The College of Nursing and Health Sciences acknowledges graduating seniors and graduate students’ achievements, faculty research endeavors, and alumni contributions at the annual Honors Day event. The following awards were presented at the 2022 Honors Day celebration.
Dean’s Awards
Outstanding Undergraduate Student: Elaina Sepede, Communication Sciences and DisordersElaina Sepede was a research assistant on Dr. Patricia Prelock’s narrative study intervention for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), which informed her own thesis titled "Narrative Book Reading Intervention: Parents’ Perceptions of Change in the Theory of Mind of their Child with ASD". Sepede was also involved in the Speech and Hearing Club, the Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD) Peer Mentoring Program, the CSD Honor Society, and as an undergraduate teaching assistant.
Outstanding Graduate Student: Jane Wolforth, Doctor of Physical Therapy
Described by her faculty as “the quintessential graduate healthcare student of 2022,” Jane Wolforth integrated her master’s degree in public health with her physical therapy studies in support of population-based health services.
Distinguished Alumni: Bonnie Parenteau
Following a career in the insurance industry, Nursing Class of '68 alumna Bonnie Parenteau returned to University of Vermont to serve in the role of clinical site coordinator for the Department of Nursing. At a time when the need for clinical experiences for students outpaced available placements, Parenteau cultivated relationships throughout the state and increased the number of sites accepting UVM nursing students for practica.
Faculty Innovation in Teaching: Elizabeth Sargent, PT, Sc.D., OCS
Dr. Elizabeth Sargent has played a leading role in the design and implementation of several innovative learning experiences not only within the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program but also across the College. For one of her courses in the DPT program, she developed case-based clinical encounters that allowed students to apply aspects of patient care together in a simulated clinical scenario. Dr. Sargent’s clinical encounter format has served as a model for clinical encounters within other DPT courses. She also played a major role in the redesign of the DPT program to a “movement-system” focused curriculum; UVM is one of the earliest DPT programs to make such a curricular change. Dr. Sargent has also designed innovative, interprofessional learning experiences that bring DPT and Doctor of Nursing Practice students together, promoting student teaching and reflective thinking skills that ultimately improve patient care.
Faculty Excellence in Research: Shelley Velleman, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
Dr. Shelley Velleman, internationally recognized for her expertise in speech sound disorders in children, recently developed an important motor speech assessment tool that can be used for children regardless of the native language spoken. Her work has led to numerous published articles, book chapters and books, and has been funded by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development and the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke along with several other organizations & foundations. In 2010 she won an Editor’s Award in a top journal in the field for her article entitled “Phonological milestones for African American English-speaking children learning Mainstream American English as a second dialect”. In 2018 she was recognized as a Distinguished Scholar and Fellow by the National Academies of Practice in Speech-Language Pathology, and in 2019 as a Fellow of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. She is also currently serving as Co-Principal Investigator on a US Dept of Education training grant focused on addressing the shortage of speech-language pathologists and early childhood special educators.
Department of Biomedical and Health Sciences Awards
Clinical Achievement in Radiation Therapy Award: Katarina Krizanac
Katarina Krizanac was honored for her positive attitude working with patients in the clinical setting and her role as an integral part of a team providing exceptional care. She has accepted a position as a radiation therapist at Massachusetts General Hospital.
F.W. Van Buskirk Award: Amanda Benedetti
Amanda Benedetti earned the highest grade point average in the Medical Radiation Sciences program. As an undergraduate student, Benedetti served as a residence assistant. She will begin her career at Massachusetts General Hospital.
Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders Awards
Margaret Kyte Memorial Award: Lydia Sander
Lydia Sander was honored for outstanding academic performance. She has been accepted to the graduate speech-language pathology program at Towson University.
Vermont Speech-Language-Hearing Association Outstanding Undergraduate Student Award: Maggie Ziko
Maggie Ziko served as president of the Speech and Hearing Club, member of the CSD Honor Society, teaching assistant, and clinical audiology assistant. She has been accepted to Purdue University’s Doctor of Audiology program.
Communication Sciences and Disorders Promise Award: Lauren Rauert and Elaina Sepede
Lauren Rauert and Elaina Sepede both served in leadership roles in the Speech and Hearing Club, as co-presidents of the CSD Honor Society, and as teaching assistants for CSD 101. Rauert and Sepede also worked with Dr. Patricia Prelock on studies of theory of mind in children with autism. Both Rauert and Sepede have been accepted to Northeastern University’s Speech-Language Pathology program.
Eleanor M. Luse Graduate Student Award in Communication Sciences and Disorders: Ana Baustin
Ana Baustin was honored for exemplary academic achievement, clinical excellence, and professionalism. She served as a writing consultant in the UVM writing center, coded speech samples of autistic children as a research assistant, and mentored undergraduates on trauma-informed care via telepractice. Baustin will conduct her clinical fellowship at the University of Vermont Medical Center.
Eleanor M. Luse Graduate Student Award in Communication Sciences and Disorders: Skylar Haugenes
Skylar Haugenes was honored for exemplary academic achievement, clinical excellence, and professionalism. She has accepted a position as an early intervention speech-language pathologist in Vermont.
Department of Nursing Awards
Vermont State Nurses’ Association Clinical Excellence Graduate Award: Edna Tang, Doctor of Nursing Practice
Edna Tang was honored for her capacity for cultural humility, ability to build relationships that empower patients, and passion for working with individuals who are underserved. She has accepted a residency position with a focus on care within a racially and ethnically diverse population.
University of Vermont Medical Center Award for Excellence in Clinical Nursing Practice: Kim O’Leary, Doctor of Nursing Practice
A former legislative liaison and speechwriter for Governor Jim Douglas, Kim O’Leary entered the Doctor of Nursing Practice program to turn her attention to a career in patient care and advocacy. She has accepted a position as a primary care provider in the University of Vermont Health Network.
University of Vermont Medical Center Award for Innovation in Clinical Practice: Erik Wilson
Erik Wilson was honored for his project to enhance the care of patients with type 2 diabetes through sustainable techniques that focus on patient empowerment and care coordination at Appletree Bay Primary Care.
Clarissa Peters Allen Award: Lily Mandl
Lily Mandl was honored for her clinical reasoning and assessment skills and calm, kind, and confident demeanor in the clinical setting.
Faye Crabbe Award: Hannah Gould
Hannah Gould was honored for her dedication to the nursing profession. As an undergraduate, she served as student representative to the Baccalaureate Education Committee and as an emergency medical technician.
Visiting Nurse Association Ann K. Twitchell Community Health Services Award: George McDonald
George McDonald was recognized for community service in his roles at Appletree Bay Primary Care, Burlington's nurse-practitioner led community practice, and in the school health office where he completed his senior practicum. McDonald plans to become a nurse practitioner.
Vermont State Nurses Association Clinical Excellence Undergraduate Award: Isabel Puziss
Isabel Puziss served as president of the Student Nurses Association, during which time she encouraged student nurses to donate blood to meet a critical need and delivered thank you notes to nurses at the University of Vermont Medical Center. Puziss was inducted into the UVM Kappa Tau chapter of the Sigma National Nursing Honor Society.
University of Vermont Medical Center Award for Excellence in Clinical Nursing Practice: Lauren Dumas
Lauren Dumas was honored for her commitment to nursing and ability to establish strong relationships with her peers, patients and their families, and other healthcare professionals.
Department of Rehabilitation and Movement Science Awards
Outstanding Student Achievement in Exercise Science Award: Isabel Hansen
For her senior capstone project, Isabel Hansen combined her knowledge of dance, exercise science, mental health, and human behavior into an evidenced-based movement improvisational dance program. She also assisted on a faculty research project exploring motor skill learning in children with autism.
Outstanding Future Professional in Exercise Science Award: Noah Oliff-Lieberman
Noah Oliff-Lieberman served as president of the Exercise Science Club and the UVM Weightlifting club, during which time he broke every New England record in his weight class and competed at the collegiate nationals. He plans to join the U.S. Coast Guard and to eventually become a therapist who uses exercise as part of mental health treatment for his clients.
AHEC Team Challenge Award
Doctor of Physical Therapy student Jane Wolforth and Doctor of Nursing Practice student Emily Peck received the Area Health Education Centers Team Challenge Award for their roles on a collaborative team that designed simulation activities to help students practice motivational interviewing.
University of Vermont Student Leadership Award
Health Sciences major Zyakkiriah Rhoden received the University’s Mary Jean Simpson Award for character, leadership and scholarship.