The University of Wisconsin–Madison School of Nursing is delighted to acknowledge the achievements of eight students and two faculty members through the conferment of the 2023 School of Nursing Academic Awards. The School also recognizes one student who received a campus award. These esteemed awards are granted each year to honor outstanding students and faculty who exhibit exceptional academic prowess, leadership skills, service to the community, and a deep devotion to the nursing profession.
Meet the Recipients
Nadeen Sami Alshakhshir, MSN, RN, PhD candidate
Mary L. Keller Research Award recipient
Nadeen Alshakhshir’s passion for adolescent and young adult health in the field of palliative and end-of-life care began in 2015 when she enrolled in a professional diploma in palliative care and pain management, then in 2016 pursued a master’s degree in palliative care nursing. Since then, she has developed her skills as a nurse scientist and established herself as a leader among her peers. She is passionate about understanding adolescents’ and young adults’ development and coping with life-threatening illness and has focused her research on spirituality and spiritual identity as a coping mechanism.
Alshakhshir published an integrative review on the process of awakening the spiritual identity in adolescents with cancer in the Journal of Advances in Nursing Science. She is currently conducting her dissertation study to further understand awakening the spiritual identity in adolescents and young adults with cancer, barriers to this process, and how these youth make sense of their physical and emotional experiences during cancer.
Alshakhshir has also taken on various roles with the Midwest Nursing Research Society (MNRS) and their Palliative & End-of-Life Research Interest Group, demonstrating her strong motivation toward service and leadership. Her goal is to advance positive health outcomes of palliative and end-of-life care for adolescents and young adults through her research and to build a program of research to foster opportunities for student mentorship and advance nursing science.
“I am humbled and honored to receive the Mary L. Keller Research Award,” says Alshakhshir. “Dr. Keller was an outstanding scholar who valued research mentorship. Earning this award means that my research is of value and appreciated as I aspire to build a program of research to foster opportunities for student mentorship and advance nursing science.”
About the Mary L. Keller Research Award
The Mary L. Keller Memorial Research Award is named after Professor Mary Keller, who taught at the School of Nursing for nearly two decades. She is remembered as an outstanding scholar and mentor to students. In memory of Professor Keller, who died of cancer in 2006, an award was established to recognize a student who embodies Professor Keller’s passion and integrity.
Anne L. Ersig, PhD, RN
DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nursing Faculty – Graduate Faculty
Anne Ersig is an established nurse scientist, educator, mentor, and clinician who is committed to nursing excellence as faculty. She has co-authored publications with students, advocates for student success, and serves the community. Her teaching has the potential to advance nursing research and create broad, transformative impacts on nursing students, nurses, and the discipline.
Ersig’s research focuses on improving later-life health and well-being outcomes among individuals who experience chronic conditions as adolescents and young adults. It seeks to understand the role of stress, epigenetic modifications, and allostatic load in those with chronic illnesses, which could lead to identifying targets for interventions that mitigate stress and prevent its impact on health.
In the classroom, Ersig draws on her exceptional clinical experience. She promotes a feeling of safety and encourages students to identify ways to incorporate holistic nursing care into practice and nursing research. She has a profound ability to build rapport with individuals across diverse backgrounds and creates relationships with students that show her commitment to their success and well-being.
About the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nursing Faculty – Graduate Faculty
The DAISY Foundation recognizes that the pressures on nursing faculty are numerous, yet their impact is powerful. Many students talk about hearing a professor’s or instructor’s voice in their ears even years after they have graduated. These dedicated nursing faculty members often do not receive appropriate recognition for the effect they have on their students, on patient care, and on the professionalism of nursing. The DAISY Faculty Award was created to recognize and celebrate the contributions faculty make to the future of nursing.
Christine Fifarek ’23, Traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Outstanding Undergraduate Returning Adult Student Award recipient
Christine Fifarek left college after three years overcome with student loans, the burden of self-sufficiency, and lack of a social network. She had left home at age 18 with no family support as she started college. Unsure what to do next, over the next few years she tried out a variety of career paths and jobs in search of her true calling. When she didn’t find that calling, she decided to join the military. Without really knowing much about it, she selected the job of 68C, Licensed Practical Nurse Specialist from a long list of options. She soon found herself surrounded by leaders who believed in her and encouraged her to start working towards a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN). When her daughter was born, she was determined to be a role model for her. After graduating, Fifarek plans to gain experience on an ICU/Critical Care unit, then apply to the nurse anesthetist doctorate of nursing practice (DNP) program at Marquette University.
About the Outstanding Undergraduate Returning Adult Student Award
The Outstanding Undergraduate Returning Adult Student Award recognizes returning adult undergraduate students whose exceptional determination and perseverance have enabled them to pursue their academic work and to contribute to the community as demonstrated by their leadership and service.
Christina Nicole Finizio ’23, Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing
DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nursing Students
Christina Finizio is known for her compassionate care and helping hands. She exhibits how to form deep connections with patients, even in the most trying times. Her patience and demeanor help her provide the best care possible and create lasting impacts on her patients.
Finizio views patients as a story rather than a diagnosis. She takes the time to get to know each patient personally, which has led to discovering additional mental and physical health concerns on multiple occasions. Learning about her patients’ lives outside the hospital empowers her to advocate for her patients and makes her a more empathetic nurse.
“I’ve come to realize that the extra minute with a patient can make a difference that is far beyond what I initially imagined when beginning nursing school,” says Finizio. “By establishing a positive rapport with my patients, I have been able to provide better personalized care and advocate for them extensively. I believe this has ultimately made me a more effective and empathetic nurse.”
About the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nursing Students
The DAISY in Training Student Award was created 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 their families as they are learning what it means to be a nurse. Nominees 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, and demonstrate exceptional skill.
Katie Hardie ’23, Traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Ginsberg Family Award recipient
As a highly accomplished and dedicated nursing student, Katie Hardie has a strong commitment to volunteering and working in Madison’s student journalism and Asian American and Pacific Islander communities. She believes that advocacy and awareness are best accomplished by using a journalistic voice to reach as many people as possible. Hardie has made scholarship and research involvement a priority, and she has worked tirelessly to integrate herself within the academic, clinical, and research community at UW–Madison’s School of Nursing.
As a nurse who is passionate about staying socially involved, Hardie’s list of community activities is extensive. She serves as the first person of color to chair the Board of Directors at The Badger Herald, a nonprofit news organization in Madison. In this role, she transformed the newsroom environment, drafting major amendments in their bylaws to support diversity, equity, and inclusion principles. Hardie uses her pen to write editorials on minority rights and climate justice on campus. Beyond journalism, Hardie has volunteered at Children’s Hospital and the Red Cross in Minnesota and contributed to the Multicultural Student Center-affiliated APIDA Heritage Month planning committee for two years.
After graduation, Hardie plans to work as a pediatric transplant/ICU nurse resident at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. She hopes to eventually become a family nurse practitioner, work at free clinics, and teach higher education.
“I have a goal of increasing access to fair, affordable health care,” says Hardie. “I will fulfill this passion by working in a clinical setting first, then in a scholastic setting by perpetuating well-rounded, research-based, culturally competent education. As a person of color, I believe it is incredibly important to bolster the representation of minorities in academia through teaching.”
About the Ginsberg Family Award
The Ginsberg Family Award is a UW–Madison campus award. It is awarded to junior or senior students who have made outstanding contributions to the university community while maintaining strong and consistent academic performance. The Ginsberg family distributes these awards in honor of the late Dean of Students Paul Ginsberg. Paul’s family recognizes his profound impact on the campus community and wants to continue his legacy of transforming the student experience.
Karl Hummel ’23, Traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing
DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nursing Students
Karl Hummel is a diligent, thoughtful, and responsible leader who demonstrated these attributes in his nursing internship, academic performance, honors research, and community services. Throughout his academic career, Hummel sought opportunities to make an impact beyond the classroom and clinical setting. His honors project unveiled how the destructions in the macro-environment during a global pandemic impact community-dwelling older adults’ perceived stress, mobility, and physical functioning. His findings advance practice in public health nursing, geriatric nursing, and symptom science. He also served as a School of Nursing student ambassador and the fundraising chair for Cardiac on Campus.
As a student ambassador, Hummel served as a peer advisor for pre-nursing and current nursing students; he also offered insights to prospective undergraduate students and their families about the School of Nursing. As fundraising chair for Cardiac on Campus, he led fundraising initiatives to purchase AEDs for placement in multiple dormitories on campus; he also collaborated with other chair members to create educational lectures on different aspects of cardiovascular health.
In the clinical setting, Hummel demonstrates his passion and empathy through nursing assessments, symptom management, and patient communication. He values the connections he makes with patients and their families. His dedication to empathetic care, ability to build a strong rapport with patients and their families, strong advocacy for patients, and demonstrated skills in various clinical situations make him a strong student, peer, colleague, and more. Hummel’s commitment to bringing joy, healing, and comfort to patients and families will touch many people throughout his nursing career and beyond.
About the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nursing Students
The DAISY in Training Student Award was created 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 their families as they are learning what it means to be a nurse. Nominees 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, and demonstrate exceptional skill.
Yesenia Gamero ’23, Traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Badger Future Nurse Leader Award
Yesenia Gamero embodies selflessness, a passion for helping others progress in their careers, and a strong commitment to giving back to the community. After witnessing many nursing students of color drop out of the program before completing their degrees, she became passionate about expanding diversity within nursing and mentoring young students to continue to pursue what they love.
“As a Latina student born and raised in the low-income communities of Los Angeles, I use my education as a form to speak for those who I grew up with,” says Gamero. “I carry each of these individuals’ stories with me, which drives me to create changes that increase their access and the quality of healthcare services. Not only that, but I hope to inspire other students from my community [and show them] that they are capable of pursuing their career despite the barriers and challenges they may encounter.”
Gamero took supporting other students to the next level through her extracurricular commitments. As the former president of the Multicultural Student Nurse Organization (MSNO), Gamero provided guidance and support to many students of color through the nursing application process and program. She fostered a community where others feel comfortable expressing their concerns, ideas, and struggles. She also created writing workshops for application essays, mock interview sessions, nursing panels, and internship and volunteer opportunities. She also taught students the importance of taking care of their mental health. As a Posse Scholar, Gamero has dedicated her time to provide advice and education to others interested in the nursing profession, making herself available to support them during their undergraduate classes.
As a two-time Pre-Nursing Convocation speaker, Gamero has openly discussed the challenges she faced on her nursing journey, including her initial rejection for admission into the program. She believes her honesty about her journey can help new students understand that sometimes rejection happens, but with perseverance, they can still succeed in their ambitions to become nurses.
About the 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. Nominees 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; and demonstrate a clear sense of direction for their future nursing career.
Kristin Merss, BSN, RN, PhD candidate
Signe Skott Cooper Writing Award recipient
As a PhD student at the UW–Madison School of Nursing, Kristin Merss has received expert mentorship in multiple styles of dissemination, including writing for publication, writing grants, and writing for policy. Merss is the primary author of a paper titled “Devaluing incarcerated populations: Deprioritizing incarcerated populations for COVID-19 Vaccination,” which is currently in review at the Western Journal of Nursing Research. This paper highlights how incarcerated populations were deprioritized despite the immense health inequalities experienced by this population.
“Ms. Merss is strongly dedicated to social justice in nursing,” said Dr. Kristine Kwekkeboom, School of Nursing professor and PhD program director, in her nomination statement for Merss. “This paper demonstrates that commitment to drawing attention to a marginalized population during a global health crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic. Ms. Merss is willing to go where others have not and willing to speak out for those without voice, providing a shining example of the important work that nurses do and the impact that nurses can have through scholarship and research.”
Merss has also collaborated with an interdisciplinary team of colleagues to publish a manuscript titled “Caring for the Rapidly Aging Incarcerated Population: The Role of Policy” in the Journal of Geriatric Nursing. She also works with the Wisconsin RN & LPN survey reports’ data analysis and development team. She is currently working on a theory-guided qualitative analysis of interviews with formerly incarcerated adults. Winning this award acknowledges the strides Merss has taken to improve her skills in disseminating and sharing her research; it also supports her to continue spreading awareness and strategies to improve care for the incarcerated population.
About The Signe Skott Cooper Writing Award
The Signe Skott Cooper Writing Award encourages students to write for publication. All currently enrolled UW–Madison School of Nursing students who are the primary author of a paper or manuscript may submit it for this award. The paper or manuscript must be on a topic of interest to nursing, and it must be ready for submission or have been submitted to a nursing or health-related journal.
Gunnar Smith ’23, Traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing
School of Nursing Outstanding Undergraduate Student Award
Throughout his college career, Gunnar Smith has shown dedication and commitment to his academics, clinical experiences, and community service. He has maintained an accumulative 3.97 grade point average, been placed on the Dean’s List six out of seven semesters, and inducted into the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing. Outside of his coursework, Smith sought additional leadership and community service opportunities. He worked as a certified nursing assistant (CNA) at University Hospital, was a member of the American Red Cross Club, and served on the Delta Chi Fraternity executive board.
Smith has maintained outstanding academic performance and extracurriculars while coping with significant hardships outside of school, deepening his passion for being a resource for the patients he serves and those he loves. “Adversity is a constant in health care, especially nursing. Inherently, being a nurse gives you challenges every day that stimulate personal growth, provide wisdom, and shapes who you are,” says Smith. “I have found that my life inside the hospital has a lot of parallels to my home life outside of it. … In many ways, my home life has become a constant adversity for me, however, it is also the reason I feel so confident in maintaining a positive headspace to excel in my education and in my practice as a nurse.”
Smith has developed a genuine ambition to create positive impacts through the care he provides and believes that there are facets of being a nurse that academics cannot teach. His integrity, advocacy, and self-discipline make him an outstanding student and will enable him to thrive as a nurse resident on Trauma and Life Support Center ICU at UW Health next year. Smith believes that respect, empathy, and love for others are what truly influence how outstanding and powerful a nurse’s impact can be.
About the School of Nursing Outstanding Undergraduate Student Award
The Outstanding Undergraduate Student Award is bestowed upon a nursing student who excels in academic performance, clinical competence, and professional and community service.
Traci Snedden, PhD, RN, CPNP, CNE, FNAP
DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nursing Faculty – Undergraduate Faculty
Often described as empathetic, caring, and supportive, Traci Snedden is an exceptional educator who is passionate about her work. She goes above and beyond to advocate for, encourage, and empower her students. Snedden creates a supportive environment in her classes, often beginning class by checking in with students about their well-being or creating space for student announcements. She understands the challenges of being a student nurse, so she sends reminders about assignments and offers encouragement and extra support to students in need.
Snedden is an expert and published researcher on adolescent concussion, sports safety, injury prevention and recovery, and overall student health and well-being. Her work is influenced by her diverse clinical background that reflects a long history in the highly ranked Children’s Hospitals of Milwaukee, Seattle, and Denver, where she provided care as an inpatient nurse in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit and as a pediatric nurse practitioner in the Pediatric Emergency Department.
About the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nursing Faculty – Undergraduate Faculty
The DAISY Foundation recognizes that the pressures on nursing faculty are numerous, yet their impact is powerful. Many students talk about hearing a professor’s or instructor’s voice in their ears even years after they have graduated. These dedicated nursing faculty members often do not receive appropriate recognition for the effect they have on their students, on patient care, and on the professionalism of nursing. The DAISY Faculty Award was created to recognize and celebrate the contributions faculty make to the future of nursing.
Rachel Jill Sobiesk, BSN, RN, DNP candidate
School of Nursing DNP Excellence Award
Throughout her four years in the Doctor of Nursing Practice-Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner program, Rachel Sobiesk took advantage of the opportunities at UW–Madison and beyond to grow as a nursing leader while excelling academically and clinically. With the goal of expanding her scope of practice to help more children live healthy lives outside of the hospital, Sobiesk went above and beyond within the School of Nursing to help educate the next generation of nurses.
As a teaching assistant for the Center for Technology Enhanced Nursing (CTEN), Sobiesk supports the CTEN staff in organizing, designing, and teaching skills labs to nursing students. She also created two innovative escape room activities for the accelerated bachelor of science in nursing (ABSN) program. Additionally, Sobiesk has volunteered on an interprofessional education initiative, on the leadership council of the Graduate Nursing Student Organization, and as a cabin nurse at Camp Odayin, a camp for children with a history of heart disease.
Sobsiek says her experience with the Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (WI LEND) fellowship program last year was a “life-changing experience.” She completed 300 hours of interdisciplinary and disciplinary leadership training on how to improve systems of care for children with neurodevelopmental and related disabilities and their families. She also had a practicum with the Diabetes Transition Team at UW Health Kids, where she helped draft a manuscript to disseminate their transition work. Additionally, she had a DNP clinical placement in pediatric diabetes.
While partaking in these activities, Sobiesk has continued to excel academically. She has maintained a 4.0 grade point average and completed more than the required number of clinical hours each semester. She has also published two manuscripts and is in the process of writing two more. She hopes to continue disseminating her work after graduation to support the advancement of pediatric health care and nursing education.
About the School of Nursing DNP Excellence Award
Students eligible for the DNP Excellence Awards must demonstrate consistent success in all areas of emphasis in the DNP curriculum. These include clinical scholarship, leadership, policy development, and advanced clinical practice. Their achievements in at least two of these areas must be regarded as outstanding. Finally, the eligible nominee(s) must have contributed meaningfully to the School of Nursing or our community through voluntary service activities that go beyond those required as part of the DNP program.