ERNIE “AIEH” JACOBS MEMORIAL AWARD ($2000.00) - Awarded by Diabetes Nursing Interest Group (DNIG) and ponsored by Smith & Nephew.

NANCY MULLER - Nancy is completing a Bachelor of Health Science (Nursing) at Charles Sturt University. She travels at least once weekly to one of five remote Aboriginal communities and her “passion is developing and sustaining programs for the Keewaytinook Okimakanak remote communities that meet the Canadian Diabetes Association’s Clinical Practice Guidelines.” Furthermore, her Red Lake District supervisor reveals that Nancy “has successfully researched/ developed/ delivered/ evaluated a number of community research projects related to the field of diabetes care.”

CHILDBIRTH NURSES INTEREST GROUP SCHOLARSHIP (2 RECIPIENTS - $1000.00)

CATHARINE LOWES - Catharine was also awarded the Dorothy Ferguson Scholarship and she has completed a project called Birth & Beyond, a local infant and parent consulting service to meet the needs of Niagara families. Catharine is a post-RN student completing her Bachelor of Nursing Science at Brock University. Catharine is described as having transformational leadership skills within the hospital and community. As a lactation consultant, she established a breast feeding clinic and was active in nursing policy development in her organization. Catharine’s long term goal is to pursue graduate level education to attain a university teaching position and she plans to work in the area of women’s health.

CHILDBIRTH NURSES INTEREST GROUP SCHOLARSHIP (2 RECIPIENTS - $1000.00)

ANITA WEADGE - Anita is completing her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at the University of Toronto, and she is a founding member of the International Nursing Student’s Interest Group. Anita travelled to Ecuador and worked in makeshift health clinics, assisting an outreach worker who specialized in maternal-child health and her “meticulous planning and successful implementation of this project provided a legacy for subsequent students.” Anita’s long term goal is to specialize in women and children’s health in rural Northern Ontario to develop her skills in promoting healthy communities.

STAFF NURSE INTEREST GROUP AWARD ($1500.00)

LAUREN DUFF - Lauren is completing her post-RN Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree at Ryerson University. She is a staff nurse and preceptor at the Hospital for Sick Children and she is committed to providing family centred care for patients and families with cardiac disease. Her longterm career goals involve participating in life long learning and teaching at an academic setting to contribute to nursing students’ knowledge development in a similar fashion of the nursing professors that helped shaped her nursing career.

MARGARET MYERS DIABETES CLINICAL PRACTICE AWARD ($1000.00) - Awarded by DNIG and sponsored by the Murphy-Myers family.

KATHLEEN KOT - Kathleen is pursuing a Master of Public Health (Health Studies) at Lakehead University. Her colleague describes Kathleen’s “compassion for nursing, genuine caring nature and wonderful refreshing sense of humour are of benefit to the team, those we serve and to nursing in general”. Kathleen is a Diabetes Educator and Foot Care Nurse and she has been instrumental in integrating this expertise on the Geriatric Psychiatry unit at Royal Ottawa Hospital.

PROVINCIAL NURSE EDUCATORS INTEREST GROUP AWARD (3 RECIPIENTS - $2000.00)

NANCY LADA - Nancy is pursuing a Master of Science in Nursing degree at the University of Ottawa. Nancy has contributed to nursing education by participation on the RNAO Best Practice Guidelines Education Implementation Project, as well as other clinically relevant nursing education initiatives. Nancy’s long-term goal is to pursue a Nurse Educator role in an academic or clinical setting.

PROVINCIAL NURSE EDUCATORS INTEREST GROUP AWARD (3 RECIPIENTS - $2000.00)

LYNN MCEWEN - Lynn is completing a Master of Nursing at the University of Windsor. Lynn “is respected as a leader amongst her peer group of Nurse Educators and gives of her time and talents generously to further nursing education.” Lynn’s long-term goal is to pursue doctoral studies and “to become a leader to help ‘those thinking, those entering, those working and those who choose’ a nursing career.”

PROVINCIAL NURSE EDUCATORS INTEREST GROUP AWARD (3 RECIPIENTS - $2000.00)

BEVERLEY TEZAK - Beverley is pursuing her Master of Health Science (Health Administration) at the University of Toronto. This graduate degree builds upon her Master of Arts (Adult Education) thesis entitled, Nurse Expert to Nurse Educator: Leadership Qualities Required for Transition. Beverley is described as having “a positive attitude, a dedication to excellence in nursing practice and a zest for quality in health care” and her long-term career goal is “to continue to advance nursing within all levels of health care, utilizing research initiatives to promote best practice.”

DR. HILDEGARDE E. PEPLAU AWARD ($1000.00)

CELIA LI - Celia is pursuing a Master of Science in Nursing at the University of Ottawa. Her longterm career goal is “to help advance the delivery of quality psychiatric and mental health care to persons and families living with mental illness.” Celia is a champion and leader of the implementation of the Tidal Model © of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing at Royal Ottawa Hospital and she plans to “become a strong voice and effective advocate for the vulnerable, stigmatized and marginalized groups of persons in mental health care.”