Annual CCNW Nurse Achievement Awards

As a 501©3 non-profit organization, the year-over-year success and positive impact of The Connecticut Center for Nursing Workforce, Inc. (CCNW) both within Connecticut and across the country could not be achieved without the dedication, wise counsel, vision, and hard work of our volunteer leadership.  It is with this spirit that the CCNW acknowledges and recognizes individuals, groups, and organizations that have “pulled up their sleeves” to support our mission and propel us forward each year.
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• Awards are presented annually at our CCNW Nursing Workforce Summit.
• ​Submissions accepted until April 2, 2026.
• Applications can be used to nominate a colleague or for “self-nomination”

​Scroll below to view highlights of the three awards that will be presented and how to apply to be acknowledged and recognized.

CCNW DAISY Team Award for Advancing Connecticut’s Nursing Workforce

The Connecticut Center for Nursing Workforce (CCNW) invites nominations for the CCNW DAISY Team Award for Advancing Connecticut’s Nursing Workforce.

This award recognizes a nurse led team whose collaborative work strengthens Connecticut’s nursing workforce and helps ensure residents across the state have access to high quality healthcare. The award reflects CCNW’s mission to foster collaboration that builds a highly educated, diverse, and sustainable nursing workforce capable of meeting Connecticut’s healthcare needs.

The DAISY Team Award honors the impact of teamwork in nursing. Eligible teams must be led by a nurse or group of nurses and include two or more individuals working toward a shared goal. Teams may include members from healthcare organizations, nursing education programs, workforce development organizations, community partners, public health agencies, or other sectors contributing to the nursing workforce pipeline.

CCNW strongly encourages nominations that demonstrate collaboration across organizations or sectors to expand, diversify, or sustain the nursing workforce. Teams representing cross organization partnerships will be prioritized in the review process.

The selected team will be recognized at the CCNW Annual Nursing Workforce Summit and will receive the DAISY Team Award recognition package along with statewide recognition for their contributions to Connecticut’s nursing workforce.
 
Eligibility and Selection Criteria
Nominated teams must demonstrate the following:

1. Nurse Led Team - The team must be led or co led by a nurse and include at least two individuals working collaboratively toward a shared initiative or outcome.
2. Collaboration - The nomination should describe how the team worked across disciplines, departments, or organizations to address a workforce challenge. Partnerships beyond a single unit or institution are encouraged, including collaborations among healthcare employers, nursing schools, community organizations, or workforce development agencies.
3. Workforce Impact - The team’s work must contribute to strengthening Connecticut’s nursing workforce, such as expanding nursing education access, increasing clinical training capacity, supporting transition to practice, improving recruitment or retention, or creating new workforce pathways.
4. Advancing a Diverse and Sustainable Workforce - The team should demonstrate how its efforts promote a more diverse, equitable, and sustainable nursing workforce by expanding access, reducing barriers, or supporting career mobility.
5. Innovation and Systems Improvement - The nomination should highlight new models, partnerships, or approaches that address workforce challenges or improve systems supporting nursing education and practice.
6. Measurable Outcomes - Strong nominations will include evidence of impact, such as partnerships created, students supported, clinical placements expanded, workforce retention improvements, or policy or programmatic changes.

Nomination Materials
​Names and roles of team members, including nurse leadership, must be included in the nomination.

Nominations must include the following sections:

1. Workforce Challenge Addressed (Maximum 100 words)
   Describe the workforce challenge or gap in Connecticut that this collaboration sought to address.
2. Description of the Team and Collaboration (Maximum 250 words)
   Describe the team, participating organizations, and how the collaboration was formed and operates.
3. Description of the Initiative or Program (Maximum 300 words)
   Explain the initiative, program, or partnership implemented by the team and why it was needed.
4. Workforce Impact and Outcomes (Maximum 250 words)
   Describe how the initiative strengthens Connecticut’s nursing workforce and include measurable outcomes where possible.
5. Advancing Diversity and Sustainability of the Workforce (Maximum 150 words)
   Explain how the initiative contributes to building a diverse, equitable, and sustainable nursing workforce.

Submit completed nominations to Peggy Mallick, CCNW Program Manager, at [email protected] by April 2nd

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send completed nomination via email

The Jane E. Murdock "Life-Long" Learning Award

History:
The Jane E. Murdock “Life-Long” Learning Award was established in 2011 to recognize nurse educators—across academic, clinical, community, and other practice settings—who, over the past year, have demonstrated exemplary teaching and learning practices. This distinction honors educators who seamlessly integrate evidence-based strategies, garner the respect of learners and colleagues, and hold certification as a Nurse Educator or Professional Development Educator (or equivalent).
Criteria:

1. Developed innovative and successful programs to address the identified needs of diverse learners (e.g., students, faculty, and practicing nurses). Examples may include:
   • Designing and implementing credit or non-credit programs that are accessible, flexible, and aligned with adult learning principles,
   • Creating, refining, and/or revising programs that effectively incorporate technology, AI, and other interactive modalities, and/or
   • Delivering programs that enhance competencies for targeted nursing populations, ensuring relevance and impact across settings.
2. Demonstrated a commitment to teaching. Examples may include:
   • Exhibiting dedication to the nursing profession through a sustained focus on lifelong learning,
   • Sharing expertise through presentations, publications, and active leadership roles in professional organizations, and/or
   • Engaging in scholarly work or quality-improvement initiatives that positively influence teaching and learning outcomes.
3. Inspired nurses at all career stages to pursue additional degrees or professional development. Examples may include:
   • Providing individual or group counseling and mentoring to cultivate career growth,
   • Actively participating in state, regional, and/or national events to promote continuing education and leadership development, and/or
   • Hosting specialized activities to spotlight in-demand clinical specialties or academic credentials, thereby encouraging professional advancement and improved patient care.

 
Award Amount: $1,000.00 

Previous Recipients include:
2025 - Dr. Lisa Rebeschi, School of Nursing, Quinnipiac University
2024 - Dr. Cheryl Ann Green, Yale-New Haven Health Bridgeport Hospital
​2022 - Maribel Rivera Smith, Naugatuck Valley Community College
2021 - Christine DiLeone, University of Connecticut
2019 - Susan DeNisco, Sacred Heart University
2017 - Barbara Aronson, Southern CT State University
2016 - Beth Boyd, Sacred Heart University
2015 - Deborah Shelton, Center for Correctional Health Networks, UCONN
2014 - Carol Polifroni, University of Connecticut
2013 - Carole Pomarico, Fairfield University
2012 - Eileen George, Naugatuck Valley Community College
2011 - Lillian Rafeldt, Three Rivers Community College

SUBMIT NOMINATION

The CCNW Nurse Workforce Development Award

History:
The CCNW Nurse Workforce Development Award celebrates the achievements of a nurse who, over the past year, has championed the vital mission of the Connecticut Center for Nursing Workforce. This mission is to foster collaborations that ensure a highly educated, diverse, and sustainable nursing workforce to support the healthcare needs of Connecticut residents. By recognizing nurses from any role or setting—clinical, academic, community, research, leadership, and beyond—this award highlights the broad impact of those who advance and strengthen our state’s nursing workforce.
 
Criteria:

1. Advances the Mission of CCNW
   • Demonstrates unwavering commitment to CCNW’s mission, supporting and collaborating with CCNW staff, partners, and stakeholders.
   • Actively contributes to maintaining a highly educated, diverse, and sustainable nursing workforce within Connecticut.
2. Exemplifies Innovative Leadership
   • Introduces novel ideas, strategies, or initiatives that positively influence workforce development.
   • Employs inclusive and forward-thinking approaches, improving access, resources, or opportunities for current and future nurses.
3. Serves as a Role Model and Mentor
   • Acts as a supportive guide to colleagues, students, or new graduates—whether in clinical practice, education, administration, or community settings.
   • Encourages the growth of Connecticut’s emerging nursing and healthcare leaders through mentoring, collaboration, and professional development.
4. Inspires and Engages Others
   • Motivates nurses and stakeholders to become active participants in CCNW programs and services.
   • Helps build and strengthen partnerships, networks, and initiatives that further the mission and vision of CCNW.

Award Amount $1,000.

Previous Recipients include:
2025 - Bienvenido Tabuzo, Jr
2024 - Dr. Maria Krol

SUBMIT NOMINATION

CCNW Annual Excellence Award
This award is selected by the CCNW Board Chair

History:
This Excellence Award was established in 2022.  Selected by the CCNW Board Chair, this award acknowledges the work done over the past year to amplify the critical importance of the CCNW mission which is to foster collaborations to ensure a highly educated, diverse, and sustainable nursing workforce to support the healthcare needs of Connecticut residents.

Criteria:  
Selection can be targeted to a volunteer, group of volunteers, or an organization whose active engagement, dedication, expertise, and commitment has contributed significantly to supporting the development of the nursing workforce and amplifying the mission and goals of the organization in Connecticut and across the region.
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Past Recipients include:
2025 - Nestor Leon, Project Director, CT Health Horizons
2024 - Dr. Marie M. Spivy - Board Member Duncaster CCRC & The Connecticut Center for Nursing Workforce, and Advisory Boards - Goodwin University & Capital State College
2023 - Patricia Baker, MS – Retired, President/CEO CT Health Foundation
2022 - Bernie Park, RN, MSN, DNP – Partner, Social Venture Partners (SVP-CT)

Past CLN Awards

AWARDS listed below are NO LONGER ACTIVE with The Connecticut Center for Nursing Workforce, Inc.

The CLN Nurse Leadership Award

Awarded to a nurse who demonstrates:

1. Outstanding leadership, service, and commitment to the mission of the CLN
2. Is recognized as a creative leader who has made a positive difference in the direction of the organization
3. Serves as a role model and mentor for future leaders
4. Has inspired others to become actively engaged in accomplishing the mission of the organization

 
Past recipients include:
2022 - Sherylyn Watson, Sacred Heart University Davis & Henley College of Nursing
2021 - Audrey Beauvais, Fairfield University Egan School of Nursing
2019 - Susan Westrick, Southern CT State University
2017 - Lisa Rebeschi, Southern CT State University
2016 - Connie Hotchkiss, Northwestern CT Community College
2015 - Edith Ouellet, Three Rivers Community College
2014 - Lisa O’Connor, Quinnipiac University
2013 - Linda Perfetto, Connecticut Community Colleges Nursing Program

The Ruth M. Olson Excellence in Nurse Education Award​

Awarded to a nurse who demonstrates:

1. Knowledge of the discipline: examples may include: certified as a nurse educator or professional development educator, utilizes best practices and incorporates an evidence-based approach
2. A learner-centered teaching style: examples may include innovative, interactive, adaptable, nurturing styles
3. Commitment to teaching: dedication to the profession (member of professional organizations CCNW, NLN, NISOD etc.), sharing expertise via presentations, publications, committee membership/chairs
4. Success in inspiring students: past and present to pursue additional degrees/continuing education/become active in local and state nursing organizations
5. Earned the respect of students and colleagues: peer awards, mentoring of new faculty, regarded as an "expert", and advances the profession & quality of nursing education.

Previous recipients include:
2022 - John Lagosz, Capital Community College
2021 – Kathryn Phillips, Fairfield University Egan School of Nursing
2019 – Kerry Milner, Sacred Heart University
2017 – Monica Ordway, Yale School of Nursing
2016 – Denise Anderson, Hospital for Special Care
2015– Dawn Bunting, Capital Community College
2014 -Laura Brown-Yaworsky, Naugatuck Valley Community College
2013 - Audrey Beauvais, Sacred Heart University
2012 - Pam Walker, Goodwin College
2011- Leona Konieczny, Capital Community College