M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing Medallion
The Fitzpatrick College of Nursing (FCN) Medallion is the highest award bestowed by the College to its alumni for distinguished achievement. It bears the seal of Villanova University which is an adaptation of the official seal of the Order of St. Augustine. The motto of the University as indicated on the seal is "Veritas, Unitas, Caritas" — Truth, Unity, Love — the special virtues to which Villanova subscribes and which it endeavors to inculcate in all of its students.
The Medallion has been traditionally awarded to alumni in the following categories: Distinguished Contributions to the Profession, Leadership in Nursing Practice, Clinical Excellence in Nursing, Excellence in Nursing Education, Excellence in Nursing Research and Distinguished Service to the Fitzpatrick College of Nursing.
The Medallion is awarded to alumni at the College-sponsored and Nursing Alumni Association-sponsored Annual Mass and Alumni Awards Ceremony.
Nominate a Villanova Nursing graduate for the Alumni Medallion
You may nominate a colleague or classmate who is a Villanova Nursing graduate for the Fitzpatrick College of Nursing Medallion to be awarded in the spring. Note that FCN faculty and staff are not eligible while employed by the college.
Please check the Medallion recipient list below to confirm your proposed nominee has not received the Medallion in a previous year. You may also see an Emerging Scholar award listed for some alumni. This award is given at the discretion of the dean.
When ready to nominate a Villanova Nurse for a Medallion, see the criteria for each category in the listing below, make a selection and complete the nomination form, submitting it by November 1 due date (the nomination period for 2024 is now closed and will reopen in early fall 2025).
Designed to recognize professional leadership in the nursing field.
Criteria: Demonstrates outstanding contributions to the field of nursing which identifies the individual as an expert in the field and which serves to improve and advance patient care in the nursing profession; has been involved in nursing and health affairs through election and/or appointment to offices, commissions and/or committees that are designed to shape the direction of the profession.
Eligibility: Graduate of the College of Nursing, Villanova University
Designed to recognize one who has improved the quality of patient care.
Criteria: Expertise in the development, implementation and/or administration of systems that facilitate and improve the quality of patient care; creativity, innovation or promotion of initiatives that have influenced the care delivered by others; possess personal qualities that serve to encourage high quality performance in others.
Eligibility: Graduate of the College of Nursing, Villanova University engaged in nursing practice or its management.
Designed to recognize excellence in clinical nursing practice.
Criteria: Demonstrates exceptional competence in the application and integration of knowledge and skills in the direct provision of patient care; respects individual rights of patients as well as the spiritual, psychological and ethical dimensions of patient care; exhibits personal qualities of compassion and understanding in patient care interactions.
Eligibility: Graduate of the College of Nursing, Villanova University who is actively engaged in clinical practice.
Designed to recognize excellence in nursing education and the teaching-learning process.
Criteria: Demonstrates excellence in teaching through the use of innovative teaching-leaning methods; implements learner centered approaches to nursing education that inspire and motivate students; advances nursing education by promoting a theoretical and research based approach to teaching-learning; serves as a mentor or guide to students and other faculty to foster the development of professional competence and excellence in others.
Eligibility: Graduate of the College of Nursing Villanova University who is actively engaged in nursing education at the collegiate level.
Designed to recognize excellence in nursing research.
Criteria: Demonstrates development of nursing knowledge through scholarly efforts and research and theory-based activities; conducts distinguished research in nursing practice or nursing education; communicates the findings of nursing research through scholarly writings, presentations, consultations, and teaching; fosters the use of evidence-based practice in nursing practice and nursing education; demonstrates expertise in his/her area of scholarship.
Eligibility: Graduate of the College of Nursing Villanova University who is actively engaged in research in nursing practice and/or nursing education
Designed to recognize outstanding service and/or support of the college.
Criteria: Demonstrates exceptional service on committees or in activities designed to foster the goals of the college; and/or consistently contributes personal resources to support college and alumni activities; actively promotes the college/university and reflects the ideals of Villanova University in his/her community and through personal and professional interests.
Eligibility: Graduate of the College of Nursing, Villanova University who demonstrates exceptional service and/or support of the college and/or its alumni association.
Designed to recognize one who is considered to be a special friend of the College.
Criteria: Demonstrates special and outstanding service, support and/or assistance to the College of Nursing, its students and/or faculty.
* Options to recognize the honoree include honorary alumni membership, award of the College's Medallion or other forms of public recognition deemed appropriate.
Eligibility: Nurse or non-nurse; need not be a Villanova University graduate.
Recipients of Alumni Medallion
* Special recognition of non-College of Nursing alumni
2024
- Sharon Turner ’82 VSB* - Special Recognition
- Anne Krouse ’81 BSN - Excellence in Nursing Education
- Janice Kim Delgiorno ’96 BSN - Distinguished Leadership in Nursing Practice
- Tresa Zielinski ’90 BSN - Clinical Excellence in Nursing
2023
- James Eastwood ’68 COE * - Special Recognition
- Jeanne L. Alhusen ’93 BSN - Distinguished Contributions to the Profession
- Colleen Mattioni ’87 BSN - Distinguished Leadership in Nursing Practice
- Margaret Perez Hattori-Uchima ’13 PhD (posthumous) - Excellence in Nursing Education
2022
- Lesley Perry* - Distinguished Service to the College
- Kelly Reilly '16 PhD - Distinguished Contributions to the Profession
2021
Event postponed due to COVID-19 pandemic
2020
Event postponed due to COVID-19 pandemic
2019
- Stephanie Butler Buxhoeveden '09 BSN - Clinical Excellence in Nursing
- Deborah Capone-Swearer '85 MSN - Excellence in Nursing Education
- Carol Filicetti Chwal '91 BSN - Distinguished Leadership in Nursing Practice
2018
- Mary Duffin Naylor '71 BSN - Inaugural recipient of the M. Louise Fitzpatrick Award for Transformative Leadership (Presented in lieu of Medallions in 2018)
2017
- Angela R. Coladonato '77 BSN - Excellence in the Administration of Health Care Services
- Amy Pelleg '96 MSN - Distinguished Leadership in Nursing Practice
- Michele Ballister '08 MSN, '13 DNP - Excellence in Nursing Education
- Jennifer Yost ’00 BSN - Emerging Scholar Award
2016
- Margaret Robins Garrett ’72 BSN - Distinguished Contributions to Quality and Safety in Health Care
- Christina Larson Kelly ’74 BSN - Distinguished Contributions to the College
- Janet Nash ’08 MSN - Distinguished Leadership in Nursing and Health Care Administration
- Catherine Loper McDonald ’00 BSN - Emerging Scholar Award
2015
- Paula Devlin Agosto, BSN ‘85 - Distinguished Leadership in Administration of Nursing and Health Care Services
- Diane M. Wink, MSN '85 - Distinguished Contributions to Nursing Education
- Sidia Rose, BSN '08 - Outstanding Service to the Community
2014
- Jeanne Jellig Alhusen, BSN ‘93 - Emerging Scholar Award
- Denise Fessler, MSN ‘97 - Distinguished Leadership in Healthcare Management
- Sally P. Poliwoda, BSN '87 - Distinguished Service to the Health of the Community
2013
- Helene Moriarty Cincotta, BSN '77 - College of Nursing 60th Anniversary Medallion
- Connelly Foundation * - Special Recognition
2012
- Susan Fretz Paparella, BSN '86, MSN ’02 - Distinguished Contributions to Clinical Practice
- Susan Warner Salmond BSN ’73 - Distinguished Contributions to Nursing Education
- Bridgette Carter Brawner, BSN ’03 - Emerging Scholar Award (inaugural presentation of this award)
2011
- Tara Siegal Cortes, BSN '67 - Distinguished Contributions to the Profession
- Mary Ann McGinley - Distinguished Service to the College of Nursing
- AnnMarie Young Papa, BSN '77 - Excellence in Clinical Leadership
2010
- Mary Ellen Smith Glasgow, MSN ’87 - Distinguished Contributions to Nursing Education
- Jocelyn Bessette Gorlin, BSN ’80 - Excellence in Clinical Practice
- Carol J. Quinn, BSN ’70 - Distinguished Leadership in Administration of Nursing and Health Care Services
- Florence Benas Smoczynski, BSN ’62 - Distinguished Service to the College and Nursing Alumni
2009
- Maryalice Morro, BSN ’83 - Distinguished Leadership in Administration of Nursing and Health Care Services
- Andrea Olexa Hollingsworth, BSN ’68 - Distinguished Contributions to Nursing Education
- Jeanne Jackson Venella, BSN ’82 - Excellence in Clinical Practice
2008
- Claire A. Baldwin, MSN ‘86 - Distinguished Achievement in Nursing and Healthcare Administration
- Cynthia Blank-Reid, BSN ‘83 - Clinical Excellence in Nursing
- Judith D. Hamilton, BSN ’72, MSN ‘82 - Service to the Community and the College of Nursing
2007
- Madeline McCarthy Bell, BSN ’83 - Distinguished Leadership in Administration of Health Care Services
- Pamela Zurkowski Cacchione, BSN '84 - Distinguished Contributions to Nursing Scholarship, Practice and Research
- Beverly LeBar Welhan, MSN '83 - Distinguished Contributions to Nursing Education
2006
- Rosalinda Alfaro-LeFevre, BSN ’75, MSN ’85 - Distinguished Contributions to Nursing Education
- Raymond W. Kleposki, MSN ’00 - Clinical Excellence in Nursing Practice
- Christine Bruzek-Kohler, BSN ’74 - Distinguished Leadership in Nursing
- Veronica Hill-Milbourne, BSN ’84 - Distinguished Service to Nursing and the Community
2005
- Susan Chianese Slaninka, BSN ‘69 - Distinguished Contributions to Nursing Education Clinical
- Barbara McCabe Mills, BSN ‘76 - Excellence in Nursing
- Sharon E. Johnson, MSN ‘91 - Leadership in Administration of Health Care Services
2004
- Terry Barker McGoldrick, BSN ‘74 - Leadership in Nursing Practice and Health Care Delivery
- Michele L. Damas, BSN ‘93 - Distinguished Service to the College of Nursing
2003
- Donna Zimmaro Bliss, BSN '81 - College of Nursing's 50th Anniversary Medallion (the only Medallion given in this special year)
2002
- Susan Cuff Herron, BSN '83 - Distinguished Leadership in Nursing Practice & Health Care Delivery
- Donna Sullivan Havens, MSN '83 - Distinguished Research Contributions in Nursing
- Ellen M. Tracy, BSN '81, MSN '97 - Medallion for Clinical Excellence in Nursing
- Margaret S. Griffiths, BSN '62 - Distinguished Service to Nursing Education
2001
- Joanne M. Hambleton, MSN '89 - Distinguished Leadership in Nursing Practice
- Kathryn H. Bowles, MSN '90 - Distinguished Research Contributions in Nursing
- Tara Mahoney Easter, BSN '92 - Clinical Excellence in Nursing
- Melissa Miranda Craig, BSN '90 - Distinguished Service to the Community
2000
- James C. McCann, BSN ’72 - Distinguished Contributions to the Profession
- Alice Forsha Vautier, MSN ’83 - Distinguished Leadership in Nursing Practice and Health Care Delivery
- Patrice Young Neese, BSN ’77 - Clinical Excellence in Nursing
- Maryanne V. Lieb, MSN ’84 - Distinguished Service to the Community
1999
- Rosalie Ghilardi Mirenda, BSN ’59 - Life Long Achievement
- Dorothy Karb Fontaine, BSN ’72 - Distinguished Contributions to the Profession
- Joan M. Huber, BSN ’73 - Leadership in Practice and Health Care Delivery
- Jennifer Golden Olshevski, BSN ’84 - Clinical Excellence in Nursing
- Terri Sue Patterson, MSN ‘82 - Outstanding Service to the College of Nursing & Profession
1998
- Jeannie V. Pasacreta, BSN ‘78 - Contributions to the Profession through Research
- Marguerite Stuhler Schlag, BSN ‘68 - Leadership in Nursing Practice and Health Care Delivery
- Ann Smith Gregoire, BSN ‘80 - Clinical Excellence in Nursing
- Joanne F.Gurney, BSN ‘71, MSN ‘88 - Outstanding Service to the College of Nursing & Alumni
1997
- Donna Gentile O’Donnell, MSN ‘86 - Contributions in Service to the Profession
- Mary Beth Appel, BSN ‘81 - Leadership in Nursing Practice & Health Care Delivery
- Diane Keegan-Wells, BSN ‘78 - Clinical Excellence in Nursing
1996
- Mary E. Duffy, BSN ‘68 - Distinguished Contributions to the Profession
- Elizabeth A. Magenheimer, BSN ‘72 - Leadership in Nursing Practice & Health Care Delivery
- Ann T. Cornell, BSN ‘84 - Clinical Excellence in Nursing
- Judith J. Turken, BSN ‘83, MSN ‘89 - Outstanding Service to the College & Alumni
1995
- Mary Buckley Dressler, BSN ‘58 - Outstanding Service to the College & Alumni
- Helen Bodkin Connors, BSN ‘64 - Distinguished Contributions to the Profession
- Patricia S. Danz, BSN ‘82 - Clinical Excellence in Nursing
- Donna L. Torrisi, BSN ‘72 - Leadership in Nursing Practice & Health Care Delivery
1994
- Chien-Yun Wu, BSN ‘73 - Distinguished Contributions to the Profession
- Regina Sartoretto Schmitt, BSN ‘77 - Leadership in Nursing Practice & Health Care Delivery
- Nancy Janoska Weichler, BSN ‘81 - Clinical Excellence in Nursing
- Sandra Myers Gomberg, BSN ’85, MSN '90 - Outstanding Service to the College & Alumni
1993
- Anne Keane, BSN ‘66 - Distinguished Contributions to the Profession
- Karen E. Javie, MSN ‘87 - Leadership in Nursing Practice & Health Care Delivery
- Judith A. Spross, BSN ‘74 - Clinical Excellence in Nursing
- Geraldine M. O’Hare, BSN ‘85 - Outstanding Service to the College & Alumni
1992
- Mary E. Greipp, BSN ‘60 - Distinguished Contributions to the Profession
- Anna Dressler Ferguson, MSN ‘87 - eadership in Nursing Practice
- Janet Horsell Herlihey, BSN ‘83 - Clinical Excellence in Nursing
- Lynette Miller Tucker, BSN ‘77 - Outstanding Service to the College of Nursing
1991
- Lynn Elizabeth Davis, BSN ‘69 - Distinguished Contributions to the Profession
- Elizabeth H. Whittam, BSN ‘84 - Excellence in Nursing Practice
- Theresa Falcao Bernaz, BSN ‘74 - Outstanding Service to the College & Alumni
1990
- Veronica DeCarolis Feeg, BSN ‘71 - Distinguished Contributions to the Profession
- Anne E. Smith, BSN ‘82 - Excellence in Nursing Practice
- Rose W. O’Driscoll, BSN ‘64 - Outstanding Service to the College of Nursing
1987
- Joan T. Large, BSN ‘54 - College of Nursing Medallion
1986
- Mary Duffin Naylor, BSN ‘71 - College of Nursing Medallion
1985
- Barbara Lowrey, BSN ‘66 - College of Nursing Medallion
1984
- Marie M. Seedor, BSN '53 - College of Nursing Medallion
- Hazel W. Johnson-Brown, BSN '59 - College of Nursing Medallion
1983
Gloria Ferraro Donnelly, BSN ‘63 - College of Nursing Medallion