After earning their degree from the UCF College of Nursing, Knight nurses “Charge On!” and change lives in the communities that they serve.
The annual Outstanding Knight Nurse Award program recognizes UCF College of Nursing alumni who are shining bright as distinguished leaders and making valuable contributions in their field.
Previous awardees: 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 (40th Anniversary)
2025 Outstanding Knight Nurse Awardees
Recognizes nursing educators and/or faculty for sharing knowledge, creating and cultivating an environment that supports life-long learning, using innovative teaching strategies, utilizing evidence-based practice in clinical areas, and focusing on scholarly research and dissemination within clinical settings.
Lillian H. Aguirre ’07MSN, ’15DNP, APRN-CNS, CCNS, CCRN
For 18 years, two-time alumna Lillian Aguirre has worked as a clinical nurse specialist at Orlando Health where she has worked on many clinical initiatives related to trauma care, infection prevention, medication safety and more. In her role, she implements best practice initiatives positively impacting patient care, nursing, and the healthcare system. She also develops nursing practice guidelines, participates in research activities, and serves on multiple multidisciplinary committees. In addition to educating and supporting current nurses at Orlando Health, Aguirre serves as a preceptor for new hire clinical nurse specialists and a preceptor for other graduate students from UCF’s College of Nursing where she is also an adjunct faculty member for graduate-level courses and has sponsored doctoral students’ scholarly projects. Since 2021, Aguirre has served as education chair of the College of Nursing Alumni Chapter and has been responsible for coordinating continuing education offerings. A proud UCF alumna, she shines bright in mentoring and educating nurses and in her commitment to evidence-based practice.
Recognizes nurses for outstanding leadership, mentorship, and professionalism while creating an environment that fosters compassionate care and inspires nurses to strive for excellence.
Nicole J. Johnson ’17DNP, MBA, RN, NE-BC, CPEN
Nicole J. Johnson has served in leadership roles for two decades, continually advancing in her career to now leading at the highest level. Johnson is currently senior vice president and chief nursing and patient operations officer at Nemours Children’s Hospital in Orlando, Florida. In that role, she has led the 130-bed specialty hospital from opening to a nationally recognized facility, reduced turnover, and led expansion plans. Currently, she oversees more than 900 full-time employees and is leading the efforts for the facility to obtain its first Magnet designation. Her dynamic and transformational leadership style facilities a professional decision-making culture that fosters compassionate care and inspires clinical excellence. She mentors and supports nurses in a collaborative environment, instituting rounding with front-line staff and supporting innovation and growth of professional governance committees. Johnson embodies the essence of an outstanding nurse leader and no doubt, will continue to shine bright and reach for the stars to ensure a better future for the staff, patients and communities she serves.
Recognizes nurses across practice levels and sites for clinical excellence, superior skills, and providing high quality, compassionate care.
Kristine Gibbons ’15BSN, RN, OCN
After beginning her nursing career in progressive and intensive care units, Kristine Gibbons found her passion in oncology nursing working with patients battling cancer and offering support throughout their journey. She has worked at Florida Cancer Specialists for nearly eight years, initially as a chemotherapy infusion nurse and now as a clinical nurse educator facilitating educational experiences for staff at 20 ambulatory clinics. In her role, she has helped develop a preceptor program and developed a standardized virtual orientation program to support new nurses. By sharing her knowledge and passion to new nurses in the field, Gibbons facilitates staff growth to lead to better patient care and safety. To stay up-to-date in the ever-changing field, she is an active member of the local oncology nursing chapter and completed her oncology nurse certification. She is currently a student in UCF’s nurse educator master’s degree program where she will no doubt continue to Charge On in her quest for knowledge to provide the best care for her patients.
Recognizes nurses for participation in local, national, or global volunteer work, community outreach activities, and military service that promotes global health and addresses disparities.
John W. Rothwell III ’13BSN ’15MSN ’18DNP, APRN, FNP-BC
Serving others has been a lifelong commitment for John W. Rothwell III. It began in the military where he served as a U.S. Army flight medic. As a military veteran, Rothwell chose UCF to pursue his education — becoming a three-time alumnus. After graduating with a Family Nurse Practitioner Doctor of Nursing Practice degree, Rothwell founded Island Direct Primary Care in Merritt Island, Florida, which is a membership-based practice that provides affordable and accessible healthcare to the community. When not providing care at his practice, Rothwell can be seen providing free healthcare weekly at Matthew’s Hope, which serves local homeless individuals, caring for local athletes on the sidelines of rugby games, participating in area walks and runs to raise money for charities, and more. Rothwell also serves on the board of directors for Matthew’s Hope Ministries and Reach Ministries, and is active in his church — traveling annually with a mission group to Guatemala to provide medical services to the underserved. He also dedicates time to supporting future nurses as a mentor and established the Dr. John W. Rothwell III Endowed Nursing Scholarship for Future Nurse Entrepreneurs to support UCF nursing students.
Recognizes nurses for generating new knowledge and innovations and disseminating research findings for use in nursing practice, education, development of patient / caregiver materials, lecturing, leadership, and advancing the profession of nursing.
Christina Amidei ’12PhD, RN, APN, CNRN, FAAN
Since graduating from UCF with her Nursing Ph.D., Christina Amidei has focused her research on advancing patient care in the fields of neuroscience and neuro-oncology. She has been an APRN research nurse in neuro-oncology at the University of Chicago and University of Illinois, recently retired as an APRN for Northwestern Memorial Hospital and as director of clinical research and associate professor at the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University. She continues to work part-time in protocol development for Northwestern and serves as vice chair of the Northwestern Institutional Review Board. Over her career, she has coordinated and participated in 48 funded clinical trials, including many first in human trials, and oversaw more than $40 million in National Institutes of Health-funded research awards. Her scholarly impact includes 54 articles in peer-reviewed publications, 27 book chapters, four authored editions of the Scope and Standards of Advanced Neuroscience Nursing Practice for the American Association of Neuroscience Nurses, and a clinical practice guideline for the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses.
Recognizes nurses for generating new knowledge and innovations and disseminating research findings for use in nursing practice, education, development of patient / caregiver materials, lecturing, leadership, and advancing the profession of nursing.
Mary G. Harper ’08PhD, RN, NPD-BC, NPDA-BC, FAAN
Mary G. Harper’s nursing career spans decades and includes clinical practice, leadership, education and research. Currently, she is director of research and inquiry for the Association for Nursing Professional Development. In that role, she leads research efforts for the association to demonstrate the value and outcomes of professional development as well as develops the professional standards for practice. Harper has presented her works across the U.S., and authored or co-authored more than 110 publications since completing her Ph.D. from UCF. These include articles, column series, book chapters, and scope and standards for professional development. In addition, she has been a principal investigator or co-investigator on numerous studies advancing professional development practice. Her research and scholarly activities positively impact the nursing profession and demonstrates the impact of professional development on clinical practice and patient outcomes.
Recognizes nurses for elevating the profession to new and extraordinary heights by using unique skillsets to implement creative or entrepreneurial ideas that advance nursing beyond the bedside.
Veronica Sampayo ’13BSN, DNP, APRN, AGPCNP-BC
Since graduating with her bachelor’s degree in nursing from UCF, first-generation college graduate Veronica Sampayo has continued to reach for the stars and Charge On to ensure a brighter, healthier future. Her passion for helping others is what led her to the nursing profession, where she has – and continues – to provide compassionate care, clinical excellence, and unwavering support to her patients. Today Sampayo is founder and owner of Balanced Vitality Center, a preventive health and wellness practice, and founder and career mentor of The Clinician Life, a platform dedicated to helping nurses and nurse practitioners advance their careers. In 2022, knowing first-hand the value of scholarships, Sampayo paid it forward and established the Clinician Life Scholarship in Support of Hispanic Nurse Practitioners at UCF’s College of Nursing. No doubt the entrepreneur and nurse practitioner will continue to positively impact lives and impact the profession in Central Florida and beyond.