Celebrating Care and Kindness: DAISY Awards Honor St. John’s Nursing Excellence

Three members of St. John’s University’s Department of Nursing community in the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences were honored in 2025 with DAISY Awards, a recognition program established by The DAISY Foundation that celebrates, recognizes, and thanks nurses for the care and kindness they provide.

The students, Carolyn Moglia, a fourth-year nursing student from Stewart Manor, NY, and  Andrew Arroyo, a third-year nursing student from Forest Hills, NY, were joined by faculty member, Catherine R. Bell, DNP, R.N., Assistant Professor/Industry Professional, Nursing, in being honored with The DAISY Award.

While DAISY Award nominations typically come from patients, family members, other nurses, physicians, clinicians, or staff in a health-care setting, nominations  are submitted by students, preceptors, faculty, administrators, staff, or alumni submit nominations in an academic setting. 

“Congratulations to Carolyn and Andrew on receiving The DAISY Award!” exclaimed Ms. Bell, who has been a mentor to both students. “This recognition is a testament to your compassion and dedication, and the positive impact you make on patients, families, and those around you. It has been such a joy to see both of you grow as student nurses. You make the profession brighter and kinder every day.” 

Nominations for the award are “blinded” and sent to an internal committee at the participating organization. The committee reads and scores the nominations using criteria that focus on compassion and fit the mission and values of each organization.  

Carolyn is a member of the first cohort of students in the University’s Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing program, which launched in 2022. “Winning The DAISY Award is an amazing honor for me,” Carolyn reflected. “I never thought I’d get one as a nurse—let alone as a student. I feel that all the hard work I have put in over the last almost four years has meant something and culminated in this award.” 

A specialist in pediatrics, she continued, “It shows that I have made an impact on someone’s life, and that makes me want to continue my journey to become a nurse. Hopefully, one day I will be a pediatric intensive care unit nurse, just like the nurses who nominated me for this award.”

For Andrew, the recognition carried special significance, representing the dedication he brings to his studies and his work in patient care as a nursing assistant at Cohen Children’s Medical Center in New Hyde Park, NY. “Being recognized for all the hard work I’ve put into both school and my role as a nursing assistant truly means so much to me,” he said. 

He added, “It’s moments like these that remind me why I chose this path. I chose nursing as my major because it allows me to help others in need while fulfilling my strong interest in science.” 

Andrew plans to work in pediatric intensive care after he graduates. “Nursing uniquely integrates compassionate patient care with the application of medical and scientific knowledge, aligning seamlessly with my personal values and career aspirations,” he said.

Like her students, Professor Bell was proud to receive The DAISY Award. The recognition underscores the shared values of compassion, care, and service that connect her work with the success of those she teaches.

“Winning The DAISY Award as a professor is incredibly meaningful and humbling,” Ms. Bell explained. “It affirms that the compassion, support, and commitment I strive to bring into the classroom and clinical setting are truly making a difference.”