Distinguished Alumni Award
The purpose of a Distinguished Alumni Award is to honor primarily nurse alumni who have demonstrated excellence in nursing practice, nursing research, health policy, nursing education, or nursing administration; or have provided exemplary service to humanity; or have a distinguished career in nursing. Non-alumni or organizations that have made significant contributions to the alumni, School of Nursing, and/or nursing profession may also be considered for an Honorary Distinguished Alumni Award.
General Award Criteria
All nominees must:
- Be an alumnus of Columbia Nursing, except if nominated for the Honorary Distinguished Alumni Award.
- Meet the four (4) general award criteria before being considered for a Distinguished Alumni Award.
- Recognized as an outstanding nurse leader by colleagues
- Served as a leader in facilitating the growth and development of nurses
- Led innovations to advance the profession of nursing
- Mobilized significant and sustained contributions to nursing
Specific Award Criteria
All nominees must:
- Meet all specific award criteria listed under the Distinguished Alumni Award for which they are being nominated. The Distinguished Alumni Award categories are listed below and the criteria follow:
Nursing Practice
Purpose: To recognize a nurse alumnus who has exhibited excellence in clinical practice.
The nominee:
- Collaborated with colleagues to improve clinical nursing utilizing evidence-based research.
- Led unique contributions to improve quality client outcomes and healthcare delivery.
- Recognized as an exemplary clinical practice nurse by clients, families, communities, and/or healthcare institutions.
- Contributed significantly to clinical practice through presentations and publications at the national and/or international level.
Nursing Research
Purpose: To recognize a nurse alumnus who has exhibited excellence in nursing research.
The nominee:
- Demonstrated expertise in research, research design, instrumentation, statistics, and related areas.
- Conducted, completed, and disseminated research resulting in publications and presentations.
- Recognized as a role model (educator, mentor, or facilitator) in guiding and supporting other researchers, graduate students, and novice researchers.
- Utilized scientific research that led to significant changes in clinical nursing practice at the national, and/or international level.
Health Policy
Purpose: To recognize a nurse alumnus who has exhibited excellence in health policy.
The nominee:
- Developed health policy that promotes the health care of consumers.
- Fostered the political and legislative effectiveness of nurses.
- Advanced the nursing profession by leading the implementation of health policy at the national and/or international level.
- Promoted the public recognition of nursing as a scholarly discipline when developing legislative and regulatory processes and policies.
Nursing Education
Purpose: To recognize a nurse alumnus who has exhibited excellence in nursing education and professional development.
The nominee:
- Recognized as an inspiring educator by students and colleagues.
- Demonstrated leadership in education, curriculum design, innovative teaching methodologies, assessment, and evaluation.
- Contributed significantly to nursing through publications and presentations at the national and/or international level.
- Led efforts for accreditation of academic programs and/or credentialing of healthcare systems.
Nursing Administration
Purpose: To recognize a nurse alumnus who has exhibited excellence in nursing administration.
The nominee:
- Utilized innovative approaches in nursing management that positively influenced healthcare.
- Contributed significantly to nursing management through presentations and publications at the national and/or international level.
- Recognized by colleagues for their knowledge, skills, attitudes and intangible leadership qualities in managing a healthcare system.
- Created a high-quality practice environment that recruits and retains nurses and their colleagues to function effectively in their practice setting.
Neighbors Humanitarian
Purpose: To recognize an alumnus who has exhibited outstanding service to humanity.
The nominee:
- Recognized as a remarkable humanitarian serving individuals, families and/or communities.
- Provided sustained and dedicated service to underserved populations.
- Cared for others without regard for personal gain, recognition or compensation.
- Promoted the public recognition of nursing as a human service profession.
In Memoriam for Lifetime Achievement
Purpose: To recognize a deceased alumnus for Lifetime Achievement in nursing.
The nominee:
- Satisfied the criteria for the distinguished career in nursing award during the lifetime of the alumnus.
Honorary
Purpose: To recognize a non-alumnus or organization that has made significant contributions to the alumni, School of Nursing, and/or nursing profession.
The nominee:
- Organized significant and sustained contributions to the alumni, the School of Nursing, and/or the nursing profession.
- Rendered distinguished service that positively impacted the alumni, the School of Nursing, and/or the nursing profession.
- Enhanced the goals of alumni, the School of Nursing, and/or the nursing profession.
- Enhanced the image of Columbia Nursing at the national and/or international level.
Distinguished Career in Nursing
Purpose: To recognize a nurse alumnus, with more than ten (10) years of experience, who has a distinguished career in nursing.
The nominee:
- Recognized as an outstanding nurse who has made sustained and exceptional contributions to nursing during his/her career.
- Satisfied all the criteria in at least two (2) of the specific award categories, such as nursing education, nursing practice, nursing administration, nursing research or health policy.
Distinguished Alumni Award Process
- Nominator submits a completed Distinguished Alumni Award Nomination Form for their nominee. The nomination form is due on January 10, 2025 and is listed below:
- Committee members score each nominee based on the general award criteria to determine eligibility for a Distinguished Alumni Award.
- Committee members score each nominee based on the specific award criteria under the Distinguished Alumni Award category for which they were nominated.
- Committee members review individual and aggregate scoring analyses for all nominees.
- Committee members make the selection for an award based on consensus.
- Each nominator is notified of the committee's decision regarding his/her nomination(s).
- Recipients are formally notified regarding their selection for a Distinguished Alumni Award and their award category.
- Recipients are recognized at Alumni Reunion and honored at the Alumni Awards Ceremony.