3 BSN students named Rising Stars by Sigma

Three University of Minnesota nursing students will be recognized as Rising Stars of Research and Scholarship by Sigma, the International Honor Society of Nursing. Bachelor of Science in Nursing students Julianne Pekala, Asiya Hassan and Nehita Onwubuya were selected for the honor and will present posters highlighting their work at Sigma’s 46th Biannual Convention in November.

Pekala will be presenting “We’re Not Just Handing Out Band-aids and Ice Packs:” School Nurse-Reported Interventions for Commercially Sexually Exploited Youth, Hassan will be presenting Peer Sexual Harassment and Suicidality: Prevalence of Sexual Harassment, Depression, and Anxiety in Latino/a and Somali Adolescents, and Onwubuya will be presenting Investigation of the Admission Process at University of Minnesota Baccalaureate Nursing Program: Implications for Marginalized Identities.

In addition, they will join more than 60 students being inducted into the Zeta Chapter of Sigma International at a ceremony on April 26. Each year baccalaureate and graduate nursing students who demonstrate excellence in scholarship and nurse leaders exhibiting exceptional achievements in nursing are invited to join the honor society.

In addition to the Rising Stars, the Zeta Chapter is also debuting a new scholarship and leadership program, Zeta Chapter Social Impact Leadership Program. The Zeta-Chapter is opening applications for students to apply for this program, which offers them an opportunity to advance in nursing leadership.