Criteria for Nomination
Consider nominating an outstanding nursing colleague, faculty member, nursing teacher, nurse educator, clinician, or any deserving nurse colleague for one of the seven chapter awards below. Submit a letter of support OR a PowerPoint slide with bullet points supporting their nomination and describe how the applicant meets the defined criteria. Preference given to Sigma members.
Please send nominations to cheryl.armstrong@nurs.utah.edu
Early Career Nurse Innovator
- Registered nurse in practice for two to five years
- Demonstrates skill in nursing practice
- Contributes to quality of care by leading or actively participating in improving quality of patient care
- Participates in continuing education to further enhance nursing practice
Excellence in Education
- Demonstrates excellence in teaching
- Actively promotes growth of nursing students and/or nursing professionals
- Contributes to scholarship (research, systematic evaluation, publishing, presenting) in nursing education
- Positively influences the professional practice of nursing and the public’s image of nursing through excellence in teaching
Excellence in Leadership
- Receives recognition as a nursing leader in education, practice, administration, and/or research
- Influences leadership in nursing through visionary and innovative approaches to leadership
- Creates an environment that enhances the image of nursing
- Participates in the development of nursing leaders
Excellence in Mentorship
- Actively shapes and promotes the careers of nurses
- Freely shares own resources for the growth and development of individual nurses or groups of nurses
- Maintains the mentoring relationship with nurses over time
Excellence in Practice
- Majority of time is spent in direct patient care
- Demonstrates expertise in an area of clinical nursing practice
- Advances the practice of nursing to enhance quality patient care
- Positively influences the image of nursing through practice
Excellence in Research
- Conducts original research involving innovative projects
- Disseminates research findings to a broad audience
- Encourages research activities within Sigma and the nursing community
Excellence in Scholarship
- Connects the research to practice settings with innovative evidence-based practice changes and quality improvement projects
- Disseminates evidence-based practice and quality improvement innovations
- Encourages scholarship activities and innovations within Sigma, nursing, academia, and healthcare settings
2024 Awardees
Previous Awardees
Excellence in Clinical Practice: Cara Wolf
Excellence in Education: Shawna Sisler
Excellence in Leadership: Linda C. Hofmann
Excellence in Mentorship: Rebekah Perkins
Early Career Nurse Innovator: Anna Alder
Excellence in Research: Djin Tay
Excellence in Scholarship: Sara Simonson
Research Grant Award: Natasha Ansari
Clinical Educator Legacy Award: Tamara Ekker
Excellence in Clinical Practice: Dr. Frances Johnson
Excellence in Education: Dr. Julie Gee
Excellence in Leadership: Cheryl Armstrong and Rebecca Wilson
Excellence in Mentorship: Dr. John Nerges
Early Career Nurse Innovator: Dr. Paige Miller
Excellence in Research/Scholarship: Dr. Perry Gee
Research Grant Award: Scott Christensen
Excellence in Clinical Practice: Erin Johnson Cole
Excellence in Education: Ann Butt and Nancy Allen
Excellence in Leadership: Jennifer Macali
Excellence in Mentorship: Brenda Luther
Research Grant Award: Kelly Mansfield and Lisa Taylor Swanson
Excellence in Clinical Practice: Jessica Ellis
Excellence in Education: Nanci McLeskey
Excellence in Leadership: Connie Madden
Excellence in Mentorship: Carolyn Scheese
Research Grant Award: Shawna Sisler and Youjeong Kang
Early Career Innovator: Brittany Low
Excellence in Clinical Practice: Jennifer Clifton and Michelle Litchman
Excellence in Education: Linda Edelman
Excellence in Leadership: Jennifer Macali
Excellence in Mentorship: Nancy Allen
Research Grant Award: Sarah Wawrzynski