Since 1972, the Michigan State University College of Nursing has presented accomplished nursing alumni with our highest honors of recognition: Distinguished, Service and Recent Graduate Alumni Awards.

DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARD

Recognizes an alum of the College of Nursing who has advanced the nursing profession through professional accomplishments and commitment to nursing education, practice and research. Recipients must have demonstrated leadership and influence in their support of nursing and the college.

 

ALUMNI SERVICE AWARD

Recognizes an alum of the College of Nursing whose dedicated work and exemplary service have benefited society and the profession of nursing. Recipients must have demonstrated community service on a local, state, national or international level.

 

RECENT GRADUATE ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Recognizes an alum of the College of Nursing who graduated within the past 10 years and who has obtained a level of professional accomplishments including but not limited to: contributions to employer, history of promotion, military accomplishments, continued education or published work.

 

Fall 2025 Alumni Awards

Deborah Lee, MSN ’10, PhD ’20: Distinguished Alumni Award

Pamela Jones, BSN ’93, MSN ’07: Alumni Service Award

Joshua Winowiecki, DNP ’24: Recent Graduate Achievement Award

 

Spring 2025 Alumni Awards

Margaret Muir, BSN ’83: Distinguished Alumni Award

Julie Bekius, MSN ’01: Alumni Service Award

Alexis Skuras, BSN ’18, DNP ’23: Recent Graduate Achievement Award

 

2023 Alumni Awards

Joan Brueggeman, BSN '87: Distinguished Alumni Award

Teberah Alexander, BSN '03: Alumni Service Award

Emily Krueger, DNP '22: Recent Graduate Achievement Award

 

2022 Alumni Awards

Shelly Martin, BSN '96: Distinguished Alumni Award

Sharon Brown, BSN '85: Alumni Service Award

Joy Chepkorir, BSN '19: Recent Graduate Achievement Award

 

2021 Alumni Awards

Dr. Linda Keilman, MSN '89: Distinguished Alumni Award

Dr. Sekeita Lewis-Johnson, BSN '97: Alumni Service Award

Jonathon Choi, BSN '20: Recent Graduate Achievement Award

 

2020 Alumni Awards

Dr. Kathy Bobay, MSN '94: Distinguished Alumni Award

Ashley Meyers, BSN '08: Alumni Service Award

Init Hoxha, BSN '15: Recent Graduate Achievement Award

Dr. Mary Mundt, Former Dean: Dr. Barbara Given Honorary Alumni Award

 

2019 Alumni Awards

Susan Wisser, BSN '70: Distinguished Alumni Award

Shawn David, MSN '99: Alumni Service Award

Mark Todd Twichel, BSN '11: Recent Graduate Achievement Award

Dr. Marilyn Rothert, Former Dean: Dr. Barbara Given Honorary Alumni Award

 

2018 Alumni Awards

Susan Lucken, BSN '83: Distinguished Alumni Award

Kathy Gray, MSN '98: Alumni Service Award

Dr. Jackie Iseler, DNP '16: Recent Graduate Achievement Award

 

2017 Alumni Awards

Dr. Teresa Wehrwein, BSN '72: Distinguished Alumni Award

Dr. Patrick Hawkins, MSN '04: Alumni Service Award

Dr. Nicole Osier, BSN '10: Recent Graduate Achievement Award

 

2016 Alumni Awards

Dr. Martha Keehner Engelke, BSN '71: Distinguished Alumni Awards

Joyce Carson Runberg, BSN '54: Alumni Service Award

Heath Elenbaas, BSN '07: Recent Graduate Achievement Award

 

2015 Alumni Awards

Dr. Angela Datz Strawn, BSN '65: Distinguished Alumni Award

Dr. Roberta Hoebeke, BSN '74: Alumni Service Award

Kathleen Bair, MSN '13: Recent Graduate Achievement Award

 

2014 Alumni Awards

Dr. Louise Conyers Selanders, BSN '69: Distinguished Alumni Award

Kate Lein, PTGR '96: Alumni Service Award

Jessica L. Diver, BSN '05: Recent Graduate Achievement Award

 

2013 Alumni Awards

Janice Granger, BSN '80: Distinguished Alumni Award

Dean Carpenter, MSN '02: Alumni Service Award

Dr. Michelle Munro, BSN '03: Recent Graduate Achievement Award

 

2012 Alumni Awards

Judge Paula Manderfield, BSN '79: Distinguished Alumni Award

Sharon Buursma, BSN '65: Alumni Service Award

Dr. Elizabeth Kuzma, MSN '08: Recent Graduate Achievement Award

 

2010 Alumni Awards

Kathleen Nowicki Schwartz, BSN '71: Distinguished Alumni Award

Michele Sturt, MSN '92: Alumni Service Award

Dr. Patrick Crane, MSN '07: Recent Graduate Achievement Award

 

2009 Alumni Awards

Patricia Hemingway Hall, BSN '75: Distinguished Alumni Award

Andrea Tilford, BSN '92: Alumni Service Award

Sarah Bergman, BSN '02: Recent Graduate Achievement Award

 

2008 Alumni Awards

Bernadette Marquez, BSN '80: Distinguished Alumni Award

Michelle Scott, BSN '95: Alumni Service Award

Sarah Witt, BSN '03: Recent Graduate Achievement Award

 

2006 Outstanding Alumni Awards

Dawn Fields, BSN '93

 

2005 Outstanding Alumni Awards

Jeanette Klemczak

 

2003 Outstanding Alumni Awards

Dr. Carol Beals-Kruger, BSN '72

Candace Burns, BSN '69

JoAnna Fields, BSN '56

Barbara Hertzler, BSN '71

 

2002 Outstanding Alumni Awards

Mary Gillette, BSN '57: Administration

Michelle Liken, MSN '93: Education

Opal Lesse, MSN '00: Extraordinary Clinical Nurse

Dr. Katherine Dontje, MSN '85: Faculty

 

2001 Outstanding Alumni Awards

Carolyn Ballard, BSN '67: Direct Delivery of Health Care and Administration

 

2000 Outstanding Alumni Awards

Linda Yaroch, BSN '73: Administration

Patricia Bednarz, MSN '80: Advanced Practice Nursing

Cynthia Coviak, BSN '77: Education

Mary Pat Randall, BSN '74: Extraordinary Clinical Nurse

 

1998 Outstanding Alumni Awards

Billie Gamble: Honorary Outstanding Alumni

Nancy Hadley, BSN '90: Administration

Linda Addy, BSN '71: Advanced Practice Nursing

Sandra Geller, BSN '72: Advanced Practice Nursing

Suzanne Allen, BSN '77: Education and Direct Delivery of Health Care

Dr. Linda Scott, BSN '79: Education and Research

Linda MacGregor, BSN '72: Extraordinary Clinical Nurse

 

1997 Outstanding Alumni Awards

Carol Frank: Honorary Outstanding Alumni

Shirley Weis, BSN '75: Administration

Carol Buzzitta, BSN '69: Administration

Dr. Judith Longworth, BSN '70: Advanced Practice Nursing

Dr. David Williams, BSN '69: Education

Dr. Mary Sue Marz, BSN '66: Education and Research

Ann Minnick, BSN '70: Education and Research

 

1996 Outstanding Alumni Awards

Helen Grace: Honorary Outstanding Alumni

Marilyn Glidden, BSN '65: Administration

Ellen Basmaji, BSN '66: Direct Delivery of Health Care

C. Lynne Royer-Willoughby, BSN '89: Education and Research

 

1995 Outstanding Alumni Awards

Carol A. Dwyer, MSN '79: Administration

A.J. Jones, BSN '89: Community Health Care

Dr. Linda Spink, BSN '67: Education and Research

 

1994 Outstanding Alumni Awards

Henrietta Eppink: Honorary Outstanding Alumni

Dr. Christine Zambricki, BSN '76: Administration

Susan Havens-Lang, BSN '69: Community Health Care

Clarissa Shavers, BSN '77: Education and Research

 

1993 Outstanding Alumni Awards

Isabelle Payne: Honorary Outstanding Alumni

Mary Milner-Estes, BSN '64: Administration

Dr. Lucille Grimm, BSN '72: Community Health Care

Dr. Jean Davis, BSN '67: Education and Research

 

1992 Outstanding Alumni Awards

Janice Strom, BSN '78: Administration

Sally Whitten, BSN '59: Community Health Care

Dr. Phyllis Gendler, MSN '79: Education and Research

 

1991 Outstanding Alumni Awards

Kathryn Kacynski, BSN '78: Community Health Care

Carol Cox, BSN '57: Direct Delivery of Health Care

Dr. Sharon King, MSN '82: Education and Research

 

1990 Outstanding Alumni Awards

Dr. Dorthea Milbrandt: Honorary Outstanding Alumni

Wendla Kushion, BSN '75: Direct Delivery of Health Care

Dr. Sharon King, BSN '63: Education and Research

 

1988 Outstanding Alumni Awards

Anna Spaniolo, BSN '65: Direct Delivery of Health Care

Mary Soja, BSN '71: Education, Research, and Administration

Dr. Joan Scialli, MSN '82: Education, Research, and Administration

 

1986 Outstanding Alumni Awards

Karen Dailey, BSN '65: Community Health Care

Sue Haviland, MSN '83: Direct Delivery of Health Care

 

1984 Outstanding Alumni Awards

Dr. Joyce Ann French, BSN '56: Community Health Care

Christine Zambricki, BSN '76: Direct Delivery of Health Care

Dr. Barbara Pieper, BSN '70: Education, Research, and Administration

Dr. Susan McCabe, BSN '60: Education, Research, and Administration

 

1983 Outstanding Alumni Awards

Barbara Van Dyke, BSN '60: Community Health Care

Joyce Hanlon, BSN '59: Direct Delivery of Health Care

Kathleen Cofer-Jones, BSN '66: Education and Research

 

1982 Outstanding Alumni Awards

Judith Kulka, BSN '62: Community Health Care

Barbara Hammes, BSN '56: Direct Delivery of Health Care

Betty Porter, BSN '59: Direct Delivery of Health Care

 

1981 Oustanding Alumni Awards

Patricia Peek, BSN '72: Community Health Care

Dr. Nancy Leidy, BSN '75: Education and Research

 

1979 Outstanding Alumni Awards

Velma Theisen, BSN '68: Community Health Care

Elizabeth Price, MSN '78: Direct Delivery of Health Care

Dr. Nancy King Reame, BSN '69: Education and Research

 

1977 Outstanding Alumni Awards

Carolyn Paine, BSN '57: Community Health Care

Susan Bobek, BSN '67: Direct Delivery of Health Care

Dr. Bonnie Wilson, BSN '72: Education and Research

 

1976 Outstanding Alumni Awards

Marcia Kopacz, BSN '70: Direct Delivery of Health Care

 

1975 Oustanding Alumni Awards

Carol Paxton, BSN '69: Community Health Care

Lottie Lamphere, BSN '63: Direct Delivery of Health Care

Jacqueline Wright, BSN '62: Education and Research

 

1974 Outstanding Alumni Awards

Harriet Wheelock-Bolodar, BSN '61: Education and Research

 

1972 Outstanding Alumni Awards

Lavonne Huels, BSN '65: Community Health Care

Kay Ortman, BSN '68: Direct Delivery of Health Care

Dr. Nola Pender, BSN '64: Education and Research