Rita Kisting Sparks Faculty Service Award Nomination Form

Eligibility Criteria

Department of Nursing faculty who are either tenured or in their third or subsequent year of probationary service may apply or be nominated for the award. The Dean's Award will be based on creativity and scholarliness and awarded to a member of the faculty of the Department of Nursing.

Considerations around creativity and scholarliness may include, but are not limited to:

• completion of a nursing research project contributing to an improvement in nursing practice or nursing education,
• completion of a clinical nursing project contributing to an improvement in nursing care,
• completion of a scholarly paper which contributes to nursing science, and
• development of an innovative teaching strategy or nursing education methodology. The strategy or methodology must have been sufficiently evaluated to validate its efficacy and broad utility in nursing education.

Susan Van Ort Award for Faculty Creativity and Scholarliness Faculty Award Nomination Form

Purpose

This award recognizes the importance of remaining current in an area of Nursing specialty and in engaging in scholarly activity with the College of Nursing. Ensuring excellence in the professional status of the faculty is critical to carry out the College’s mission.

Eligibility and Criteria

Instructional Academic Staff (IAS) or Faculty are eligible. IAS candidates must be currently enrolled in a PhD or DNP program in good standing. Activities included for usage of this fund would be scholarship activity, research towards achieving tenure, or assistance in achieving a Ph.D. or DNP while on the faculty of UWEC College of Nursing.

Download instructions and application form.

(3 years, $12,500/year, early-career)

Current Fellow: Dr. Beth Evans (2024-2027)

Dr. Evans will use the fellowship monies to develop new knowledge and support her scholarship endeavors in two primary areas: Continued development of an innovative clinical leadership immersion for senior-level baccalaureate nursing students and the examination of self-care skills among nursing students.

(5 years, $12,500/year, mid-career)

Current Fellow: Dr. Jeanette Olsen (2023-2028)

Dr. Olsen will use the fellowship monies to strengthen her expertise, teaching, and scholarly contributions to nursing informatics. This will include increasing her informatics knowledge and learning innovative data analysis methods.

(5 years, $12,500/year, late-career)

Current Fellow: Dr. Dalete Mota (2024-2029)

Dr. Mota plans to use the award to continue developing research in nursing oncology, an area she has dedicated her career to. The financial resources provided by the award will enable her to undertake comprehensive studies in oncology nursing, potentially leading to groundbreaking advancements in patient care and nursing practices. 

This fund provides grants to faculty to attend and actively participate in professional meetings, conferences, and activities where they serve on committees, task forces, planning committees, or are board members. It is hoped that by providing this support, more college members will engage in such activities, enriching their professional lives and building extended collegial connections while serving the discipline.

To be considered, applicants must submit a 1-2 page application detailing their active involvement in the specified professional opportunity. Funding requests are to be submitted to the Dean’s Assistant. Applications should include:

• information about the professional development activity for which you are seeking funding,
• your specific involvement or role, and
• how your participation will enhance professional development and service to the profession.

The maximum amount available for an award is $1500. At least two awards will be made each academic year (Fall and Spring), but a faculty member may only receive one grant per academic year.

Fall applications are due December 1.
Spring applications are due April 1.

(established 2020)

Awardees:

2024 - Theresa Dachel
2023 - Dr. Ben Bogle
2022 - Mary Pomietlo
2021 - Pam Guthman
2020 - Jeanette Olsen

(established 1988)

Awardees:

2024 - Der-Fa Lu
2023 - Pajyeeb Lo
2022 - Rachel Merkel
2021 - Linda Young
2020 - Debra Hofmann
2019 – Meg Lagunas and Charlotte Sortedahl
2018 – Robin Beeman
2017 – Diane Marcyjanik
2016 – Der-Fa Lu
2015 – Amy Dwyer
2014 – Bonnie Solem and Jeanne Weggel
2013 – Mary Gigstad and Tara Kennedy
2012 – Debra Jansen and Evalee Kunkel
2011 – Susan Peck and Rita Sperstad
2010 – Cheryl Lapp
2009 – Marcia Bollinger and Robert Lieske
2008 – Susan Moch
2007 – Rita Sperstad and Marshfield Faculty
2006 – Patricia Boyles and Winnie Morse
2005 – Linda Duffy
2004 – Cathy Cooper and Jeanne Weggel
2003 – Debra Jansen
2002 – Rita Kisting Sparks
2001 – Patricia Garber
2000 – Lorraine Smith
1999 – Cathie Chittendon and Karen Witt
1998 – Susan Strom
1997 – Karen Danielson
1996 – Karen Geissler, Thomas Thelan and Pamela Wold
1995 – Sr. Joel Jacobi
1994 – Susan Diemart Moch
1993 – Karen Solheim
1992 – Patricia Nelson-Komro
1991 – Kathern Axelsen
1990 – Barbara Ann Barrickman
1988 – Theresa Kunkel Williams

(established 1991)

Awardees:

2024 - Cassandra Ndlovu
2023 - Meg Lagunas
2022 - Ben Bogle
2021 - Jane Hauger and Ms. Vickkie Zietlow
2020 - Meg Lagunas and Dr. Gunnar Larson
2019 – Mohammad Alasagheirin, Heather Iverson, and Amanda Seeley
2018 – Lisa Schiller and Suzanne Voros
2017 – Arin VanWormer
2016 – Linda Sargent
2015 – Debra Hofmann
2014 – Jill Hecker-Fernandes and Heather Iverson
2013 – Diane Marcyjanick
2012 – Gunnar Larson
2011 – Melissa Boellaard
2010 – Lois Waltonen
2009 – Cheryl Brandt
2008 – Evalee Kunkel
2007 – Gail Hanson Brenner
2006 – Cathy Berry
2005 – Rosemary Jadack
2004 – Joan Stehle Werner
2003 – Nola Schmitt
2002 – Patricia Garber
2001 – Sandra Kottke
2000 – Karen Danielson
1999 – Linda Duffy
1998 – Sheila Smith
1997 – Rita Sperstad
1996 – Cheryl Brandt
1995 – Catherine Nosek
1994 – Cecelia Zorn
1993 – Kathryn Anderson
1992 – Nancy Danou
1991 – Susan Peck

(established 2003)

Awardees:

2024 - Lisa Schiller
2023 - Gunnar Larson
2022 - Catherine Wildenberg
2021 - Dalete Mota
2020 - Debra Jansen
2019 – Diane Marcyjanik and Mary Zwygart-Stauffacher
2018 – Pamela Guthman
2017 – Gunnar Larson
2016 – Rorey Pritchard
2015 – Norah Airth Kindree
2014 – Catherine Berry
2013 – Cheryl Brandt
2012 – Mary Zwygart-Stauffacher
2011 – Charlotte Sortedahl
2010 – Gail Hanson Brenner
2009 – Rosemary Jadack
2008 – Sue Peck
2007 – Lois Taft
2006 – Jayne Bielecki
2005 – Cathy Cooper
2004 – Michaelene Mirr Jansen
2003 – Karen Maddox

(established 1985)

Awardees

2024 - Mohammad Alasagheirin
2023 - Dalete Mota
2022 - Lorraine Smith
2021 - Ann Aschenbrenner
2020 - Amanda Seeley and Sarah Conlin
2019 – Jeanette Olsen and Rachel Merkel
2018 – Der-Fa Lu
2017 - Charlotte Sortedahl
2016 – Mary Zwygart-Stauffacher
2015 – Cheryl Lapp
2014 – Norah Airth-Kindree
2013 – Susan Diemert Moch
2012 – Mary Canales
2011 – Rachel Merkel
2010 – CeCelia Zorn
2009 – Nita Johnson
2008 – Joan Stehle Werner
2007 – Lois Taft
2006 – Sheila Smith
2005 – Cheryl Brandt
2004 – Mary Zwygart-Stauffacher
2003 – Lois Taft
2002 – M. Cecilia Wendler
2001 – Rosemary Jadack
2000 – Karen Solheim
1999 – Debra Jansen
1998 – Susan Diemert Moch
1997 – Karen Maddox
1996 – Audrey Bryan
1995 – Kathryn Anderson
1994 – Kathleen Valentine
1993 – Marjorie Oleson
1992 – Cecelia Zorn
1991 – Susan Diemert Moch
1990 – Marjorie Bottoms
1989 – Michaelene Mirr
1988 – Rita Kisting Sparks
1987 – Joan Stehle-Werner
1986 – Gay Lindquist
1985 – Sandra Sweeney

(established 2022)

Awardees:

2024 - Melissa Gullickson
2023 - Andy Hanson
2022 - Kari Vanden Busch

(established 2013 - closed 2024)

Awardees

2023 - Stacey Stafne
2022 - Theresa Dachel
2021 - Lorraine Smith
2020 - (no award)
2019 - Cheryl Lapp
2018 - Norah Airth-Kindree
2017 - (no award)
2016 - Ann Recine
2015 - Der-Fa Lu
2014 - Donna Shellenberger
2013 - Debra Hofmann

(established 2014)

Awardees:

2023 - Dr. Theresa Dachel
2022 - Lorraine Smith
2021 - Lorraine Smith
2020 - Ann Aschenbrenner
2019 – Jeanette Olsen
2018 – Amanda Seeley
2017 – Mohammad Alasagheirin
2016 – Debra Hofmann
2015 – Rachel Haupt-Harrington
2014 – Charlotte Sortedahl

(established 2020)

Awardees:

2024 - Catherine Wildenberg
2023 - Dalete Mota
2022 - Catherine Wildenberg
2021 - Catherine Wildenberg
2020 - Lorraine Smith

(This was a one-time award)

Awardee:

2020 – Catherine Wildenberg