Mont Alto's first DAISY Student Nurse Honoree carries compassion forward

MONT ALTO, Pa. - When Khaliese McReynolds was a little girl growing up in Carlisle, she had a simple answer whenever someone asked what she wanted to be when she grew up.

"A nurse," she would say.

Years later, that childhood dream has become reality.

A recent graduate of Penn State Mont Alto's bachelor of science in nursing program, McReynolds was selected as the campus' first DAISY Student Nurse Honoree, a recognition celebrating extraordinary nursing students who demonstrate excellence in patient care, clinical skill and compassion.

The honor comes during the first academic year that each Penn State nursing campus has recognized a student through the Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing's partnership with The DAISY Foundation.

For McReynolds, the award represents far more than professional recognition.

"This award means everything to me," she said. "To know that my patient care was meaningful enough for someone to nominate me, and then for me to actually receive the award, tells me that I am becoming the kind of nurse who helps people the way those nurses helped my mother."

A family story that shaped a calling

McReynolds' path to nursing began before she was born.

Her mother lost a child, Tyrese, to spinal muscular atrophy when he was just 1 year old. Although McReynolds never met her brother, she grew up hearing the story and witnessing the lasting impact of that loss on her family.

"To this day my mom cannot talk about him without tears in her eyes," McReynolds said.

What stayed with her most were the stories her mother shared about the nurses who cared for their family during that devastating time.

"She told me that the only reason she made it through that experience was because of the nurses who looked her in the eye and told her they had him," McReynolds said. "Hearing those stories moved me deeply."

Those nurses inspired McReynolds' mother to enter the profession. In turn, they inspired McReynolds.

Their example continues to guide the kind of nurse she hopes to become.

Rising to the moment

McReynolds was nominated for the DAISY Award by her clinical preceptor, who recounted how she stepped up during a critical moment in patient care.

Leslie Womeldorf, director of nursing education and associate teaching professor of nursing at Penn State Mont Alto, said the honor recognizes a nursing student's "clinical achievements, advocacy for patients and dedication to the profession of nursing" - and that McReynolds exemplified each.

"Khaliese quickly supported the care team during an urgent patient situation, applied clinical judgment, and demonstrated great knowledge and compassion when caring for the patient," Womeldorf said. "We are proud of Khaliese's accomplishments and her extraordinary example of what it means to be a DAISY Student Nurse Honoree."

Even McReynolds did not see the recognition coming.

At the award ceremony, she sat beside fellow nominee Anna Mowrer, who jokingly told her she had dreamed McReynolds would win.

"When they called my name, I froze for a second because I genuinely didn't process that it was me," McReynolds recalled. "I was so surprised and overwhelmed."

The moment remains one she says she will never forget.

Learning to advocate

One of the most important lessons McReynolds learned during nursing school came from a patient whose condition continued to deteriorate despite treatment.

Working alongside an experienced registered nurse, McReynolds sensed something was wrong. Together, they repeatedly voiced concerns and advocated for additional evaluation, even when their observations were initially dismissed.

Eventually, further testing revealed the patient's condition was far more serious than originally believed.

The experience reinforced a lesson she now carries into every patient interaction.

"It taught me to never stop advocating for my patients," she said. "Nurses play a critical role in recognizing subtle changes, speaking up when something does not seem right, and ensuring patients receive the attention they need."

That commitment to advocacy reflects a hallmark of Penn State's nursing education - preparing graduates who combine evidence-based practice, critical thinking and compassionate care to serve patients and communities.

A Penn State community that made a difference

As the first of her siblings to attend college, McReynolds credits the Penn State community with helping her navigate both academic and personal challenges during her four years at Mont Alto.

"My professors and clinical instructors spent the past four years challenging me, supporting me and helping shape me into the nurse I am today," she said.

She specifically credits clinical instructors Priscilla Coyne and CJ Voller for helping build her confidence and critical-thinking abilities.

"I truly think I would be a different nurse if I did not go to Penn State and learn from them," she said.

Her appreciation extends beyond the classroom. McReynolds also points to the staff members she encountered every day at The Mill Café, whose kindness and dedication left a lasting impression.

"They showed me the difference it makes when you truly give it your all," she said.

Their influence reflects a broader Penn State value - that every member of the community contributes to student success and helps create an environment where students can thrive.