2020 Award Recipients
Director's Award
The Director's Award honors the graduate who exemplified scholarship, excellence in character, leadership, innovation, and has demonstrated excellence in both written and oral communications. This award is the highest honor a graduate can receive from the School of Nursing.
Hannah Avila
Hannah is hoping to begin her nursing career in labor, delivery, and postpartum with an overall goal of eventually working with young moms during one of the most vulnerable times in their lives. She would love to help young mothers see their potential for greatness and to help reinforce their own strengths and abilities.
2020 Director’s Award Candidates
Natalie Herb | Grace Woolard-Maltese | Hannah Thom |
Hannah Avila | Hannah Riegg |
Golden Lamp Outstanding Student Award
The Golden Lamp Award is awarded to the senior students who demonstrate scholastic achievement, leadership, and exemplify the mission and values of George Fox University and the School of Nursing. These students consistently demonstrate integrity, excellence, compassion, caring, service, and clinical judgment. Golden Lamp Award recipients are recognized as School of Nursing Outstanding Seniors in the GFU graduation program.


Dawn Miller Hannah Thom
Dawn plans to use her passion for patient advocacy working with young families in pediatrics or labor and delivery helping them get a healthy start. After gaining experience she would enjoy working in community health with programs like Cacoon or Nurse-Family Partnership. Her long-term goal is to get her Nurse practitioner license in family health, women’s health, or midwifery.
Hannah is excited about this next step in life. She has applied to various new graduate nurse residency programs and will continue to trust God in the midst of the uncertainty. Wherever she ends up, Hannah always wants to incorporate Christ-centered service and shining God’s love into her work in caring for others.
Outstanding Colleague
Dawn Miller
Caring Award
Grace Woolard-Maltese
Grace is looking forward to joining alongside other registered nurses in caring for those who are in most need and she especially hopes to focus on women's and children's health. She feels passionate about providing and caring for those who are underserved and hopes to make a difference in the care they receive through her own personal practice.
Clinical Excellence Award


Casey plans to serve the Veterans of our country through their times of crisis in emergency care; hoping that his prior experiences will lead to a more complete healing process.
Elizabeth is eager to begin her nursing career in a pediatric or adult critical care setting. She is interested in eventually being involved in nursing management or pursuing higher education. She hopes to be a calming and supportive presence during her patients' most difficult moments.
Honor Award
The Honor Award recipient consistently demonstrated high scholastic achievement (3.75 GPA or better through senior year Fall semester), along with professional integrity and leadership during their tenure in the George Fox University School of Nursing.
Rachel Karlow
Rachel’s vision for her career is to follow where God leads. She remains open-minded, knowing that wherever she ends up, she will be able to live out God’s will by serving her brothers and sisters in Christ during important and vulnerable times.
Transcultural Award
The Trans-Cultural Nursing Award honors the graduate who has demonstrated cultural humility and respect for the diversity and ethnicity of all people when providing compassionate care. This student also demonstrates an interest in the promotion of safe nursing care to the global community.
Erin Kastein
Erin is excited to live out her passion for serving others as she begins her nursing career. She is interested in many areas of nursing but feels especially called to work with the pediatric population. She also hopes to participate in medical mission work abroad in the future.