Decker College celebrates achievements by nursing and public health students

Binghamton University’s Decker College of Nursing and Health Sciences held two year-end awards ceremonies to recognize students graduating in 2024.

• The Division of Nursing held a ceremony at 4:30 p.m. May 8 in the University’s Health Sciences Building in Johnson City (home to Decker College). During the ceremony, three faculty members received inaugural awards, and 17 students were inducted into the Zeta Iota Chapter of the Sigma Theta Tau International (STTI) Honor Society of Nursing.
• The Division of Public Health recognized students at a 10 a.m. ceremony May 9 in the Union on Binghamton’s Vestal campus.
• Two Decker College students participating in the Educational Opportunity Program were honored at the EOP Senior Brunch and Recognition Award Ceremony March 16.

Division of Nursing

• American Nurses Association New York Future Nurse Leader Award: Kate Manalastas
• Decker Foundation Award for Academic Excellence: Katherine Estep, Nicole Kandler ’22, Kimberly Marconi and Abigail Taylor
• Decker Foundation Award for Clinical Excellence: Aidan Baryk ’23
• Decker School of Nursing Academic Excellence Award: Kate Manalastas and Kathryn Sizing
• Dennis Jimenez Memorial Award: Isabella Scarpati ’23
• Grace L. Penny Memorial Award: Gifty Amofa
• Heidi and Joel Thirer Award for Leadership and Community Service: Anthony DiBartolo, Kaelee Koffler, Minnie Lee and Jinesh Shaji
  
• Jessica Mally Memorial Award: Riyadh Ally and Kylah McGarry
• Martha Harnick Bress Memorial Award: Kevin O’Donnell
• Mary Pillepich Award for Excellence in Nursing Practice: Abigail Frustino
• Registered Professional Nurse Baccalaureate Award: Eric Chalcoff ’09
• Sara Ainspan Memorial Award: Timothy Le
• UHS Professional Nursing Practice Award: Abigail Taylor

Graduate awards

• Excellence in Advanced Nursing Practice Award in Adult Gerontological Nursing: Jennifer Bliss
• Excellence in Advanced Nursing Practice Award in Family Nursing: Noel Bloomfield
• Excellence in Advanced Nursing Practice Award in Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing: Madeline Bleier
• Excellence in Advanced Nursing Practice Award, Doctor of Nursing Practice Program: Bridget Oppong-Darko ’17, MS ’19
• Excellence in Advanced Nursing Practice Award, Post-Master’s Certificate Program: Melissa Vorhis
• Excellence in Nursing Education Award: Catalina Dailey ’21
• Grace L. Penny Memorial Award: Young Kim
• Jose Reichel Research Fund Award: Hannah Potts ’09

Faculty awards

• Faculty Award from Graduate Students: Amy Perrin
• Faculty Award from Undergraduate Students: Cathy Page ’84, MS/cert ’09
  
• Faculty Peer Award: Rosemary Collier ’09, MS/certificate ’13, PhD ’16

Sigma Theta Tau Zeta Iota Chapter Inductees and Award

• Sigma Theta Tau Research Award: Rini Chennattu, MS/certificate ’18, PhD ’23

Inductees

• Aidan Baryk ’23
• Leah Bowers
• Madison Clark
• Brianna DiTocco ’22
• Katherine Estep
• Kyle Gottfried
• Timothy Le
• Olivia Medeiros
• Caterina Morris
• Kevin O’Donnell
• Megan Preston
• Jinesh Shaji
• Abigail Taylor
• Tara Vitale
• Meisi Williams ’23
• Mitchell Zatz
• Katie Ziessler

Division of Public Health

In addition to the student recognition ceremony, where the following awards were presented, the Public Health Graduate Student Organization gifted program faculty with a framed photograph of the Class of 2024.

• Academic Excellence in Public Health Award: Alexandria Buncy ’23 and Lucas Gaworecki
• Advocacy in Public Health Award: Stephany Henske ’23
• Excellence in Community Engagement Award: Brooke Traver ’21
• Excellence in Public Health Practice Award: Tessa Davidson
• Professionalism in Public Health Award: Alexandria Buncy ’23
• Promotion of Health Equity Award: Bolanle Olatunji
• Public Health Community Service Award: Diego Rodriguez ’22
• Public Health Leadership Award: Devin Link ’22
• Public Health Trailblazer Award: Lucas Gaworecki
• Rural Health Promotion Award: Michaela Parker
• Scholarship in Public Health Award: Inijesu Taiwo

Educational Opportunity Program

The following Decker College students received Educational Opportunity Program awards during a recognition brunch and ceremony in March:

• TransferMation Award: Keisa Williams
• Westley Van Dunk Eminence Award: Anna Lopez