Nursing Student Council Wins Top Student Group Award

The USF College of Nursing Student Council, a student-run group that encouraged classmates to lead through community engagement projects this year, has won the Outstanding Student Organization Award within USF Health.

The council recently received the honor at the second annual USF Health Shared Student Services Awards. In the nomination letter, the group was praised for their “incredible dedication to community service.”

“Leaders of (the student council) have consistently succeeded in motivating and encouraging other USF undergraduate nursing students to participate in service activities throughout the entire year,” wrote Ellen Kent, the coordinator for the USF Health Service Corps, which organizes student community service opportunities.

Anthony Suda, president of the College of Nursing Student Council, said he couldn’t be more proud of his fellow team members.

“Throughout the year we did our best to elevate the standing of our council, and because of the tremendous involvement and school spirit from nursing students, we did just that,” he said. “This award belongs to all of them.”

“Running a successful student organization is all about how well you engage others to care about the cause you are promoting. It’s creating a culture that everyone wants to be a part of,” said Suda, who graduated this May from the Upper Division nursing pathway.

Kent said over the past year, there was a noticeable spike in the number of nursing students participating in health fairs, fundraising events, one-day special events, camps for people with special health care needs, collection drives and teaching events.

Students from the USF College of Nursing volunteered to lead interactive lessons in nutrition and fitness to school-aged children at the Sulphur Springs K-8 Community School in February 2020.

Kona Menyonga, the student council’s service chair, said they were grateful for the opportunity to serve the community through the USF Health Service Corps.

“It was especially our pleasure to educate elementary school students and hopefully inspire the next generation of Bull Nurses,” she said.

The USF Health Shared Student Services also honored recent nursing graduate Temitope Oluwayimika with the Excellence in Service Award and College of Nursing contract administrator Kimberly Brown with the Commitment to Diversity Award.

Temitope Oluwayimika won the Excellence in Service Award for his commitment to community service during his time at USF.

Kent, who nominated Oluwayimika, wrote that he has an “incredible commitment to volunteering and helping others.”

“Temi is always eager to help with projects to support children. Temi always does a phenomenal job in terms of motivating and encouraging youth to do their best, and he has consistently been a beacon of light and compassion for our community,” according to the nomination letter.

Brown, who serves on the College of Nursing’s diversity committee, was recognized for her continued work promoting the diverse cultures and identities within USF Health through educational and celebratory events that included a Black History Month panel discussion, Hispanic Heritage Month events, and the Museum of Art and Culture event during USF Health’s Multicultural Week.

USF College of Nursing’s Kimberly Brown volunteers at a Hispanic Heritage Month event in September 2019.

Story by Elizabeth L. Brown, USF College of Nursing