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Nursing

FCN Chapter of SNAP Wins State Award for Excellence

Villanova's SNAP Chapter at National Student Nurses Association Convention

The Villanova University Fitzpatrick College of Nursing chapter of the Student Nurses’ Association of Pennsylvania (SNAP-Villanova) demonstrated its leadership at SNAP’s 2024 Annual Convention, again winning the state's highest award, Chapter Excellence.

Held at the Wyndham Resort and Convention Center in Lancaster, Pa., Nov. 20–22, the convention drew hundreds of students from across Pennsylvania.  Villanova’s delegation included 28 traditional first-year students through seniors as well as Second Degree Accelerated BSN Express and Flex students, Associate Professor Carol Toussie Weingarten, PhD, RN, ANEF, Advisor to SNAP-Villanova, and Clinical Associate Professor Jennifer Brown, DNP, MSN, RN, Director of the Second-Degree Accelerated BSN Program, and co-advisor at the convention.

Villanova’s chapter garnered many accolades in addition to the Chapter Excellence Award:

Kerri Giambruno
Kerri Giambruno ’25

  • SNAPshots, edited by Kerri Giambruno ’25, won Most Outstanding SNAP Newsletter Award.
  • Both of Villanova's candidates were elected to the 2024-25 SNAP Board of Directors, continuing FCN’s consecutive service on the state board since before 1983.
    • Megan Le ’26 became Vice President after completing her 2023-24 term as Legislative Coordinator.
    • Abby Wykoff ’28 is the 2024-2025 Greater Philadelphia Region Coordinator; she succeeded junior Hailey Falzone ’26, serving for 2023-24.

  • The House of Delegates passed Villanova’s resolution, “Understanding Nursing’s Role in Pediatric to Adult Care Transition for Adolescents with Pediatric-Onset Chronic Conditions.” Authored by Kerri Giambruno ’25, Faith Bordenabe ’26, Angela DiBitetto ’26, Sylvain Farrel ’28, and Sonja Whiting ’27 and presented by Giambruno, the resolution now becomes policy of the state SNAP as of the 2024 convention.

Megan Le ’26, Dr. Weingarten, Abby Wykoff ’28
Megan Le ’26, Dr. Weingarten, Abby Wykoff ’28

  • Villanova’s students and faculty showcased scholarly work in two poster presentations in the Exhibit Hall:
    • Megan Le ’26 and Associate Professor Sunny G. Hallowell, PhD, APRN, PPCNP-BC: “An Exploration of Menstrual Product Availability, ‘Period Poverty,’ and Anxiety”
    • Isabella Galasso ’26 and Dr. Weingarten: “The Scholarship of Professional Identity Development in Nursing Students: An Independent Study of a College of Nursing’s Journey from Voluntary Membership to Total School Membership in the National Student Nurses’ Association (NSNA)”

Jennifer Gil ’13 BSN, a past state SNAP Region Coordinator, Madeleine Stadler ’19 BSN, a past state SNAP President, and Cindy (Rich) Schmus ’89 BSN, a past state SNAP Vice President and NSNA President, continued their involvement with state SNAP at the convention. Former SNAP-Villanova President Julie Kurkowski, ’14 BSN, ’20 MSN, ’24 PhD, debuted as a chapter advisor to the West Chester University delegation. Cheryl Wert, FCN’s Director of Recruitment, hosted the College’s booth in the Exhibit Hall.

Dr. Weingarten, Cheryl Wert and Dr. Jennifer Brown in Exhibit Hall
Dr. Weingarten, Cheryl Wert, Dr. Jennifer Brown

“Thank you to SNAP-Villanova’s awesome chapter members both at the convention and at home who exemplify innovation and excellence throughout the year,” said Dr. Weingarten. “They continue to build and grow SNAP-Villanova as one of the most active, inclusive leader chapters in the state SNAP and National Student Nurses Association.”