Awards Hall of Fame
🏆 Celebrating Excellence in Nursing
Welcome to the official home of the Connecticut Nurses Association Diamond Jubilee and Nursing Awards — where we honor the trailblazers, healers, innovators, and everyday heroes of nursing. Each year, we shine a spotlight on those who go above and beyond in their dedication to care, leadership, and advocacy.
This is more than just an awards page — it’s a celebration of heart, hustle, and the people shaping the future of health in Connecticut and beyond.
Diamond Jubilee Awards
The Doris M. Armstrong Award for Outstanding Contributions to Nursing Administration
2025 Ena M Williams
2025 Peter Donato
2024 Jeannette Bronsord
2019 Ellen M. Komar
2018 Catherine Lyon
2017 Francine LoRusso
2016 Diane Vorio
2014 Cheryl B. Hoey
2013 Susan Davis
2012 Sue Fitzsimmons
2011 Grace Lenox Flight
2010 Colleen O. Smith
2008 Margaret Flinter
2007 D. Vincent Penry
2002 Laura J. Caramanica
2000 Virginia Humphrey
1997 Rhonda Anderson
1996 Joyce E. Schickler
1994 Ruth D. Abbott
1992 Claire E. O’Neil
1991 Doris M. Armstrong
The Virginia A. Henderson Award for Outstanding Contributions to Nursing Research
2025 Katherine Hinderer
2024 Ruth Lucas
2023 Juliette M. Shellman
2022 LaRon E. Nelson
2021 Xiaomei S. Cong
2020 Nicholas R. Nicholson Jr.
2020 Giuseppina (Pina) Violano
2019 Veronica Barcelona
2018 Lois Siebert Sadler
2017 Angela Starkweather
2016 M. Tish Knobf
2015 Colleen Delaney
2014 Leslie Neal-Boylan
2014 Jacqueline M. McGrath
2014 Nancy R. Reynolds
2013 Meredith Wallace Kazer
2013 Cynthia Barrere
2012 Barbara Aronson
2011 Nancy Schmieder Redeker
2010 Angela Crowley
2007 Robin E. Leger
2007 Deborah McDonald
2003 Gail D'Eramo-Melkus
2002 Olga M. Church
2001 Cheryl L. Beck
1997 Margaret Grey
1996 Angela E. Vicenzi
1995 Marjorie Funk
1994 Ann B. Williams
1992 Mairead Hickey
1991 Cheryl Stetler
1990 Robin D. Froman
1989 John D. Thompson(d)
1987 Jacqueline Fawcett
1986 Beverly L. Koerner
1985 Barbara Munro
1983 Marlene Kramer
1981 Donna K. Diers
1980 Virginia A. Henderson(d)
The Agnes Ohlson Award for Outstanding Contributions to Nursing Through Political Action
2025 Martha Marx, State Senator
2025 State Representative Kaitlyn Shake
2024 Stephanie F. McGuire
2023 Nancy LaMonica
2023 Sen. Saud Anwar
2023 Rep Cristin McCarthy Vahey
2022 Rep Gary Turco
2021 Barbara Nadolny
2020 Rep. Michelle Cook
2019 Rep. Russell A. Morin
2016 Joy Elwell
2015 Rep. Roberta Willis
2014 Rep. Peggy Sayers
2014 Rep. Theresa Conroy
2013 Lynn Rapsilber
2012 Donna Kosiorowski
2011 Anne B. Hulick
2010 Thomas Regan & Lori Samele-Bates
2009 Christopher Shays
2008 Rep Peggy Sayers
2007 Lynn Price
2005 Norma D. Gyle
2004 Marilyn Richard
2001 Lisabeth Johnston
2000 Leo Le Bel
1999 The CT Chapter of Nurse Attorneys
1997 Marie T. Hilliard
1995 Donna M. Nikitas
1993 Doris T. Lippman
1991 Elsa L. Bown
1990 Marie V. Roberto
1989 Sen. Lowell Weicker, Jr.
1988 Flora Vigliotti Lavery
1985 Hazel T. Marci(d)
1984 Kathy Burness
1983 Clara Williams
1982 Barbara G. Schutt
1980 Agnes Ohlson(d)
The Vera R. Keane Award for Distinguished Service to the Connecticut Nurses’ Association
2025 Anne Hulick
2024 Roseann Sillasen
2023 Terry Quell
2022 Michelle Caramanello
2021 Anne D. Swallow
2020 Angelina D. DiStefano
2019 Eileen Scharcht DeGeatano
2016 Gayle Sullivan
2015 Patricia C. Bouffard
2013 Leo Le Bel
2012 Angela V. DiLillo
2011 Linda Angotto
2010 Karen Crouse
2008 Timothy Squires
2005 Judith A. Sartucci
2004 Karen Banks
2002 Mary Ellen “Mell” Hobson
2001 Yohanna M. Casalini
2000 Mary Jane Williams
1998 Myra H. Kerr(d)
1997 Barbara E. Pokorny
1994 Carol Daisy
1993 Marylouise Welch
1992 Patricia D. Barry
1990 Marie A. Turbie(d)
1989 E. Carol Polifroni
1984 Beverly G. O’Connor
1983 Claire Lycett
1981 Audrey M. McCluskey
1980 Vera R. Keane(d)
The Florence S. Wald Award for Outstanding Contributions to Nursing Practice
2025 Holly DeFeo
2024 Mary-Ann Lombardi Cyr
2023 Lucinda Cantry
2022 Judith M. Hahn
2021 Jill Strawn
2020 Ronica Mukerjee
2019 Nancy Cantey Banasiak
2018 Jessica Shank Coviello
2017 Laura Kierol Andrews
2017 Wendy Martinson
2016 Patricia Ryan Krause
2015 Deborah Poerio
2014 Heather Dawn Reynolds
2013 Stephanie Knutson
2012 Alison Moriarty Daley
2011 Shery Watson
2011 Patricia D. Giannelli
2010 Kathleen Tracy Grimaud
2010 Julie Stewart
2009 The «Shelton Team»
2006 Barbara Moynihan
2005 Mary C. Keane
2004 Linda Spoonster Schwartz
2002 Lucia DeVivo-Catalano
2001 Rhea Sanford
2000 Rita Bonczek
1999 Roberta `Berti' Chuong
1998 AmeriCare
1997 George Daneri
1996 Deanna M. Xistris
1995 Janet Parkosewich
1993 Vera V. Yordan
1992 Lizabeth L. Ryan
1991 Christine Waszynsk
1990 Ruth D. Abbott
1989 Jayne Ryzewski
1988 Bette Jeanne Gebrian
1987 Rachel Rotkovitch
1986 Henrietta Bernal
1985 Doris M. Armstrong
1984 Nurse Counseling Group, Inc.
1983 Constance T. Donovan
1981 Joan L. Quinn
1980 Florence S. Wald
The Mary Jane M. Williams for Lifetime Achievement in Nursing
2025 Terry Tavella Quell
2024 Deborah Chyun
2023 Susanne Yeakel
2022 Stephanie Fleury McGurie
2021 Stephanie R. Paulmeno
2020 Kimberly A. Clear-Sandor
2019 Julia Rosa
2018 Christine Waszynsk
2018 Maria Tackett
2017 Shirley Girouard
2016 Marjorie Funk
2015 Maria D.M. Pietrantuono
2014 Cheryl Tatano Beck
2013 Linda Angotto
2012 Linda Barile
2011 E. Carol Polifroni
2010 Mary Jane M. Williams
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The Josephine A. Dolan Award for Outstanding Contributions to Nursing Education
2025 Mary Helming
2024 Vivienne Friday
2023 Linda Roney
2022 Christine Rodriguez
2021 Kanarek CTR for Palliative Care Nursing Edu-Marion Peckham Egan SON and Health Studies
2020 Deborah B. Fahs
2019 Sherylyn Watson
2018 Sandra Bellini
2017 Donna Nickitas
2016 James John McNulty
2015 Joan Sullivan Palladino
2015 Katie Love
2014 UCONNHC CMHC Nursing Education and Simulation Committee Members & UCONN
2013 Audrey Beauvais
2012 Kathleen Fries
2011 Linda Honan Pellico
2011 Anne Maria Barker
2010 Susan DeNisco
2009 Sheila Carey Grossman
2008 Daryle Brown
2007 Elizabeth Anderson
2005 Dori Taylor Sullivan
2004 Ruth Knollmueller
2001 Jane E. Murdock
2000 Esther Haloburdo
1999 Linda A. Barile
1998 Constance E. Young
1997 Dorothy P. Fishman
1995 Ellen R. Beatty
1994 Suzanne MacAyoy
1993 Dorothy L. Sexton(d)
1992 Eleanor K. Herrmann
1991 Martha P. Jayne
1990 Judith A. Hriceniak(d)
1989 Judith B. Kraus
1987 Carolyn L. Wclassmer
1984 Kathleen T. Flynn
1982 Edith Patton Lewis(d)
1980 Josephine A. Dolan(d)
CT Nurses Association Awards
Joyce Grayson Award dedication to Mental Health
2025 State Representative Rebecca Martinez
2024 Dawn Filippa
Media Award
2025 Jacqueline Seales
2024 Taccara Durrett
2013 Yale University School of Nursing Magazine
2012 "Nursing Update" - Annual Report of the work of the nurse at Yale New Haven Hospital
2012 Stephanie Knutson, Author of "School Nurse Bulletin"
2012 Joint effort of VNA's of CT
Joanne Walsh- VNA of South Central CT
Ellen Rothberg - VNA Healthcare
Mary Lenzini- VNA Southeastern CT
John Quinn- VNA of South Central CT
2011 NURSE.com
Nursing Spectrum New England
Garnett Healthcare Group Steve Hauber, Editor & Laura Stakal, Regional Editor
2010 Sandy Summer website “Truth about Nursing” and book Saving Lives: Why theMedia’s Portrayal of Nurses Puts Us All at
Risk” Theresa Brown NY Times “Well” Blog
2009 Code Blue:Calling All Nurses - CPTV CT Public Broadcasting Network Jennifer Boyd, Executive Producer Code Green:
Money-Driven Hospitals and the Dismantling of Nursing. Dr. Dana Beth Weinberg
2008 The Martha Stewart Showfor its May 8, 2008 show honoring nurses Martha Stewart, Host and Executive Producer
Barbara Flight, Producer Elie Haller, Assistant Producer
2007 MUR-FM, Boston Affiliate of NPR for its series,"Nursing, a Shortage: Inside Out” Rachel Gotbaum, Producer Anna
Bensted, Editor George Hicks, Technical Producer
2006 Connecticut Public Television (CPTV) for its original documentary, "Nursing Shortage, Diagnosis Critical”
Producer/Director/Writer: Roynn Lisa Simmons Executive Producer: Jay Whitest, vice president of programming, CPTV
2004 Regina Barreca
2002 Johnson & Johnson
2000 Hartford Courant
1998 CBS-60 Minutes
Excellence in the Workplace
2025 YNHH SRC & YSC MICU/SDU End-of-Life Committee
2025 Families Are First Birthing Center, Bristol Hospital
2024 Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital – Pediatric ICU & Pediatric Cardiac ICU
2023 Center 11 Acute Dialysis and Apheresis Unit at Hartford Hospital
2022 Clinical Nurse Transition Coach (CNTC) Program (YNH)
2021 Wheeler Health-Nursing Dept, Plainville
2020 Center for Professional Practice Excellence - Yale New Haven Hospital
2019 McGivney Advanced Surgery Center - Yale New Haven Hospital
2018 Adult Sickle Cell Program/ EP67- Yale New Haven Hospital
2017 LIFE STAR -Hartford Hospital
2016 East Pavilion 9-5, Yale New Haven Hospital
2015 Abby Baecker and Mallory Mangan North 9, a Neuro/Trauma Unit at Hartford Hospital
2014 Advanced Wood Care and Hyperbaric Medicine: Midstate Medical Center The Division of Nursing: Yale New Haven Hospital
2013 St Vincent's Medical Center
2012 Yale New Haven Hospital
2012 Family Birthing Center-MidState Medical Center
2010 Nursing Staff St. Vincent’s Medical Center
2009 Hospital of Central Connecticut – N3 Nursing Unit
2006 Midstate Medical Center
2005 Norwalk Hospital -7 West Nursing Unit
2005 Middlesex Hospital
2000 Yale New Haven Hospital’s Atherosclerosis Treatment Program
1998 Hebrew Home
1998 St. Raphael’s (honorable mention)
1996 Griffin Childbirth Center – Post-partal Visit Program
1996 The Renal Rehabilitation Program at Rockville Hospital (honorable mention)
1996 The Council on Nursing Research – Hebrew Home and Hospital (honorable mention)
1995 Masonic Geriatric Healthcare Center, Dept. of Nursing, SPIN Team
1994 Hebrew Home and Hospital Dept. of Nursing
1993 Waterbury Hospital – Dept. of Nursing
President's Award
2025 Sasa Harriott
2024 Donna Kosiorowski
2023 Sherylyn Watson
2022 Stephanie R Paulmeno
2021 Deborah Traver
2020 CT Nurses - CT Nurses' Association
2019 Cadet Nurses
2018 Kimberly A. Cleary Sandor
2017 CT Faith Community Nurses
2016 Virginia M. Malerba
2015 Stephanie R. Paulmeno
2014 Julia Rosa
2014 Gov. Danel Malloy
2013 Carole H. Bergeron
2012 Judith A. Sartucci
2011 Robin Kanarek
2010 Jean Boddett
2010 Amy Borkoski
2009 Rita Bonczek
2009 Karen Crouse
2009 Anne Durkin
2008 Monica Hanson
2008 Lorraine Jalbert
2007 Polly T. Barey
2006 Mary Jane Williams
2006 Karen Banks
2006 Steven Starger
2005 Angela Crowley
2005 Linda Angotto
2004 Elizabeth Beaudin
2004 Jadwiga Goclowski
2004 Maribeth Pennoni
2003 Joanne Cannon
Public Service Award
formerly the Legislator of the Year Award)
2025 Sylvia Darina Woolfolk-Martin
2024 Northern Connecticut Black Nurses Association Inc.
2023 Connecticut Nurses Honor Guard
2022 Bernadette "Bernie" Park
2021 Keith Grant
2020 Meagan K. McGuire
2019 Mental Health CT - Suzi Craig
2019 Protect Our Care CT- Jane McNichol
2018 Donna M. Hathaway
2017 Lina A Dureza
2017 Dianne Doyle Puzycki
2015 Michele Griswold
2014 UCONN Urban Service Track: Sponsored by the CT AHEC Network at the UCONN, c/o Petra Clark-Dufner, Associate Director, CT AHEC Program
2011 Representative Betsy Ritter
2010 State Senator Jonathan Harris
2009 Attorney General Richard Blumenthal
2008 Nancy Bafundo, immediate-past chair, SBNE
2008 Joan Dobbins, past member, SBNE\
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Legislator of the Year
(became the Public Service Award in 2005)
2007 State Senator Gayle Slossberg
2007 State Representative Jack Malone
2006 State Senator Christopher Murphy
1999 State Senator Melodie Peters
1998 State Representative James H. Maloney
1998 State Representative Mary McGratton
1997 State Senator Toni Harp
1997 State Representative Terry Gerratanna
1997 Congressman Nancy Johnson
1996 Congressman Rosa DeLauro
1996 State Senator George Gunther
1994 State Representative Joseph D. Courtney
1993 State Senator Christopher Dodd