Student Awards

Creative Writing Awards

As nurses, we must do more to articulate what it is that we do, see, feel, and provide to our patients, families, and communities, so that our field will find its voice and speak to it in every forum possible. All students at Yale School of Nursing (YSN) are encouraged to write an account of what they do so that others will have an opportunity to peer into the world of nursing.

 Learn more about the winners and read their winning pieces.


Commencement Awards

YSN honors the contributions of graduating students. Students are nominated by their peers, staff, and faculty in the spring semester. Each awardee is celebrated at commencement.​

All Commencement Award nominations are due April 14, 2024.


Commencement Awards Student Speaker

Each year, a graduating student is honored with the opportunity to provide a brief address. As you graduate from YSN, share your reflections, hopes and advice for your fellow graduates during this time and the importance for nursing and midwifery more than ever. If you would like to be selected for the Student Address to be shared with fellow graduates please follow the link below.

Click here to submit your student reflection essay. Guidelines for the essay are included on the submission page.


Heather Dawn Reynolds Equity Award

YSN is committed to recognizing, acknowledging, and combatting structural racism to tap into our foundational ethos: the responsibility to engage in intersectional education, practice, and scholarship that addresses the clinical, socioeconomic, and environmental issues plaguing the health of people and the planet. The Heather Dawn Reynolds Equity Award is presented annually to a person in the YSN community who embodies this ethos and shows an unwavering commitment to help YSN address diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. 

Click here to nominate a faculty member, student, or staff member.


Annie Goodrich Award for Excellence in Teaching

Ms. Goodrich, founder of YSN and the school’s first Dean, was an outstanding nursing leader and educator whose vision set the course for nursing education. Each year, students recognize an outstanding faculty member who carries on the tradition of nursing excellence in the field of nursing education. 

Requesting nominations from YSN students. Click here to nominate an outstanding faculty member.


Charles King Jr. Memorial Scholars Aid Prize

This prize is awarded to a graduating student who is identified as a leading student, has demonstrated outstanding performance in scholarship, research and clinical practice, and through accomplishments in leadership of all aspects of study, has inspired an admiration for professional work.  

Requesting nominations from YSN students and faculty. Click here to nominate a student.


Milton and Anne Sidney Prize

This prize is awarded to a graduating student whose research, in the judgment of the faculty, best exemplifies the School’s commitment to clinical scholarship and its mission to contribute to better health care for all people. 

Requesting nominations from  faculty. Click here to nominate a student.


Marshals and Banner Bearer Nominations

Each year the YSN graduating students select student marshals, a faculty marshal, and a banner bearer to participate in the Old Campus Commencement. The banner bearer and faculty marshal will lead YSN in the Commencement procession.  The student marshals will lead their graduating class in the Commencement procession and go up to the dais and receive the “diplomas” from the Yale president – the actual diplomas are with the registrar.  These individuals are people who have shown commitment to the YSN community and are chosen by the members of the graduating class.  Requesting nominations from graduating YSN students.  

Requesting nominations from YSN students and facultyClick here to nominate.