Conestoga news

January 20, 2005 2:30 PM

Health Sciences Students Earn Achievement Awards

Conestoga’s School of Health Sciences, Community Services and Biotechnology recently announced the names of achievement award winners who completed their studies in December 2004 in the Practical Nursing and Personal Support Worker programs.

Practical Nursing is a two-year program which combines coursework in nursing, human biology, social sciences and humanities with extensive clinical experience in hospitals and community agencies.

The achievement award winners are:
> Sian Burgess of Kitchener is winner of the Sunnyside Home for the Aged General Proficiency Award, a professional reference book given in recognition of academic achievement in theory studies combined with outstanding performance in clinical settings.
> Robyn Chamberlain of Cambridge is winner of the $400 Palliative Care Award in memory of Freda and Gerald Moore. The award is for academic achievement, effective applied skills and the demonstration of leadership, caring and compassion by a student interested in pursuing a palliative care nursing career.
> Christina Draghici of Kitchener is winner of the Faculty Award for General Proficiency, which has the same criteria as the Sunnyside Home honour, but which carries a $100 prize in addition to the professional reference book.
> Inyong Passarelli of Waterloo is winner of the $500 George Carl Watters Bird Scholarship for academic achievement, superior assessment and interpersonal clinical skills, and the desire to pursue further training and career development in psychiatric/mental health nursing.
> Juanita Wright of Guelph is winner of the $150 Stephanie Futher Memorial Award, for the combination of academic achievement, exceptional patient-assessment skills, and a high level of professional care and concern in providing for patient comfort and well-being.

Personal Support Worker combines classroom theory with clinical experience to prepare students to deliver health care services in long-term care facilities and in-home settings. Currently one semester (full-time) or 500 hours (part-time) in length, Personal Support Worker will soon be redeveloped and expanded to reflect the growing responsibilities and mandated requirements associated with professional practice.

The achievement award winners are:
> Sherryann Kennedy of Kitchener is winner of the $100 Chair’s Award for General Proficiency and Leadership, which recognizes academic excellence, strong performance in clinical experiences and supportive leadership among student peers.
> Alvina Ritzmann-Anderson of Kitchener and Jackie Young of Waterloo are both winners of the Faculty Award, a professional program pin bestowed for consistent achievement in academic studies and effective application of clinical skills.

CONTACT: Nancy Hacking, 519-748-5220, ext. 3433