2024 Scholarship Committee Highlights and Updates

DAISY/ KONL Nurse Leader of the Year

Kentucky Organization of Nurse Leader’s had a phenomenal year to remember! Some of the highlights from the scholarship committee begins in April 2024 when the KONL was invited to join the DAISY Foundation’s Community of Supportive Associations. For those who may be unfamiliar with the DAISY Foundation, it is a public foundation serving the nursing profession through recognition programs as well as grants for nursing research and evidence-based practice. The DAISY Foundation was created in 1999 in the memory of J. Patrick Barnes and the extraordinary nursing care provided to Patrick during his eight-week hospitalization for idiopathic thrombocytopenia purpura, an autoimmune disease.  His family’s drive to say “thank you” to nurses for the compassion and skillful care they provide daily has evolved to play a strategic role in the KONL. The KONL and the DAISY Foundation wanted to recognize amazing, compassionate, and competent nursing leaders in the state of Kentucky. On Friday October 25th, Dr. Mendy Blair was presented with our first annual Nurse Leader of the Year Award. You can read more about Dr. Blair and her inspiring leadership at KONL/ DAISY Spotlight 2024. KONL was blessed to have Deb Zimmerman, CEO of the DAISY Foundation, be the keynote speaker for our first award celebration. 

2025 Nurse Leader of the Year nominations are set to open Tuesday, May 6th,2025 to coincide with the beginning of Nurses’ Week. Nomination criteria and how to nominate a transformational leader will be coming soon.

Scholarship Updates

The scholarship committee was able to bring back scholarships as part of the KONL’s commitment to support continuing professional development through education. The committee selected, Maggie Braenovich, as the Fall 2024 scholarship recipient. Maggie is the clinical educatior of invasive cardiology at U of L Jewish Hospital, and she is looking to use her degree to advance into the nursing professional development 2 position and innovate nursing practice. 
In December 2024, the committee selected, Hailey Davis, as the Spring 2025 scholarship recipient. You can read more about Hailey on her spotlight by following this link: Spring 2025 Highlight.  The committee had four amazing scholarship applications for this semester, and it is truly inspiring to see how dedicated our leaders are to continuing their education to enhance the care provided in Kentucky.

Scholarship applications for the Fall 2025 semester will be open on Tuesday, May 6th, 2025, and the Spring 2026 scholarship opportunity will be open on Monday, October 13th, 2025. Updated applications will be posted soon!

Gratitude

Of course, none of this is possible without a supportive team. I would like to recognize the scholarship committee members for their assistance to make this possible! Our members are:
•    Eva Browing
•    Janeen Carmen
•    Marilyn Riley
•    Colleen Hurst
•    Allison Jose
•    Amy Finnell
•    Chardae Kelly
•    Kathy Tussey
•    Alicia Jones- new member in 2025
•    Lana Watson- new member in 2025
•    Patti Howard- new member in 2025