Award for Excellence in School Nursing

The New York State Association of School Nurses (NYSASN) likes to recognize school nurses in New York State who excel in their practice of school nursing. NYSASN representatives from each Zone are encouraged, not required, to present one school nurse from their Zone each year with the Award for Excellence in School Nursing. Award recipients are chosen at the Zone level providing the following criteria have been met:

1. Currently practicing as a full-time school nurse
2. Must be NYSASN member for the past three consecutive years including current year
3. Completed nomination form must be submitted to your zone representative by the deadline for consideration by the local zone committee.

Nomination can be made by self, colleague or administrator.

2025 EISN Nomination Form. 

Congratulations to the 2025 Excellence in School Nursing Award Winners!!

Lindsay Cudney: Zone 12, Karena Bifano: Zone 11, Juliet Hunt: Zone 4, Yvette Horton: Zone 3, Laura Schneebaum: Zone 1, Mary Kanarvogel: Zone 2, and Michelle Holley: Zone 14 (not pictured)

2025 Recipients

Zone 1: Laura Schneebaum
Zone 2: Mary Kanarvogel
Zone 3: Yvette Horton
Zone 4: Juliet Hunt
Zone 11: Karena Bifano
Zone 12: Lindsay Cudney
Zone 14: Michelle Holley

2024 Recipients

Zone 2: Angela O'Leary
Zone 3: Elizabeth Riley

2023 Recipients

Zone 1: Joann Marcucci
Zone 2: Lynn Lucivero
Zone 3: Cynthia Bennett
Zone 13: Julie Murray

2022 Recipients

Zone 2: Colleen Cleary
Zone 4: Daniella Ferreira
Zone 12: Kathleen Starkweather

2021 Recipients

Zone 1: Hildi Dzigas 
Zone 2: Michele Scalamandre
Zone 3: Ponzella Johnson
Zone 4: Maria Reino
Zone 14: Katie Pawlak

2020 Recipients

Zone 1: Daryle Seid Abeshouse
Zone 2: Geraldine Plechner
Zone 4: Mary Beirne
Zone 5: Joanne M. Bardin
Zone 12: Lynne Muth
Zone 13: Barbara Baer
Zone 14: Jennifer S. Johnson

2019 Recipients

Zone 1: Colleen Foley
Zone 2: Paula Saltzman
Zone 3: Gail Adman
Zone 4: Cynthia Scinto
Zone 7: Sherill Becker
Zone 11: Kim Holden
Zone 13: Kelly Santoro
Zone 14: Jill Kenney

2018 Recipients

Zone 1: Victoria Alssid
Zone 2: Claire McCarthy
Zone 4: Mary Ann Castro
Zone 9: Joann Foote
Zone 10: Sharon Botsford
Zone 11: Cindy L. Ceracche
Zone 13: Janet Luke

2017 Recipients

Zone 1: Jill McCarney
Zone 2: Sandra Poshka
Zone 3: Mary Fitzpatrick
Zone 4: Dianne Thomas
Zone 9: Marianne Weldon
Zone 14: Margaret (Maggie) Bemis

2016 Recipients

Zone 1: Kathleen King, RN
Zone 2: Teresa Ergul, RN
Zone 3: Stacey Marye, RN, BSN, MST, HED
Zone 4: Susan L. Pond, BS, RN
Zone 7: Abigail Breen, RN
Zone 9: Catherine B. Locke, AAS, RN
Zone 13: Michelle Zagarrio, BSN, RN

2015 Recipients

Zone 2: Noreen Maynes, BSN, RN
Zone 3: Kathleen Mulholland, BSN, RN, MPH
Zone 4: Carol Bumbolow, MSN, RN
Zone 7: Gale Elfner, RN
Zone 8: Beth Besaw, AAS, RN, SN
Zone 9: Debra Russell, RN, DPL
Zone 10: Diane Belton, RN
Zone 11: Annette Cobb, RN, BS
Zone 12: Carol A DiCesare, BSN, RN, NCSN
Zone 13: Judith Wolanin, BSN, RN

2014 Recipients

Zone 1: Christine Macleod BSN, RN
Zone 2: Stephanie Bland BSN, RN
Zone 3: Jessy Warren BSN, RN, MSA
Zone 4: Lori Toppi, RN
Zone 5: Tamara Sullivan RN
Zone 7: Joanne Reynolds MSN, RN, NCSN
Zone 9: Mary Boucher BS, RN
Zone 10: Kathleen Buda, RN
Zone 11: Cindy Price RN
Zone 13: Elaine M Herberger, RN

2013 Recipients

Zone 2: Joan Verardo
Zone 3: Diane Kay
Zone 4: Mary Beth Guyett
Zone 7: Sherry Roy
Zone 8: Maryalice Smith
Zone 9: Theresa Leeson
Zone 10: Nancy Perfield
Zone 11: Deborah Dvorsky
Zone 12: Flora McEntee
Zone 13: Deborah Kampff
Zone 14: Joetta Pollock

2012 Recipients

Zone 1: Susan Anne Murphy RN, BC, BS
Zone 2: Jacki O’Donnell RN
Zone 4: Victoria Ruggiero RN, BSN
Zone 7: Betsy Williams RN
Zone 9: Lou Ann Gleason RN
Zone 10: June Janssen RN
Zone 11: Joyce DeRitis RN
Zone 14: Susan Labuhn RN

2011 Recipients

Zone 1: Patricia Galway RN
Zone 2: Mary Ellen Heer RN NCSN
Zone 4: Lauren Eicher RN BSN NCSN
Zone 7: Holly Hebb RN
Zone 8: Linda Haubner RN BSN FNP-BC
Zone 9: Rita Saidel RN
Zone 10: Cynthia Hirt RN
Zone 11: Gail Hall RN

2010 Recipients

Zone 1: Donna Hasan RN
Zone 2: Rita Molloy RN
Zone 4: Cathy Krug RN
Zone 5: Constance Griffin RN
Zone 9: O. Jeanne Dolly BS, RN, NCSN
Zone 10: Lisa Morgan RN
Zone 13: Mary Cesarz RN

2009 Recipients

Zone 1: Lois Haque RN, NCSN
Zone 2: Fran Dellasperanzo RN
Zone 4: Karen Cofino RN, BSN, NCSN
Zone 7: Janice McPhee RN, BSN, NCSN
Zone 9: Suzanne Smith RN, BSN, NCSN
Zone 11: Charlotte Kramer RN, SNT
Zone 12: Diane Levin RN
Zone 13: Kathy Dwan RN