Students and nurses to receive Alumni Awards from Loyola University Chicago

The Loyola University Chicago Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing will honor two alumni and two students at the Third Annual Alumni Awards Brunch this Saturday at the Lake Shore campus.

Sandra Millon Underwood, RN, PhD, FAAN (BSN '75, MSN '79), will receive the Distinguished Alumni Award, which is the most prestigious acknowledgment of Loyola nursing alumni accomplishments. Cheryl McLean, RN, WHNP (BSN '96, MSN '99), will be honored with the Spirit of Ignatius Award. This is given to a graduate who best characterizes Curas Personalis or "Care of the Person." Brittany Bill will be given the BSN Student Alumni Award and Sarah De Pesa will receive the ABSN Student Alumni Award for their accomplishments as undergraduates.

"These alumnae and students are being honored for the significant contributions they have made to the school and the profession," said Vicki A. Keough, PhD, RN-BC, ACNP, dean, SON. "They are role models for future generations of nurses to come."

Sandra Millon Underwood, RN, PhD, FAAN - Distinguished Alumni Award winner
Dr. Millon Underwood is a professor at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She has taught several courses that focus on research, evidence-based practice, health promotion, cancer prevention and control, cultural diversity, perspectives of health-care systems and foundations of clinical nursing practice. Dr. Millon Underwood also has directed a number of research projects focused on cancer education, prevention and management as well as on genetics, genomics and personalized care that have targeted at-risk populations of men, women and children who reside in urban and rural communities.

Cheryl McLean, RN, WHNP - Spirit of Ignatius Award winner
McClean is a board-certified nurse practitioner with more than 28 years of experience in caring for women. She uses a holistic approach to promoting health and disease prevention and she believes strongly in education and the empowerment it gives to her patients. McClean is a clinical preceptor for advance practice nurses from the Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing. She also has volunteered her time and talents over the last 14 years by providing care for women and children in Belize. McClean also is active in health and wellness activities in her own community.

Brittany Bill - BSN Student Alumni Award winner
Bill has a strong academic record, and she demonstrates intellectual curiosity, critical-thinking skills, compassionate bedside manner and service. Bill is an active member in the American Diabetes Association, the Illinois Chicago Chapter for Diabetes and the American Association of Diabetes Educators. She also has spoken about diabetes as a guest lecturer on several occasions.

Sarah De Pesa - ABSN Student Alumni Award winner
De Pesa embodies excellence in academics, research, service to the community and engagement. She also is a positive role model for other nursing students. De Pesa has served as a participant on a panel for new accelerated nursing students and offered guidance for their undergraduate experience. She remains engaged with the values and spirit of Loyola University Chicago.