Biennial NNCA Awards

The Awards Ceremony is our biennial opportunity to recognize six of our members for the unique contributions they make to the Navy, the Nurse Corps, NNCA, or nursing in general. The NNCA Reunion 2010 Awards Luncheon recognized these six individuals for their contributions and accomplishments:

Meritorious Recognition

The NNCA Meritorious Recognition was presented to Dee Bogart. As WMANNCA President, she developed task and procedure manuals that assist in transition of newly elected officers. She revitalized communication within the chapter by taking advantage of email - allowing rapid and inexpensive dissemination of information. She served as Welfare and Visitation chairman, sending cards and making calls and visits. She has conducted countless interviews for the oral history project, and arranged many “pairings” - convincing nurses to interview each other. Dee is regularly involved in collecting, packaging and distributing donations for our service members in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Luisa Power Volunteer Award

Pat Bull was presented the Luisa Power Volunteer Award. A Charter member of NNCA, Pat has been extremely active in the SCNNCA. She serves, or has served, as an officer and committee chair. She is involved in community veteran’s activities and military women’s organizations. An active Red Cross Disaster Services volunteer, Pat helped set up and staff evacuation centers in Houston after Hurricane Katrina and in San Diego after wild fires, and was involved in response to the Easter earthquake in El Centro. She serves as the Captain of the Senior Women’s Basketball Association Team. The most recent contribution of her time and talents has been as registrar for the San Diego Reunion.

Mary G. Stewart Leadership Award

Carolyn Carlton was awarded the Mary G. Stewart Leadership Award. Carolyn, a Charter Member of NNCA, has served in a variety of leadership roles. While serving as President, she proposed the Board develop a strategic plan. With the Board’s support, Carolyn then took responsibility for coordination of all the planning that goes with such an ambitious project. Following much brainstorming and hard work, she guided the Board members in articulating the NNCA’s mission, vision and guiding principles. As a result, the NNCA has a clear path to build on its amazing past and to chart its future growth and success.

Rear Admiral Alene B. Duerk Award

Captain Maureen Pennington is the recipient of the Rear Admiral Alene B. Duerk Award. Maureen received the Bronze Star for her service in Fallujah where she managed a string of trauma centers located 10 minutes by helicopter from the front lines. During her tour at Camp Fallujah, more than 3,600 patients were treated, 620 surgeries performed and 760 evacuations were made to facilities offering higher levels of care. Maureen has participated in seven Operation Smile missions to third world countries. She is the President-elect of the San Diego Chapter of AORN and serves on the Federal Nurses Specialty Assembly. In 2007, Maureen was a recipient of the Minerva Award, presented by California First Lady Maria Shriver. In her current position, she has initiated a preventive medical program called Population Health, focused on mammography. Her continuing commitment to excellence, whether in operational medicine, humanitarian relief, or prevention are inspirational.

Professional Nursing Award

Bill Ahrens received the Professional Nursing Award. Bill, a Charter Member of NNCA, spent 28 years on active duty and has continued his spirit of service since retirement. As a nursing instructor at the University of North Florida, he is giving back and helping to grow the next generation of nurses. Twenty-seven of his former students have joined the military service. He wrote an officer interview sheet or a letter of recommendation for at least 20 of them. Bill writes, publishes and presents. He serves or has served as officer or board member of many organizations, and has received numerous nursing and teaching awards.

NNCA Service Award

Carol O’Brien Patterson was awarded the NNCA Service Award. Carol is a Charter Member of NNCA and has made significant contributions to the formation, growth and development of the SMANNCA over the past decade. She has been hands-on in every chapter activity: As membership chair mounting outreach campaigns; design of the chapter logo; fund-raising for scholarships; support of the SMANNCA endeavor to host the Colonial Days Reunion in 2004; and establishing and coordinating Spring luncheons outside the Norfolk area. She is an enthusiastic and dedicated SMANNCA member, always willing to assist in furthering chapter and national goals.

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In the past, policy has dictated that names of the selectees remain confidential. The Board of Directors discussed and deliberated, and have modified that policy. In the future, if a selectee is not registered to attend the reunion, he or she will be notified of their selection for an award so they may decide to attend if they wish. They will be asked to keep the information confidential until the formal announcement.

The Awards Committee would like to thank Barb Beeby and her committee, for all their efforts in making the luncheon such a special event. And thank you to all those individuals and chapters who took the time to submit an award nomination. My sincere thanks to the members of the Awards Committee: Gloria Caffrey, Vicki Coyle, Ann Langley and Kris Minnick.

There are many NNCA members deserving of recognition. Please keep them in mind when we call for nominations next year.

Mary Anne Gardner
Chair; NNCA Awards Committee