Berkeley College Nursing Graduates Honored with DAISY Award for Outstanding Care and Compassion

BERKELEY COLLEGE NURSING GRADUATES HONORED WITH DAISY AWARD
FOR OUTSTANDING CARE AND COMPASSION

Photo Caption (L to R): Bachelor of Science in Nursing graduate Maureen Anyango of Barnegat, NJ, and Practical Nurse graduate Stephanie Velasquez of Lodi, NJ, receive the DAISY Award at Berkeley College in Woodland Park, NJ, on Friday, April 17, 2026. The DAISY Award is presented to extraordinary nurses who provide excellence in clinical care and compassion.

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Two Berkeley College Nursing students were recognized for compassion and excellence in clinical care during a Nurse Recognition Ceremony held in Woodland Park, NJ, on Friday, April 17, 2026. Maureen Anyango of Barnegat, NJ, and Stephanie Velasquez of Lodi, NJ, were each presented with a DAISY Award, acknowledged within the nursing community among the highest symbols of nursing professionalism and dedication.

The Nurse Recognition Ceremony marked the completion of the academic programs for 18 graduates of the College's Bachelor of Science in Nursing (LPN to BSN) program and five graduates of the Practical Nurse program.

The DAISY Award was created in 1999 in memory of J. Patrick Barnes to acknowledge the care, support, and empathy shown by his nurses.

Anyango, originally from Kenya, is a graduate of the LPN to BSN program at Berkeley College. Camile Richards, RN, Professor, Nursing, Berkeley College School of Health Studies, said that Anyango earned the DAISY Award because she is an exemplary student nurse. "Maureen is resilient, compassionate, and committed to lifelong learning," Richards said.

"There were moments of doubt, exhaustion, even fear," Anyango said. "Yet through it all we showed up for our families, our patients, and ourselves."

Anyango is employed by Rose Garden Nursing and Rehabilitation as a Licensed Practical Nurse and plans to advance her career upon graduation. She hopes to return to Berkeley College as a professor in the future.

Velasquez earned the DAISY Award for her work in the Practical Nurse program at Berkeley College. Richards said that Velasquez was nominated by her peers for her compassion, her empathy with patients, her initiative in learning, and her willingness to help other students.

Velasquez has worked in healthcare for 14 years and is employed by Hackensack University Medical Center as a Certified Medical Assistant. Her long-term goal is to become a Registered Nurse. Velasquez said she is inspired in her career by her family and was motivated to work in healthcare to better advocate for patients who are not fluent in English.

"When patients hear a nurse speak Spanish, they often feel immediate relief because they know they have someone who understands them and can advocate for them," Velasquez said. "That is exactly what I hope to bring to my patients as a nurse."

See the Photos: Click here to view all the photos from the Nurse Recognition Ceremony at Berkeley College.

About Berkeley College

Berkeley College, founded in 1931, is a career-focused institution accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education that offers students Master's, Bachelor's, and Associate's degree and Certificate programs in more than 20 career fields. The College also offers Continuing Education programs to enhance career credentials.

Berkeley College has campuses in New York City and in Newark, Woodbridge, and Woodland Park, NJ, with more than 4,000 students enrolled. In addition, Berkeley College Online® serves a global population. U.S. News & World Report has named Berkeley College among the Best Colleges for Online Bachelor's Programs and among the Best Online Bachelor's Programs for Veterans for 13 consecutive years. Berkeley College is also ranked among the Best Regional Colleges/Universities in the North in the 2026 edition of the U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges survey. The website address is https://BerkeleyCollege.edu.

The mission of Berkeley College is to empower each student to achieve lifelong success.

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