The 2020 Nightingale Awards were particularly special because we were gearing up to celebrate this year as both Year of the Nurse and Florence Nightingale’s 200th birthday. An exciting celebration was planned for Nightingale’s actual birthdate, May 12. However, the pandemic altered those plans. Instead, the event changed dates and shifted to a live-streamed online platform as the rest of the world adjusted to the “new normal.”
The virtual event still proved successful in honoring Michigan’s top nurses and showed gratitude for the frontline heroes. There was a pre-award show and virtual networking event with three virtual rooms set up for attendees, sponsors, and Nightingale award winners to visit and network. The awards show was a true celebration of nursing, filled with various presenters including top healthcare professionals, supporters from healthcare companies, Governor Gretchen Whitmer, and many generous sponsors including presenting sponsor, Ascension Health.
In the past, the live events have brought together nearly 700 members of the nursing community each year and the award winners and runners up would have received their awards in person. Though the dress code was more lax this year, there was a benefit to moving the venue.
“While we would have preferred to gather together in person as we've always done, there were advantages to the virtual award show. With close to 1,000 views at the time of the event, it allowed more people to watch the awards this year”, said School of Nursing Philanthropy Director, Jackie McIntosh.
To make this year’s event even more special, the School of Nursing created the new Nightingale Legacy Scholarship in honor of Florence Nightingale’s 200th birthday. This annual scholarship will be awarded to a nursing student who demonstrates the pioneering spirit that shaped Florence Nightingale’s legacy. The nursing scholarship, along with many founding donors, was unveiled the night of the virtual event. Anyone interested in contributing as a founding member of the Nightingale Legacy Scholarship can do so with a financial gift of any amount; $200 for Florence Nightingale’s 200th Birthday or $2.00.
To make a donation to the Nightingale Legacy Scholarship, Oakland University Giving to access our secure giving form and support our future nurse leaders.
SAVE THE DATE FOR THE 2021 NIGHTINGALE AWARDS
September 2, 2021
December 3, 2020
By Kate Lionas
