The Stony Brook University School of Nursing recognized its outstanding students, preceptors, distinguished alumni, and impactful donors at the 15th Annual Scholarship and Awards Ceremony on April 23.
More than 50 individuals were honored at the event, which was held in the Student Activities Center ballroom. Undergraduate, graduate, and veteran students alike were among those recognized, as well as distinguished alumni Dr. Frankie Hamilton, Ms. Sarah Pesce, and Dr. Kenya Beard.
Following a pre-ceremony reception, School of Nursing Dean Patricia Bruckenthal, PhD, APRN, FAAN, addressed honorees and attendees with opening remarks. Dr. Barbara Mills was the evening’s featured donor speaker.
"This year's awards ceremony celebrated the dedication, resilience, and compassion that define our nursing students, clinical faculty, and distinguished alumni," said Dr. Bruckenthal.
"Each honoree represents the very best of our profession—individuals who excel academically and embody the spirit of service that drives nursing forward," she added. "We are also deeply grateful to our generous donors, whose support makes these recognitions possible and helps empower the next generation of nursing leaders. Their contributions truly transform lives."
See below a full list of the evening’s award and scholarship recipients.
Stony Brook Alumni Association Dean’s Choice Award (Undergraduate)
Thomas Loverdi
Ora James Bouey Scholarship
Courtney Medrano
Yvonne Corinne Headley-Harmon Memorial Award
Alana Neria & Nathalia Pappas
Hilda R. Maier Endowed Scholarship
Rhea Persaud
Julia O. Wells Memorial Education Foundation Award
Sandy Zhu & Dhiya Binu
School of Nursing Alumni Board Scholarship (Undergraduate)
Melanie Hafisov
Diane Ducy Hitchings-Tiernan '72 RN Baccalaureate Endowed Scholarship
Mariaisabel Amaya Amador
Frances Bisignano Scholarship
Julia Syska
Hugh J.B. Cassidy III Memorial Award
Ryan Murphy & Yahui Ding
Jean M. Bellia Award
Claire Clarke
Matt Silverstone Memorial Award
Zachary Gennaro
Kim Mehmood Scholarship
Marly Edouarzin
Jim Stelling Family Endowed Scholarship in Nursing
Claire Clarke
Margaret Hoffman Scholarship in Nursing
Matthew Zender
Kappa Gamma Chapter, Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Scholarship
Taylor O'Connor
Keane T. Kyle Memorial Award
Matthew Kalinsky, Christopher Garcia, Thomas Loverdi, Raul Martinez, Jordan Romanacce, & Kyle Samuel
School of Nursing Preceptor Recognition (Undergraduate)
Dr. Stacy Heuschneider
Barbara Mills Scholarship in Nursing
Ruth Amador Sierra
Phyllis Zuckerwise Sterne & Family NICU Nurse Practitioner Scholarship
Ana Olivero & Christine Gilbert
Ellen Weisenberg Endowed Nursing Scholarship
Christine Buryiak
Stony Brook Alumni Association Dean’s Choice Award (Graduate)
Teresa Manning-Carter
Gene E. Mundie Endowed Scholarship for Doctoral Study
Beatriz Makhoulian
School of Nursing Alumni Board Scholarship (Graduate)
Bintu Dumbuya
Mary G. Bourguignon Memorial Scholarship
Monicah Mwangi
Marie Frey Memorial Award
Tzipora Backman
Dr. Jacqueline Rose-Hott Memorial Award
Christian Routh
George E. Xippolitos Memorial Award for Doctoral Education in Nursing Research
Melissa Johnson
Sigma Award in Recognition for Doretta Dick
Leda Kushner & Margaret Wichrowski
Academic Excellence Awards
- Family Nurse Practitioner: Nicole Forman
- Neonatal Nurse Practitioner: Christine Gilbert
- Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner: Angela Gong
- Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner: Samantha Walsh
- Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner: Ann Gallagher
- Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner: Thomas Maher
- Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner: Alyssa Fabrizi
- Nursing Leadership: Ashley Casella
- Nurse Midwifery: Cara Finkle
- Nursing Education: Serena Buckholz
- Doctor of Nursing Practice: Beatriz Makhoulian
- Doctor of Philosophy: Jennifer Patel
New York State Office of Mental Health Scholarship
Tishana Griffith, Megan Veirun, Trina Bascom, Leunz Cadely, Hina Dar, Tamica John, Matthew Killian & Lisa Francois
School of Nursing Preceptor Recognition (Graduate)
Dr. David Sanchez & Dr. Ramon Ferrand
Student Veteran Recognition
Omar Aguilar, Krystal Robinson & Yahui Ding
