Celebrate our 2024 DAISY Honorees
At South University, we’re proud of the many skilled, dedicated nurses who make up our community, including our students, alumni, instructors, staff, preceptors, and more. Recently, several of our nursing students and faculty members were honored with The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurse Educators and Extraordinary Nursing Students®. Today, we’re thrilled to introduce you to each of these winners, some of whom we’ll be interviewing and featuring more of in future blog posts.
About the DAISY Awards The DAISY Foundation was established by the family of J. Patrick Barnes, after he passed away from complications of an auto-immune disease. (DAISY is an acronym for Diseases Attacking the Immune System). The care nurses provided for Patrick and his family inspired them to create this foundation in his memory. The DAISY awards serve as a way to thank and recognize nurses for their compassionate care and the profound difference they make in the lives of their patients and patient families.
The Selection Process
In 2024, South University invited patients, peers, families, colleagues, and alumni to nominate a nursing student or faculty for a DAISY Award. The nominations poured in for our amazing group of students and faculty. In total, we received 243 nominations for 90 nominees! After carefully reviewing the nominations, the South University Committee is excited to announce our 2024 recipients of the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurse Educators and Extraordinary Nursing Students.
2024 South University Faculty Honorees
Heidi Garguilo, DNP, FNP, RN
Faculty, Undergraduate Nursing
South University's online programs
College of Nursing and Public Health
Denise Howard, DNP, MSN, RN
Associate Professor, Faculty, DNP Program
South University's online programs
College of Nursing and Public Health
Robert Asher, MSN Ed., RN
Assistant Professor, Faculty, Undergraduate Nursing
South University, Austin
College of Nursing and Public Health
Sharon RamJohn, PhD, RN, CNE
South University, West Palm Beach
Assistant Professor, Faculty, Undergraduate Nursing
College of Nursing and Public Health
2024 South University Student Honorees
Kaylee Vega, South University, Virginia Beach, current Bachelor of Science in Nursing student (expected graduation 2025)
Alexa Obregon, South University, Tampa, Bachelor of Science in Nursing, 2024 graduate
Alicea Mealer, South University, Tampa Master of Science in Nursing with a Specialization in Family Nurse Practitioner, 2024 graduate
Congratulations from South University!
"We are proud to be among the healthcare organizations participating in The DAISY Award program. Nurse educators and nursing students go above and beyond every day,” shared South University’s Chief Nursing Officer Dr. Michelle Krawczyk. “It's important that our faculty and students know their work is highly valued, and The DAISY Foundation provides a way for us to do that."
Stay tuned for information on how to submit a nomination for our 2025 DAISY awards!
