Different plans. Same spirit.
This year, our annual gala looks a bit different. While a global health crisis has altered our plans, it hasn't changed the generosity of our supporters or the continued need to pave the way for tomorrow's health care leaders. With your generosity and commitment, you can help us reach this year's financial goal—$10,000 toward nursing scholarships! All donations will directly benefit and support the next generation of Rutgers Nurses.
Message from Alumni Board President
Mary Anne Casey Marra
I am thrilled to welcome all of you to our 2020 Rutgers School of Nursing Alumni Scholarship and Awards Gala—virtually of course. I wish that I was standing in front of all of you raising a glass in toast to all of the great work that nurses have done in 2020—declared earlier this year “The Year of the Nurse and Midwife”— to care for all those who have presented with needs during this global pandemic. I have always been proud to be a nurse, and a Rutgers nurse, but never to the level of pride that I have felt during this past extremely challenging year. While current health concerns and safety protocols require this event to be virtual, I thank each and every one of you for both taking the time to be with us and to continue your support of the Rutgers School of Nursing Alumni Association (RSONAA) to promote nursing scholarship and excellence.
Greetings from Dr. Linda Flynn
Dean, Rutgers School of Nursing
I am excited to be here with you, virtually, to celebrate the Rutgers School of Nursing Alumni Association Scholarship and Awards Gala! Never in my career have I been prouder of nursing, our alumni, our students, and our faculty and staff. Please know that the work and contributions of the alumni association are critical to ensuring the supply of well-educated, compassionate, and dedicated nurses across New Jersey and beyond. Enjoy the evening!
Honoring Extraordinary Alumni
Each year the Rutgers School of Nursing Alumni Association recognizes two extraordinary alumni with the Outstanding Alumni Award and the Rising Star Award. Watch as our award winners are presented with their awards, and continue scrolling to read more about them!
2020 Outstanding Alumni Award
Dr. Cynthia E. Samuel
Cynthia E. Samuel (PhD, RN, CSN), is a school nurse in the Irvington Public School district in New Jersey, with a distinguished 34-year career in school nursing. As a school nurse at Grove Street Elementary School, Samuel provides care to ill or injured children, teaches children and parents strategies for health promotion, consults with teachers to promote healthy learning environments, coordinates and conducts in-service education programs for her colleagues, and collaborates with administrators to help shape nursing policies in schools. Samuel was also featured in an NJEA television commercial acknowledging school nursing excellence. A proud Rutgers alumna, Samuel earned her BS in Nursing from Rutgers School of Nursing in 1984 and is a 2002 fellow of the Minority Nurse Leadership Institute program at Rutgers School of Nursing. She earned an MS in health administration and PhD in health sciences from Seton Hall University. She is a past president and treasurer of the legacy Rutgers College of Nursing Alumni Association, and currently serves as a member of the School Nurse Advisory Leader Council impacting how health care is administered in the world of education.
2020 Rising Star Award
Caitlin Kenny
Caitlin Kenny (MSN, BS, RNC-OB, C-EFMBS) received her BS in Nursing, magna cum laude, from Rutgers School of Nursing in 2013. Kenny began her nursing career at Saint Peter's University Hospital in 2013, fulfilling her lifelong dream of becoming a nurse. That passion was quickly recognized and awarded—she is the recipient of the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses and the Angel of Caring Award at Saint Peter’s. Kenny continued her education, becoming certified by the National Certification Corporation in Inpatient Obstetric Nursing and Electronic Fetal Monitoring. Following the completion of her MSN with a concentration in education, Caitlin stays in touch with her Rutgers roots, serving as an adjunct nursing faculty member. She now works in the High-Risk Obstetrics Unit caring for pregnant patients with chronic medical conditions or complex pregnancies.
2020 Scholarship Recipients
Raising funds for student scholarships is a primary goal of the Rutgers School of Nursing Alumni Association and our annual gala. The following exemplary Rutgers Nursing students have been selected as 2020 scholarship recipients. We congratulate them on their accomplishment!
SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR EVENT SPONSORS
Rutgers School of Nursing Alumni Association (RSONAA) Leadership
The RSONAA works to support the mission, goals, and aspirations of their beloved alma mater, Rutgers School of Nursing. Contact the RSONAA leadership team to learn more about how to get involved!
Thank you for joining us for this year's virtual gala. We hope you enjoyed scrolling through this party as much as we did, and are hopeful we can all be together, in-person next year.
Your Gift Matters!
Each year, thanks to generous donors like you, we are able to award several students, just like the ones you met above, with scholarships to support their education. Now more than ever, during a time where many of our students are facing the brunt of economic challenges, your gift has extraordinary impact. Please partner with us today in this goal of raising $10,000 toward nursing scholarships.
Want to keep partying?
Ready to give?
Of course you are—because you're awesome!
(And you think our nursing students are, too!)