Graduation Awards, Student Speakers, & School Flag Bearers

Graduation Awards & Recognitions

Every year the School of Nursing offers a number of awards and recognitions to outstanding students and educators at our graduation celebrations. Description and nomination criteria for each can be found below.

Undergraduate Student Awards (BSN)

Graduate Student Awards (DNP, PhD)

Faculty & Preceptor Awards

Student Speakers

Flag Bearers

Instagram Takeover *New for 2024!

How to Nominate

Nominations for Spring 2024 Graduation Awards & Recognitions have closed. Recipients will be announced in early-April!

Spring 2022 BSN Graduate Raquel Burnham receives the Mary L. Keller Research Award from Linda Scott, Dean of the UW-Madison School of Nursing.
Spring 2022 BSN Graduate Raquel Burnham receives the Mary L. Keller Research Award from Linda Scott, Dean of the UW-Madison School of Nursing.

Undergraduate Awards

Below is a list of awards for which undergraduate students qualify.
Select the award tab above for nomination criteria.

Badger Future Nurse Leader Award

DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nursing Students

Ginsberg Family Award

Mary L. Keller Research Award

School of Nursing Alumni Pin

School of Nursing Outstanding Undergraduate Student Award

Signe Skott Cooper Writing Award

Badger Future Nurse Leader Award

The Badger Future Nurse Leader Award recognizes a student who is an exemplary leader and embodies the ethics and values of nursing through preparing, motivating, and impacting other students.

The award recipient will receive a certificate of recognition at the School of Nursing Baccalaureate Graduation Celebration event in May.

Self-nominations will be accepted for the Badger Future Nurse Leader Award.

Award Criteria

To qualify, nominee must:

  • Demonstrate leadership
  • Prepare, motivate, and impact other students as leaders
  • Participate in community activities and giving back to others
  • Mentor fellow students
  • Promote activity in nursing organizations
  • Make a significant contribution to the overall excellence of their school
  • Set a healthy example and promote a healthy lifestyle
  • Demonstrate a clear sense of direction for their future nursing careers
  • Be on track to graduate from a UW-Madison BSN program during the academic year the award is given

Once nominated, nominee must submit the following to be considered for this award:

  • Resume or curriculum vitae (CV)
  • Personal statement
  • Professional-style photo

The recipient will be selected based upon how successful the candidate is in meeting the eligibility criteria and the quality of the submitted materials in relation to the demands of the award.

The recipient of the Badger Future Nurse Leader Award will also be the UW-Madison School of Nursing’s nominee for the Wisconsin Nurses Association (WNA) Future Nurse Leader Award.

DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nursing Students

The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nursing Students was created by the DAISY Foundation to remind nursing students, even on their hardest days in nursing school, why they want to be a nurse.  It recognizes nursing students for the above-and-beyond care and compassion they show patients and families while they learn what it means to be a nurse.

The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nursing Students will be awarded to two undergraduate students each academic year. Award recipients will receive a certificate of recognition, a pin, and a statuette at the School of Nursing Baccalaureate Graduation Celebration event in May. Recipients will also receive access to many honoree benefits from The DAISY Foundation including opportunities for continuing education, well-being, and professional engagements.

Due to the DAISY Foundation’s award criteria, self-nominations will not be accepted for the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nursing Students.

Award Criteria

To qualify, nominee must:

  • Demonstrate commitment to compassionate care of patients and families
  • Make a connection with patients, families, and peers by building trust and respect
  • Advocate strongly for patients
  • Demonstrate exceptional skill
  • Be on track to graduate from a UW-Madison BSN program during the academic year the award is given

Once nominated, nominee must submit the following to be considered for this award:

  • Resume or curriculum vitae (CV)
  • Personal statement
  • Professional-style photo

The recipients will be selected based upon how successful the candidates are in meeting the eligibility criteria and the quality of the submitted materials in relation to the demands of the award.

Ginsberg Family Award

Every year, the School of Nursing awards the Ginsberg Family Awards, a campus-wide award which recognizes undergraduate excellence in leadership, service, and scholarship to students at the baccalaureate level. The award is in recognition of strong academic performance combined with outstanding leadership and service to the university or larger community. The Ginsberg family has chosen to offer these awards in honor of the late Dean of Students Paul Ginsberg (Dean of Students from 1970-1987) in recognition of his profound impact on the campus community. These awards will continue Dean Ginsberg’s legacy of transforming the student experience.

The School of Nursing award recipient will receive a certificate of recognition at the School of Nursing Baccalaureate Graduation Celebration event in May. On the campus level, the award recipient will be honored during a reception at the end of the spring semester, attended by family, friends, and the Dean of Students, and will receive a $1000 monetary award.

Self-nominations will be accepted for the Ginsberg Family Award.

Award Criteria

To qualify, nominee must:

  • Demonstrate leadership and service to the university or larger community
  • Maintain a record of academic excellence
  • Be on track to graduate from a UW-Madison BSN program during the academic year the award is given

Once nominated, nominee must submit the following to be considered for this award:

  • Resume or curriculum vitae (CV)
  • Personal statement
  • Professional-style photo

The recipient will be selected based upon how successful the candidate is in meeting the eligibility criteria and the quality of the submitted materials in relation to the demands of the award.

For additional information on this award at the campus level, view the Undergraduate Academic Awards – Ginsberg Family Awards page.

Mary L. Keller Research Award

Mary L. Keller was a professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Nursing for nearly two decades. She died of cancer in May 2006. Professor Keller was an outstanding scholar and her ability to engage and mentor students in research was unsurpassed. The Mary L. Keller Research Award is awarded annually to one student in her memory.

Award recipients receive a certificate of recognition at the School of Nursing Graduation Celebration event in May, as well as a monetary award.

Self-nominations will be accepted for the Mary L. Keller Research Award.

Award Criteria

To qualify, nominee must:

  • Be involved in research through the Nursing PhD program, the Early Entry PhD program, or the Undergraduate Honors program*
  • Demonstrate passion, integrity, and productivity in nursing research

*Both graduating and continuing students are eligible for the Mary L. Keller Research Award.

Nominators must:

  • Submit a statement of 250 words or less about the nominee that addresses:
    • The length of time you have known the nominee and your working relationship with the nominee (program/honors advisor, clinical supervisor, course instructor, etc.)
    • The reasons for nominating this individual for the Mary L. Keller Research Award, including insights on the nominee’s passion, integrity, and productivity for nursing research

Once nominated, nominee must submit the following to be considered for this award:

  • Resume or curriculum vitae (CV)
  • Personal statement
  • Professional-style photo

The recipient will be selected based upon how successful the candidate is in meeting the eligibility criteria and the quality of the submitted materials in relation to the demands of the award.

School of Nursing Alumni Pins

Each year, the UW–Madison Nurses Alumni Organization (NAO) honors outstanding graduating students by presenting them with pins donated by alumni of the School. Started in 1996, the pinning tradition illustrates the proud history of the UW–Madison School of Nursing and the strong connection alumni have to the School. More information regarding the pin tradition can be found here.

Pin recipients will be selected by the NAO and will be honored during a virtual pinning ceremony in late-April. Students will also be recognized as a group during the School of Nursing Baccalaureate Graduation Celebration in May.

Self-nominations will be accepted for School of Nursing Alumni Pins.

Award Criteria

To qualify, nominee must:

  • Be on track to graduate from a UW-Madison BSN program during the academic year the award is given

Nomination considerations:

  • Outstanding academic achievements
  • Volunteer experiences, service positions, leadership experiences
  • Significant accomplishments or involvement in innovative projects to improve health and wellness of the community
  • Overcoming special challenges/circumstances to obtain a nursing degree

Once nominated, nominee must submit the following to be considered for this award:

  • Resume or curriculum vitae (CV)
  • Personal statement
  • Professional-style photo

The recipients will be selected based upon how successful the candidates are in meeting the eligibility criteria and the quality of the submitted materials in relation to the demands of the award.

School of Nursing Outstanding Undergraduate Student Award

Every year, the School of Nursing awards the School of Nursing Outstanding Undergraduate Student Award to a nursing student at the baccalaureate level. This award recognizes an undergraduate student who has demonstrated high academic achievement both in the classroom and clinical experiences, and has participated in activities to better the school and community.

The award recipient will receive a certificate of recognition at the School of Nursing Baccalaureate Graduation Celebration event in May, as well as a monetary award.

Self-nominations will be accepted for the School of Nursing Outstanding Undergraduate Student Award.

Award Criteria

To qualify, nominee must:

  • Have a minimum nursing grade point average of 3.75 and be within the top 5% of their class
  • Participate in volunteer service to the school, community and professional organizations
  • Demonstrate exceptional clinical and course performance

Once nominated, nominee must submit the following to be considered for this award:

  • Resume or curriculum vitae (CV)
  • Personal statement
  • Professional-style photo

The recipient will be selected based upon how successful the candidate is in meeting the eligibility criteria and the quality of the submitted materials in relation to the demands of the award.

Signe Skott Cooper Writing Award

Every year, the School of Nursing awards the Signe Skott Cooper Writing Award to a nursing student at the baccalaureate or doctoral level.  The purpose of the award is to help students become aware of the opportunities for publication in nursing literature and to encourage them to write for publication. All currently enrolled UW School of Nursing students, baccalaureate or doctoral, are eligible to submit their paper or manuscript, which is of publishable quality.

The award recipient will receive a certificate of recognition at the School of Nursing Graduation Celebration event in May, as well as a monetary award.

Self-nominations will be accepted for the Signe Skott Cooper Writing Award.

Award Criteria

To qualify:

  • Nominee must be the primary author
  • Paper/manuscript must be relevant to a topic of interest to nursing (examples: clinical topics, research, health care delivery, nursing roles, international nursing experiences, illustrative case studies, administrative issues)
  • Paper/manuscript must be prepared for submission or submitted to a nursing or health-related journal

Once nominated, nominee must submit the following to be considered for this award:

  • Resume or curriculum vitae (CV)
  • Personal statement
  • Paper/manuscript
  • “Guidelines for Authors” of the (intended) journal
  • Professional-style photo

The recipient will be selected based upon how successful the candidate is in meeting the eligibility criteria and the quality of the submitted materials in relation to the demands of the award.

Graduate Awards

Below is a list of awards for which graduate students qualify.
Select the award tab above for nomination criteria.

Mary L. Keller Research Award

School of Nursing DNP Excellence Award

Signe Skott Cooper Writing Award

Mary L. Keller Research Award

Mary L. Keller was a professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Nursing for nearly two decades. She died of cancer in May 2006. Professor Keller was an outstanding scholar and her ability to engage and mentor students in research was unsurpassed. The Mary L. Keller Research Award is awarded annually to one student in her memory.

Award recipients receive a certificate of recognition at the School of Nursing Graduation Celebration event in May, as well as a monetary award.

Self-nominations will be accepted for the Mary L. Keller Research Award.

Award Criteria

To qualify, nominee must:

  • Be involved in research through the Nursing PhD program, the Early Entry PhD program, or the Undergraduate Honors program*
  • Demonstrate passion, integrity, and productivity in nursing research

*Both graduating and continuing students are eligible for the Mary L. Keller Research Award.

Nominators must:

  • Submit a statement of 250 words or less about the nominee that addresses:
    • The length of time you have known the nominee and your working relationship with the nominee (program/honors advisor, clinical supervisor, course instructor, etc.)
    • The reasons for nominating this individual for the Mary L. Keller Research Award, including insights on the nominee’s passion, integrity, and productivity for nursing research

Once nominated, nominee must submit the following to be considered for this award:

  • Resume or curriculum vitae (CV)
  • Personal statement
  • Professional-style photo

The recipient will be selected based upon how successful the candidate is in meeting the eligibility criteria and the quality of the submitted materials in relation to the demands of the award.

School of Nursing DNP Excellence Award

Every year, the School of Nursing awards the School of Nursing DNP Excellence Award to an outstanding graduate student in the Doctor of Nursing Practice program. This award recognizes academic achievements in the program, performance in clinical courses, research interests, and/or contributions to the school.

The award recipient will receive a certificate of recognition at the School of Nursing Doctoral Hooding Ceremony in May. All currently enrolled UW School of Nursing DNP students are eligible.

Self-nominations will be accepted for the School of Nursing DNP Excellence Award.

Award Criteria

To qualify, nominee must:

  • Have a minimum nursing grade point average of 3.75, within top 5%
  • Participate in volunteer service to the school, community and professional organizations
  • Demonstrate exceptional clinical and course performance

Once nominated, nominee must submit the following to be considered for this award:

  • Resume or curriculum vitae (CV)
  • Personal statement
  • Professional-style photo

The recipient will be selected based upon how successful the candidate is in meeting the eligibility criteria and the quality of the submitted materials in relation to the demands of the award.

Signe Skott Cooper Writing Award

Every year, the School of Nursing awards the Signe Skott Cooper Writing Award to a nursing student at the baccalaureate or doctoral level.  The purpose of the award is to help students become aware of the opportunities for publication in nursing literature and to encourage them to write for publication. All currently enrolled UW School of Nursing students, baccalaureate or doctoral, are eligible to submit their paper or manuscript, which is of publishable quality.

The award recipient will receive a certificate of recognition at the School of Nursing Graduation Celebration event in May, as well as a monetary award.

Self-nominations will be accepted for the Signe Skott Cooper Writing Award.

Award Criteria

To qualify:

  • Nominee must be the primary author
  • Paper/manuscript must be relevant to a topic of interest to nursing (examples: clinical topics, research, health care delivery, nursing roles, international nursing experiences, illustrative case studies, administrative issues)
  • Paper/manuscript must be prepared for submission or submitted to a nursing or health-related journal

Once nominated, nominee must submit the following to be considered for this award:

  • Resume or curriculum vitae (CV)
  • Personal statement
  • Paper/manuscript
  • “Guidelines for Authors” of the (intended) journal
  • Professional-style photo

The recipient will be selected based upon how successful the candidate is in meeting the eligibility criteria and the quality of the submitted materials in relation to the demands of the award.

Faculty & Preceptor Awards

Below are the awards for educators.
Select the award tab above for nomination criteria.

Faculty/Clinical Instructors – DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurse Educators in an Academic Setting

Preceptors – DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurse Educators in a Clinical Setting

DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurse Educators in an Academic Setting

Over the years of running The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses, The DAISY Foundation has come to learn that despite the many pressures on nursing educators, they have a profound impact on the future practice of their students. The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurse Educators was established to demonstrate appreciation for nursing faculty and their commitment and inspirational influence on their students.

The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurse Educators in an Academic Setting will be awarded to two faculty members each year; one faculty member from the undergraduate program and one faculty member from the graduate program. Award recipients will receive a certificate of recognition, a pin, and a statuette at the respective School of Nursing Graduation Celebration event in May.

Award Criteria

To qualify, nominee must:

  • Be a current faculty member/clinical instructor at the UW-Madison School of Nursing

Nomination Considerations:

  • Demonstrates enthusiasm for teaching, learning, and nursing that inspires and motivates students.
  • Uses personal attributes (e.g., caring, confidence, patience, integrity and flexibility) that facilitate professional growth.
  • Is fair and unbiased in their treatment of students
  • Develops collaborative working relationships with students and colleagues

The recipient will be selected based upon how successful the candidate is in meeting the eligibility criteria and the quality of the submitted materials in relation to the demands of the award.

All nominees will be considered for this award – nominees do not need to accept the nomination or submit a personal statement.

DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurse Educators in a Clinical Setting

Exceptionally skilled and compassionate nursing educators play a pivotal role in shaping the nursing workforce and setting an example for future nurses. Society relies on these educators to impart the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary for nurses to provide compassionate and complex care. In healthcare organizations, preceptors ensure that students are competent and confident in their skills, playing a crucial part in ensuring that the public receives care from educated, competent, and proficient nurses. With gratitude for the continuum of educators in practice settings, The DAISY Foundation and the UW-Madison School of Nursing are honored to present The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurse Educators in a Clinical Setting to preceptors who have committed themselves to educating the future of nursing and advancing patient care.

The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurse Educators in a Clinical Setting will be awarded to two preceptors each year; one preceptor from the undergraduate program and one preceptor from the graduate program. Award recipients will receive a certificate of recognition, a pin, and a statuette at the respective School of Nursing Graduation Celebration event in May.

Award Criteria

To qualify, nominee must:

  • Be a current or previous preceptor for student/s attending the UW-Madison School of Nursing

Nomination Considerations:

  • Has empathy and compassion which fosters deep connections and creates a safe and supportive environment
  • Possesses effective communication skills, is able to articulate ideas and present information in a clear and concise manner
  • Serves as a role model and mentor for nursing by leading by example and nurturing leadership qualities
  • Is adaptable and flexible, embracing change and able to modify teaching methods to meet a diverse range of needs
  • Models a love of learning and is committed to lifelong learning and professional development
  • Establishes clear learning outcomes and provides constructive feedback
  • Builds collaborative working relationships

The recipient will be selected based upon how successful the candidate is in meeting the eligibility criteria and the quality of the submitted materials in relation to the demands of the award.

Nominees will be contacted by the Awards Committee to verify they would like to be considered for this award.

Student Speakers

Every year, one graduating student from each program is elected to speak during their School of Nursing graduation celebration. A graduating student from each undergraduate program (ABSN, BSN@HOME, TBSN) will give ‘Remarks to the Graduates’ at the Nursing Baccalaureate Graduation Celebration; a graduating student from each graduate program (DNP, PhD) will give ‘Remarks to the Graduates’ at the Nursing Doctoral Hooding Ceremony.

Students must be nominated for consideration; self-nominations will be accepted. Once nominated, nominees must submit a resume and a personal statement outlining why they are a good candidate for Graduation Speaker and describe topics they would addressed in their speech. If more than one student in a program is nominated for Graduation Speaker, a poll will go out to all graduating students in that program to vote for one speaker based on the personal statement nominees provided in their nomination acceptance.

Ashley Fielek, a Doctor of Nursing Practice graduate Class of 2022, stands at a podium in the Auditorium of the School of Nursing, addressing fellow classmates who are also graduating from a Nursing Doctoral program.
Ashley Fielek, DNP’22, gives Remarks to the Graduates at the Nursing Doctoral Hooding Ceremony on May 13, 2022.
Graduating nursing student Alyssa Lloyd prepares to walk in the UW-Madison Commencement processional during the Winter 2022 Campus Commencement, carrying the School of Nursing's apricot colored flag.
Alyssa Lloyd, BSN’22, prepares to walk in the processional at UW-Madison's Winter Commencement on December 18, 2022, carrying the School of Nursing flag.

School of Nursing Flag Bearer

Every year at Campus Commencement, one graduating student from each school/college is selected to represent their graduating class by carrying their school/college’s flag in the Commencement Processional. The School of Nursing selects one graduate student and one undergraduate student to be the School of Nursing flag bearer in their respective Commencement ceremony. The selected students must attend one training session, scheduled by the Campus Commencement Committee, before Commencement.

School of Nursing students, staff, and faculty can nominate graduating students to be the School of Nursing flag bearer for Campus Commencement Ceremonies; students can also indicate their interest in being the School of Nursing flag bearer through self-nomination. Nominees, whether self-nominated or nominated by others, will be asked to confirm their interest in being the School of Nursing flag bearer by submitting a short statement. The awards committee will select one student based on the submitted statements.

Instagram Takeover

NEW THIS YEAR! One graduating student from an undergraduate program and one from a graduate program will takeover the School of Nursing Instagram account during their Commencement Ceremony and School of Nursing graduation celebration! Students must adhere to all Instagram Takeover Guidelines and be willing to show and share a variety of their fellow graduates.

Students must be nominated for consideration; self-nominations will be accepted. Once nominated, nominees must submit a video, no more than 90 seconds long, outlining why they are a good candidate for Instagram Takeover Graduate and describing their approach for inclusively sharing the excitement and activities of the day on Instagram. The recipient will be selected based upon how successful the candidate is in meeting the eligibility criteria and the quality of the submitted materials in relation to the demands of the recognition.

The two selected students will attend a brief training session with the School of Nursing Marketing and Communications Team in the days leading up to graduation to go over guidelines and expectations.

A guest takes a photo of a graduate during the Nursing Doctoral Hooding Ceremony Reception on May 12, 2023.

Contacts

Academic Affairs

Email: academic.affairs@nursing.wisc.edu

Phone: 608-263-5202

Address:
1100 Signe Skott Cooper Hall

Morgan Lewis

Position title: Student Services & Events Coordinator

Email: mlewis7@wisc.edu

Phone: 608-263-5288

Address:
1137 Signe Skott Cooper Hall