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Texas Nurses Association Districts Three and Four are to honor 100 Dallas–Fort Worth area nurses May 11 for their contributions to humanity and the profession. It’s the 14th year for the celebration, modeled after one inaugurated in 1987 in New Orleans.

Before this, “there had not been any public celebrations honoring the individual contributions of nurses, and there were so many stories to be told,” says P.K. Scheerle, RN, president of American Nursing Services and founder of the Louisiana event.

Beth Mancini, RN, PhD, CNA, FAAN, associate dean for undergraduate nursing at the University of Texas Arlington, was senior vice president at Parkland Health and Hospital System when she helped start the Dallas–Fort Worth area program after attending a New Orleans event.

“There was a real need to recognize nurses for the work they did,” she says, adding that as of May 11, “we’ll be recognizing a total of 1,400 nurses for making a difference.”

Honored nurses are not required to practice in any particular specialty or site or be a member of the TNA; peers, patients, family, or friends can nominate an RN. For the 2005 list, more than 600 nominations were received. An anonymous group of reviewers rates the unidentified nominations. Scores are based on what the nominee has done for the profession, for patients, and for the community.

The event is free of charge to attend and is supported by donations from hospitals, businesses, and individuals. Nurses bring friends and family to celebrate with them, Mancini says. “It’s a remarkable event — there is so much pride and joy in the room,” she says. “The individuals walk across the stage to the cheers of friends and family. It’s a phenomenal celebration of nurses, an affirming experience.”

Honorees receive a certificate, a pin, and a rose at the ceremony. After covering expenses of the event, organizers award any money left over as scholarships.

The gala takes place at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center. The Great 100 Nurses of Louisiana were honored in April at the Pontchartrain Center in Kenner.

TNA District Nine in Houston also hosts an annual recognition event that honors 20 RNs and awards a scholarship and a research grant. Its 14th Nursing Celebration take place November 17. Houston honorees are also nominated by colleagues, family, or friends and chosen by blind review based on multiple criteria. District Five in Austin annually recognizes Nurses of the Year and the District Five’s Fab 5 at a May banquet.

The Great 100

• Lori Akins, Texas Scottish Rite Hospital
• Marinda Allender, TCU Harris School of Nursing
• Lori Allums, Parkland Health& Hospital System
• Mindi Anderson, UTA School of Nursing
• Elizabeth Arseneau, Arlington Memorial Hospital
• Bonnie Baker, Tarleton State University
• Loretta Bass, Baylor Medical Center Garland
• Benny Bolin, Baylor University Medical Center
• Patricia Bradley, TCU Harris College of Nursing
• Kevin Brewer, Las Colinas Medical Center
• Linda Brown, Richland College
• Brennan Bryant, Baylor Medical Center Irving
• Stacie L. Bussey, Master Center Laparoscopic Surgery
• Judy Callicoatt, Trinity Valley Community College
• Clare Card, Parkland Health & Hospital System
• Marvin C. Cloud, Walls Regional Hospital
• Jennifer Cooley, Baylor University Medical Center
• David Cox, Harris Methodist HEB
• Phyllis Czarnecki, Medical Center of Plano
• Barbara Danielson, Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas
• Lori Donovan, Harris Methodist HEB
• Marilyn Duran, TCU Harris School of Nursing
• Rose Elam, Medical Center of Arlington
• Kathleen Evans, Harris Methodist Erath County
• Janet Figueroa, JPS Health Network
• Oscar Fimbres, Cook Children’s Medical Center
• Sonya Flanders, Baylor University Medical Center
• Bret Freeman, Presbyterian Hospital Greenville
• Annette Garcia, Baylor Medical Center Waxahachie
• Vicky Gerdes, Harris Methodist HEB
• Kathryn Griffin, Terrell State Hospital
• Gary Hamrick, Baylor Medical Center Irving
• Susan Harvey, Medical Center of Plano
• Rose Ann Hazlett, El Centro College
• Catherine M. Hefko, Golden Acres (DHJA)
• Linda C. Hollis, Baylor All Saints Medical Center
• Lenora Horton, JPS Health Network
• Susie Hubbard, Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas
• Sylvia H. Ivie, Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas
• Gracy James, Harris Methodist HEB
• Debbie Joiner, Baylor Medical Center Irving
• Jacqueline Jones, Parkland Health& Hospital System
• Patricia A. Kelly, Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas
• Kerri Kennedy, Denton Regional Medical Center
• Furqan “Alex” Khan, VA North Texas Health Care System
• Cheryl Kirby, Parkland Health & Hospital System
• Stella Kohn, Harris Methodist HEB
• Dawn Kregel, Denton Regional Medical Center
• Diana Beal Kunce, Tarleton State University
• Mollie Kuchta, Cook Children’s Medical Center
• Susan Laird, JPS Health Network
• Judy LeFlore, UTA School of Nursing
• Rita Lindbom, Harris Methodist HEB
• Robin McCune, Medical City Dallas Hospital
• Melinda Kaiser-McGowen, VA North Texas Health Care System
• Flora McManus, Baylor Medical Center Irving
• Jennifer McMeens, Harris Methodist Erath County
• Annita Macho, Baylor Medical Center Irving
• Peggy Mancuso, TWU Parkland Campus
• Anthony Martinez, Medical City Dallas Hospital
• Ilda Martinez, Harris Methodist Erath County
• Dan Mason, Medical City Dallas Hospital
• Janice Meroney, Denton Regional Medical Center
• Frances Nell, Morrison VA North Texas Health Care System
• Nuala Murphy, Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas
• Roseann Murphy, Parkland Health & Hospital System
• John Ogburn, Medical City Dallas Hospital
• Gerry Ouellette, Las Colinas Medical Center
• Caseann Oyer, JPS Health Network
• My Pham, Medical Center of Plano
• Kathy Powell, JJ Pearce High School
• Mary Powell, Harris Methodist HEB
• Elizabeth Presley, Harris Methodist Southwest
• Yolanda Velez-Reyna, Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas
• Grace Richardson, JPS Health Network
• Nicki Roderman, Medical Center of Plano
• Amy Sageser, Medical City Dallas Hospital
• Alethe Sannes, Medical Center of Plano
• Vanessa Shaw, Baylor Medical Center Irving
• Melissa McIntire Sherrod, TCU Harris School of Nursing
• Sally Smith-Sisson, Harris Methodist Erath County
• Meagen Stillwagoner, Harris Methodist HEB
• Phyllis Sullivan, Harris Methodist HEB
• Cynthia Tate, VA North Texas Health
• Roz Tepper, Harris Methodist Southwest
• Emily Thomas, Baylor Medical Center Irving
• Sharon Thompson, Harris Methodist Southwest
• Shirley Thornton, VA North Texas Health Care System
• Linda VanPelt, Medical Center of Plano
• Barbara VanWart, Harris Methodist Fort Worth
• Richard Vignaux, VA North Texas Health Care System
• Lori Vinson, Children’s Medical Center
• Carol A. Vlasich, Plaza Medical Center Fort Worth
• Shelley Wallace, Baylor Medical Center Irving
• LaWanna “Sue” Waller, Presbyterian Hospital Greenville
• Julie Watts, JPS Health Network
• John Weimer, JPS Health Network
• Lucinda Wheeler, JPS Health Network
• Scott Williams, Baylor Medical Center Irving
• Jaimie Wilson, Medical Center of Plano

Melissa Gaskill is a freelance health care writer.