College of Nursing to honor three alumnae with highest award

Villanova, PA, March 18, 2009 — On April 18th, the Villanova University College of Nursing will honor three alumnae with its highest award—the College of Nursing Medallion. The awards will be presented during the 20th Annual Mass and Alumni Awards Ceremony to be held in the St. Thomas of Villanova Church on the University campus. The nursing alumnae to be honored are:

Andrea Olexa Hollingsworth, BSN ’68 Distinguished Contributions to Nursing Education Dr. Hollingsworth has a distinguished career in nursing education. She is dean of the Gwynedd-Mercy College School of Nursing and immediate past-president of the Pennsylvania Higher Education Nursing Schools Association.

Maryalice Morro, BSN ’83 Distinguished Leadership in Administration of Nursing and Health Care Services Capt. Morro, USN, NC, is the first nurse to become commanding officer of Naval Hospital Pensacola. With exemplary leadership, on 9/11 she rushed to the scene at the Pentagon prepared to triage and care for casualties and first responders.

Jeanne Jackson Venella, BSN ’82 Excellence in Clinical Practice Ms. Venella has been a nurse in the emergency department of The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia for nearly 25 years where she develops policy as well as mentors and educates a staff of 135. She cares for children and families in an exemplary manner, including those from the Amish community who were victims of the 2006 Nickel Mines shooting.

The 20th Annual Mass and Alumni Awards Ceremony is free and open to the public. For more information visit www.villanova.edu/nursing or call 610.519.4900.

The Villanova University College of Nursing, established in 1953, is a nationally recognized premier nursing program under Catholic auspices with a mission to create a synergy between compassion and clinical excellence. Designated a Center of Excellence in Nursing Education by the National League for Nursing, the College provides a values-based undergraduate education grounded in the liberal arts and sciences that prepares students to assume positions as productive, ethical, and socially responsible citizens and leaders providing care in clinical and community settings. Its reputation is solidified by its rigorous, top-ranked graduate program to prepare advanced practice nurses, administrators and nurse educators; its environment for faculty and student scholarship; its respected continuing nursing education program and the leadership contributions of its students, faculty and alumni in nursing and health care around the world.