Southeast Chapter Awards
2026 AWARDS
We encourage you to nominate your peers who shine and deserve recognition.
Applications and any questions should be submitted to: secwocn.scholarship@outlook.com by May 17, 2026.
NURSE OF THE YEAR
Nominee Criteria:
- Current active member of the Southeast Chapter of the WOCN® Society – (Member of the WOCN Society with SEC selected as your Chapter)
- Engaged in clinical practice of wound, ostomy, continence, or foot care nursing
- Certified by the WOCNCB® in one of the following: wound, ostomy, continence and/or foot care
- Endorsed by one or more peers for recognition status
- Current board members are not eligible for this award
All information potentially identifying the nominee will be redacted for an impartial blind vote by the Southeast Chapter board of directors.
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Nominee Criteria:
- Current active member of the Southeast Chapter of the WOCN Society – (Member of the WOCN Society with SEC selected as your Chapter)
- Engaged in clinical practice of wound, ostomy, continence, or foot care nursing for less than 2 years
- Certified by the WOCNCB® in one of the following: wound, ostomy, continence and/or foot care
- Endorsed by one or more peers for recognition status
- Current board members are not eligible for this award
All information potentially identifying the nominee will be redacted for an impartial blind vote by the Southeast Chapter Board of Directors.
STATE RECOGNITION
Nominate a nurse of excellence from the host state of the Southeast Chapter Conference.
Nominee Criteria:
- Current board members are eligible for this award
- Can be working or retired
- Must be involved in the field of Wound, Ostomy, Continence or Foot Care
Nominee is chosen by the host state committee.
IMPORTANT DATES
– Now accepting award nominations
– Scholarship Applications Due: May 17, 2026
– Recipients will be Notified: July 5, 2026
– Recipients will be recognized at SEC Conference Membership Meeting: August 28, 2026
Applications and any questions should be submitted to: secwocn.scholarship@outlook.com.
PAST AWARD RECIPIENTS
Meet the Southeast Chapter Past Award Recipients.
WOC NURSE OF THE YEAR
Amy Beightel, BSN, RN, CWOCN
2025 WOC Nurse of the Year Award
Sydney Conrad, BSN, RN, CWOCN
2024 WOC Nurse of the Year Award
Lauren Mixson, BSN, RN, CWON
2023 WOC Nurse of the Year Award
Kathie Fuller, BS, RN, CWOCN
2022 WOC Nurse of the Year Award
Cynthia Timms
2021 WOC Nurse of the Year Award
Nancy Scott
2020 WOC Nurse of the Year Award
David Crumbley, MSN, RN, CWCN
2019 WOC Nurse of the Year Award
Kimberly Benton, BSN, RN, CWOCN
2018 WOC Nurse of the Year Award
Trudy Huey, MSN, RN, CWOCN
2017 WOC Nurse of the Year Award
Joanna Burgess, BSN, RN, CWOCN
2016 WOC Nurse of the Year Award
Jamie Parker, MSN, RN, CWOCN, CFCN
2015 WOC Nurse of the Year Award
Vicky Bryan
2014 WOC Nurse of the Year Award
Angela Richardson
2013 WOC Nurse of the Year Award
Marie Gehling, MSN, RN, CWOCN, NP-C
2012 WOC Nurse of the Year Award
Regina Holmes
2011 WOC Nurse of the Year Award
Carolyn M. Parker
2010 WOC Nurse of the Year Award
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR AWARD
Kelly Gilleran, BSN, RN, CWOCN
2025 Rookie of the Year Award
Julie Donovan Simmons, BSN, RN, CWON
2024 Rookie of the Year Award
Kristen Cowperthwait, BSN, RN, CWOCN
2023 Rookie of the Year Award
Elsie Murray, BSN, RN, CWOCN
2022 Rookie of the Year Award
Mochelle Gehring
2021 Rookie of the Year Award
Hannah Cleveland
2020 Rookie of the Year Award
Sarah Gibson, BSN, RN, CWOCN
2019 Rookie of the Year Award
Jason Pratt, BSN, RN, CWOCN
2018 Rookie of the Year Award
Katie Smith, BSN, RN, CWOCN, CFCN
2017 Rookie of the Year Award
Amanda Eltz, BSN, RN, CWOCN
2016 Rookie of the Year Award
Maria Kotula, BSN, RN, CWON
2015 Rookie of the Year Award
Julie Ross
2013 Rookie of the Year Award
Ramona Reed-Chism, BSN, RN, COCN, CCCN, CFCN
2012 Rookie of the Year Award
Angela Dye
2011 Rookie of the Year Award
Alice Lowery
2010 Rookie of the Year Award
STATE RECOGNITION AWARD
Cordelia Lucas-Sherrod, MSN, RN, CWON
2023 North Carolina State Recognition Award
Cynthia P. Hill, MSN, RN, CWON
2022 Alabama State Recognition Award
Kathryn Dere
2021 Florida State Recognition Award
Lucinda “Cindy” A. Bufford, BSN, RN, CWOCN
2019 Georgia State Recognition Award
Katherine F. Jeter, EdD, MA, BS
2018 South Carolina State Recognition Award
Martha Davidson, MN, BSN, RN, CWOCN
2017 Tennessee State Recognition Award
Brenda Rutland, BSN, RN, CWON
2016 North Carolina State Recognition Award
Charlene Demers, BSN, RN, CWOCN
2015 Florida State Recognition Award
Deborah Thedford-Zimmerman
2014 Alabama State Recognition Award
Phyllis Bonham
2013 South Carolina State Recognition Award
Dorothy Doughty, MN, RN, FNP, CWOCN, FAAN
2012 South Carolina State Recognition Award
RETURN TO SOUTHEAST CHAPTER
Return to the main Southeast Chapter page to learn more.
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