This month 32 UCF junior and senior nursing students from all three campuses, Orlando, Daytona and Cocoa, were among nearly 2,000 nursing students from 48 states and U.S. territories at the 2025 National Student Nurses’ Association Convention in Seattle, Washington.
“Attending the annual convention provides students with a valuable platform to engage with inspiring speakers on diverse and relevant nursing topics, showcase their research, network with other schools, and hone their leadership skills,” says Victoria Trautwein, president of the UCF Orlando chapter.
The valuable educational experience and cross-country journey was made possible thanks to the generous support of UCF’s College of Nursing Student Success Fund as well as chapter fundraising.
“Given the considerable distance we had to travel, expenses were particularly high this year. Although our chapter invests significant efforts in fundraising, attending the event would not have been possible without the assistance of Student Success Fund,” says Trautwein. “We all greatly appreciate the generous support.”
In addition to knowledge and memories, the Student Nurses’ Association at UCF Orlando returned to Florida with three national awards. The chapter, which received the five-year Stellar Chapter designation last year, was honored with the Social Media Award for its refreshed accounts by media director Brianna Annunziata and the Financial Excellence Award for its success in fundraising, merchandise sales and fiscally responsible decisions led by treasurer Jayla Call. The chapter also placed second in the U.S. for the recruitment of new members.
Senior Jenna Koo placed second in the international photo contest, which asked students to submit a photo and write-up showcasing a pivotal moment in a global nursing experience. The photo shows Koo at a health clinic hosted in collaboration with a medical school during a study abroad trip to Mexico. She is providing care to a boy who had never been to a medical clinic before. “That day, I learned the immense need of hosting these simple clinics due to inaccessibility of healthcare to the community.”
Junior and Orlando chapter president-elect Allyson Crighton was awarded a scholarship.
Twelve UCF nursing students were inducted in the national association’s Leadership University Honor Society, which recognizes students who participate in leadership activities. Those students are: Victoria Trautwein, Jayla Call, Jenna Koo, Sulah Monize, Linah Monize, Brandon Vaughn, Chelsea Costa, Brianna Annunziata, Isabella Parron, Aiya Falhi, Allyson Crighton, and Madeline Sink.
Four students were selected to present their Honors Undergraduate Thesis research during the poster showcase:
- Jayla Call, “Nursing Simulation for Pediatric Communication: An Integrative Literature Review”
- Chelsea Costa, “The Association Between Implicit Bias from Healthcare Providers and Postpartum Depression Among Black Women”
- Sulah Monize, “Post-Incident Debriefings for Pediatric Intensive Care Nurse Burnout: A Scoping Review”
- Victoria Trautwein, “Dance Movement Therapy for Pediatric Oncology Patients and Its Effect on Cancer Therapy-Related Symptoms”
“This year’s board was loaded with change agents who have a bright future ahead of them, and our healthcare system will be better for having them in it,” said Assistant Professor Brian Peach, faculty co-advisor to the Orlando chapter.
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