The UW–Madison Nurses Alumni Organization proudly announces the 2026 NAO Alumni Award Winners, Karen Solheim ’73, and Amy Jochsett Perez ’21.
Nurses Alumni Organization
2025 NAO Award Winners
The UW–Madison Nurses Alumni Organization proudly announces the 2025 NAO Award Winners, Barbara Pinekenstein and Laura Block.
2024 NAO Award Winners
The UW–Madison Nurses Alumni Organization proudly announces the 2024 NAO Award Winners, Barbara King and Adam Schneider-Price.
2023 NAO Award Winners
The University of Wisconsin–Madison Nurses Alumni Organization (UW NAO) proudly announces the 2023 NAO Award Winners. Mary Gulbrandsen, MS’74, RN, PNP, has been selected as the 2023 Distinguished Achievement Award recipient, and Tolu Oyesanya ’11, MS’12, PhD’16, has earned the 2023 Outstanding Badger Nurse Award.
2022 NAO Award Winners
The UW–Madison Nurses Alumni Organization is proud to announce the 2022 NAO Award Winners. Jean Johnson, MS’78, PhD, RN, FAAN, has been selected as the 2022 Distinguished Achievement Award recipient, and Zhiyuan “Effy” Yu ’15, PhD’19, Cert’19, has earned the 2022 Outstanding Badger Nurse Award.
Meet Pin Recipient Nancy Yang ’22
Pin Donor: Mary Moat Cert ’77, MS ’82 “I cannot think of anyone more deserving than Nancy Yang to receive the nursing pin,” says Maichou Lor, PhD, RN, assistant professor at the School of Nursing. …
Meet Pin Recipient Max Wuest ’22
Pin Donor: Cathryn Eckberg ’71 Maxwell Wuest says that the dedication to serving and caring for people is what drew him to the profession, adding, “I chose nursing because there’s no greater career than one …
Meet Pin Recipient Ashley Thomas ’22
Pin Donor: Molly Meyer ’71 Ashley Thomas began college with dreams of attending medical school to practice as a physician. However, as she gained more experience with health care, she soon realized that her place …
Meet Pin Recipient David Sohl ’22
The Dean’s Pin, added in 2019, was awarded to David Sohl, a traditional bachelor of science in nursing student who has made a lasting impact on the school through his leadership, compassion, and desire to …
Meet Pin Recipient Rey Okoene ’22
Growing up in Nigeria, Rey Okoene’s mother — a midwife — would provide antepartum care for mothers without access to health care and deliver babies in their family home to give back to the community. …