COLLEGE LEADERSHIP
COLLEGE GALA PLANNING COMMITTEE
MARY LOU SOLE PhD, RN, CCNS, CNL, FAAN, FCCM
KATIE KORKOSZ
Dean, Orlando Health Endowed Chair in
Senior Director for Advancement
Nursing and UCF Pegasus Professor CAROLYN PETAGNO NORMA CONNER
Director of Marketing and Communications
PhD, RN, FNAP Associate Dean for Academic Excellence
CHRISTINA GONZALEZ
and Associate Professor
Assistant Director of Alumni Engagement
CARMEN GIURGESCU
LISA GOLDBLATT
PhD, RN, WHNP, FAAN
Event Coordinator
Associate Dean for Research, Chatlos Foundation Endowed Chair in Nursing
ASHLEY AKEN
and Professor
Event Assistant
MAUREEN COVELLI
JULIE HARPER
PhD, RN
Senior Communications Advisor
Chair of Department of Nursing Practice and Associate Professor JOELLEN EDWARDS PhD, RN, FAAN Chair of Department of Nursing Systems, Hugh F. and Jeannette G. McKean Endowed Chair in Nursing and Professor JESSICA SIMMONS EdD Assistant Dean of Students
A special thanks to the UCF College of Nursing Alumni Chapter Board, including Kimberly Bogers ’18BSN, ’20MSN, RN, Reunion Chair, and Nadine Garcia ’18MSN, RN, Recognition Chair.
DEAN’S MESSAGE Welcome to the 40th Anniversary Virtual Gala for the UCF College of Nursing. While the COVID-19 pandemic caused us to delay last year’s event and change to a virtual celebration, it doesn’t change the significance of this milestone and the collective impact of four decades of Knight nurses. Our history of excellence and our bright future ahead are the result of thousands of students and alumni, and countless faculty and leaders who have chosen to be a part of our story. That story began in Fall 1979 when a small group of undergraduate students and faculty members began the nursing program at UCF. These trailblazers, who tonight are celebrating their 40th class reunion, and those that followed in their footsteps have all made valuable contributions to what is today one of the nation’s best nursing programs. We’re so proud. Tonight, we reunite as a UCF nursing community to honor our past, celebrate our achievements and toast to our future. We also honor our 40 Noble Knight Nurse Award winners. These extraordinary alumni exemplify our values and are shining bright in our profession. While I don’t know what the future holds, I know it is better with more Knight nurses in it. As Knights, we “Charge On!” and support one another. We would not be where we are today without the generous support of our donors and community, but we need your continued support to realize our full potential. Since tonight’s virtual gala is a free event, consider giving an anniversary gift to the UCF College of Nursing. Every amount makes a difference and the need has never been greater. Our community and the world need more Knight nurses to care, to lead and to innovate. “Charge On!” And change lives! MARY LOU SOLE PhD, RN, CCNS, CNL, FAAN, FCCM Dean, UCF College of Nursing Orlando Health Endowed Chair in Nursing UCF Pegasus Professor, UCF’s Highest Faculty Honor
TONIGHT’S EVENTS
TONIGHT’S HOST
Music Performance Saxophonist Reginald Ellison Welcome Host Meredith McDonough Anchor, WESH 2 Dr. Alexander N. Cartwright President, University of Central Florida Opening Remarks Dean Mary Lou Sole, UCF College of Nursing Noble Knight Nurse Award Ceremony Honoring 40 UCF College of Nursing alumni in the categories of Practice, Education, Service, Leadership, Research, and Charge On! Closing Remarks Dean Mary Lou Sole, UCF College of Nursing Virtual Toast Celebrating 40 years of excellence and our bright future ahead Music Performance Saxophonist Reginald Ellison
Meredith McDonough Anchor, WESH 2 Meredith McDonough is an award-winning anchor and journalist who has called Central Florida home since joining WESH 2 in 2011. The mother of three, with a fourth on the way, currently is co-anchor on the early evening and late news where she earned an Associated Press award and Emmy award for live breaking news coverage. Before WESH 2, Meredith served as anchor/reporter at its sister station, WPBFTV in West Palm Beach. Originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, she graduated cum laude from Allegheny College in Meadville, Pa., where she was honored with the prestigious Wakefield Prize for excellence in mass communications. A post-graduate internship at Fox News Channel in New York confirmed her passion for telling news stories and she has continued the pursuit of her childhood dream ever since. When not at WESH 2 News, she enjoys golfing and attending Orlando Magic games with her husband.
NOBLE KNIGHT NURSE AWARDS In celebration of the 40th anniversary, the UCF College of Nursing is honoring 40 alumni who reflect its values of excellence, innovation, integrity, compassion, service and community. Tonight’s 40 Noble Knight Nurse honorees are alumni who are admired and respected for their exceptional leadership and unwavering commitment to serve others. The inaugural class of Noble Knight Nurse award recipients include direct care providers, innovators, educators and scientists. Armed with one or more nursing degrees or certificates from UCF, these Knight nurses have achieved great success, but most importantly, have made a profound difference in the lives of others through their contributions to the profession and community. “All of our nursing alumni, more than 12,000 strong, are high-achievers and make a difference serving patients, students and the community every day,” said Nadine Garcia ’18MSN, RN, alumni chapter board recognition chair. “These 40 Noble Knight Nurse award recipients stood out for their extraordinary achievements. They serve as an inspiration for us all to continue reaching for the stars and be the golden example in the profession.” Read more about the Noble Knight Nurse award winners at nursing.ucf.edu/40.
40TH ANNIVERSARY VIRTUAL GALA UCF COLLEGE OF NURSING
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PRACTICE
Suzanne Ashworth ’11MSN
Patricia Geddie ’15PhD
Lori Hill-Bigelow ’81BSN
Annabeth Huff ’15BSN
Cynthia Kling ’97BSN ’05MSN
Vicki L. Montoya ’83BSN ’01MSN ’13PhD
Lauren Morata ’09BSN ’17DNP
Sarah Rose Thornton ’18BSN
EDUCATION
Kelly Allred ’07PhD
Joyce DeGennaro ’03 ’09BSN ’13MSN
Kelly C. Eberbach ’15DNP ’17Cert.
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40TH ANNIVERSARY VIRTUAL GALA UCF COLLEGE OF NURSING
Sotos G. Djiovanis ’15BSN ’20MSN
Dawn O. Eckhoff ’18PhD ’20Cert.
Kate Dorminy ’06BSN ’10MSN
Sherrina Stewart ’06BSN ’16MSN
SERVICE
Aly Angel ’03MS ’09BSN ’12Cert. ’17MSN
Chelsea Arnold ’11BSN
Frank Guido-Sanz ’18Certificate
Jean Davis ’19PhD
Maria Stahl ’08MSN ’14DNP
LEADERSHIP
Trish Celano ’10MSN
Rosemary Notarantonio ’81BSN
Michele Fackler ’00BSN ’12MSN
Joy Parchment ’15PhD
Natalie Harper ’07BSN ’20MSN
Julie Vincent ’16DNP
Louise Kaigle ’01BSN ’02MSN
Eugene Waterval ’09MSN ’20PhD
Edwin Loftin ’18DNP
Cathleen Wheatley ’17DNP
40TH ANNIVERSARY VIRTUAL GALA UCF COLLEGE OF NURSING
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RESEARCH
Valerie Danesh ’03 ’06BSN ’06MS ’15PhD
LTC MeLisa Gantt ’10PhD
Valerie Lapp ’99BSN ’09MSN ’16PhD
Sigrid Ladores ’13PhD
Victoria Loerzel ’07PhD
CHARGE ON
Kenneth Dion ’91BSN
Jason A. Duprat ’09BSN
Blake Lynch (Nurse Blake) ’14BSN
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40TH ANNIVERSARY VIRTUAL GALA UCF COLLEGE OF NURSING
Rachel Groves ’05BSN ’10MSN
Cory McFarlane ’16BSN
HELP UCF NURSING
“CHARGE ON!”
GIVE AN ANNIVERSARY GIFT TODAY Find a cause that is meaningful to you to make an impact on the future of UCF nursing and new generations of Knight nurses. EVERY GIFT MAKES A DIFFERENCE. •
Student Emergency Assistance Fund to be a helping hand to students facing unexpected crises and financial hardships, and keep them in school to achieve their dream of a degree
•
Nursing Student Scholarships to help nursing students, from first-generation to nurse practitioners in rural healthcare, and honor someone who has impacted your life
•
Fund the Future of Nursing by supporting innovation, simulation and research to make valuable contributions to nursing education and improve patient outcomes
Give today at ucffoundation.org/givetoucfnursing
40TH ANNIVERSARY VIRTUAL GALA UCF COLLEGE OF NURSING
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CELEBRATING A CLASS REUNION INAUGURAL CLASS OF 1981
40th Reunion “The inaugural class was truly exceptional.” — Dr. Frances Smith (pictured above on left), professor emerita and one of the original faculty members.
“We were all in it together to make the first year successful.” — Linda Davidson ’81BSN
“It was an inclusive, supportive, and truly a very special environment. I feel so fortunate to have been a part of it.” — Rosemary Notarantonio ’81BSN
“We all learned and taught each other. Not just professor to student, the faculty was learning at the same time. I took that into every senior management position I had after that as leadership.” — David Hanke ’81BSN
“The faculty was so generous in ensuring that (we) received clinical experiences that were pertinent to (our) needs and continued development. It was at UCF that I really gained a deep appreciation of the profession of nursing.” — Patricia Schmidt ’81BSN
The Class of ‘81 instituted the tradition of the Nightingale ceremony where graduating seniors were awarded Nightingale lamps. Photo courtesy of Patricia Schmidt.
“I remember the kindness of Dr. Verna Brinson. I was nominated for an award to be given at a dinner event, but I didn’t have the ability to pay for it. She purchased the ticket for me to be able to attend. I am also very glad we no longer have to wear silly hats!” — Darcy Harris ’81BSN
“I met my now husband at a gathering celebrating our graduation. Heidi Jonas and I were in charge of sodas!” — Loreen Hand ’81BSN ’13MSN
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40TH ANNIVERSARY VIRTUAL GALA UCF COLLEGE OF NURSING
MORE MILESTONE REUNIONS Thousands of now Knight nurse alumni have followed in the footsteps of the trailblazing Class of 1981, including these classes who are also celebrating milestone reunions tonight. Classes of 1986 | 1991 | 1996 | 2001 | 2006 | 2011 | 2016
CLASS OF ’96
CLASS OF ’91
CLASS OF ’01
CLASS OF ’06
CLASS OF ’16 40TH ANNIVERSARY VIRTUAL GALA UCF COLLEGE OF NURSING
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HISTORY OF EXCELLENCE First Class of BSN students
1979
1982 Became the Department of Nursing in the then College of Health
1981
1984
1983 Expand to UCF Cocoa campus; First 32 members inducted into nursing honor society; RN to BSN degree track offered
Nationally accredited; Inaugural class graduates and all pass state board licensure exams
1997
Grow to UCF Daytona Beach campus
Community Nursing Centers (CNCs) initiated; Move to the new COHPA building
Recognized as the School of Nursing within the College of Health & Public Affairs (COHPA); MSN program launches
1995
LEADING THE CHARGE
1998 Offer Florida’s first fully online RN to BSN program
Nursing Program Dr. Leon Eldredge, Jr. Program Director (1979-1983) Department of Nursing Dr. Martha S. Neff Department Chair (1983-1984) Dr. Frances Smith Interim Department Chair (1984-1985)
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40TH ANNIVERSARY VIRTUAL GALA UCF COLLEGE OF NURSING
Offer postmaster’s certificate programs
1999
Debut on U.S. News list of the nation’s best online graduate nursing programs; UCF Student Nurses Association honored as NSNA Stellar School Chapter
2007 Add DNP program; Officially become recognized as the College of Nursing
2003 New programs offered – PhD, Second Degree BSN, and first ASN to BSN Concurrent Program
2014
2010 Move to current building in Research Park
Two new graduate programs – Florida’s first in healthcare simulation and AdultGerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
Simulation labs expanded; Florida’s first online PhD for nurse scientists
2015
Dr. Jean Kijek Department Chair (1986-1992) Dr. Joyce Dorner Interim Department Chair (1993-1995)
Dr. Jean D’Meza Leuner Director (2003-2006)
School of Nursing Dr. Elizabeth Stullenbarger-Galford Director (1996-2002)
College of Nursing Dr. Jean D’Meza Leuner Founding Dean (2007-2013)
Dr. Mary Lou Sole Interim Director (2002-2003)
Dr. Mary Lou Sole Interim Dean (2013-2015) Dean (2015-Today)
2016
UCF Academic Health Sciences Center is created
2018
2017 Formed two departments – Nursing Systems and Nursing Practice
A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS
RUBY LEVEL
GOLD LEVEL
SILVER LEVEL
THE WOODS TRUST
BLACK LEVEL
KNIGHT LEVEL UCF COLLEGE OF MEDICINE UCF PARENT AND FAMILY PHILANTHROPY COUNCIL TLC ENGINEERING SOLUTIONS
In-kind sponsors: Blezoo and In Bloom Florist. 14
40TH ANNIVERSARY VIRTUAL GALA UCF COLLEGE OF NURSING