Congratulations are in order for nursing student Brandon Fickbohm and one of his instructors, Sally Schultz. Both are being honored by The DAISY Foundation for their excellence in the classroom and their commitment to the future of nursing.

DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nursing Students

Brandon, a third-semester student in the Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) program, was nominated by four individuals to receive the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nursing Students. Each semester, this award is given to a student who has been identified as a role model in the classroom and an outstanding future role model in the nursing community. Here are a few highlights from his nominations:

 “Brandon exhibits great leadership in a variety of ways. He has taken the role of Student Nursing Association (SNA) President, is a peer mentor for first-semester students, and assisted with many SNA events such as helping at the FVTC open house for prospective students.

“He displayed leadership skills, a kind and compassionate attitude, and a willingness to assist wherever needed. Brandon consistently assists his peers in explaining theory content and/or in the demonstration of skills. At the clinical site, if he has already performed a skill, he will find a peer who has not done the skill and offer it to a peer. He quizzes his peers and offers study advice on theory content.”

 Academic Clinical Instructor Honoree

The DAISY Foundation and the Wisconsin League for Nursing chose Sally Schultz as an Academic Clinical Instructor Honoree for the DAISY Nurse Leader Award for Nursing Clinical Educators. The award is the only statewide recognition available to nursing clinical educators and it honors exceptional instructors who exhibit, inspire and nurture compassion and respect.

Sally has taught in the Nursing program for more than 30 years at FVTC. She was nominated by fellow FVTC nursing instructor Jennifer Zernzach and honored at a statewide conference in November.

The DAISY Foundation is a not-for-profit organization, established in memory of J. Patrick Barnes, by members of his family. Patrick died at the age of 33 in late 1999 from complications of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura, a little-known but not uncommon auto-immune disease. (DAISY is an acronym for Diseases Attacking the Immune System.) The care Patrick and his family received from nurses while he was ill inspired the creation of The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses.