Graduate nursing alumna wins Nightingale Award

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State nursing alumna Sanga Jung has been awarded the Advanced Master’s Degree Scholarship from the Nightingale Awards of Pennsylvania. The statewide, nonprofit organization focuses on recognizing exemplary nursing practice and granting scholarships to students pursuing degrees in nursing at all levels, and honors eight students annually at its Nightingale Awards Gala.

The Advanced Master’s Degree scholarship acknowledges a master’s student who embodies and shows exceptional aptitude in professional leadership, academic achievement, leadership potential, community service, and personal commitment.

Among her many significant academic and life achievements, Jung recently graduated from the College of Nursing’s Family Nurse Practitioner program with a cumulative GPA of 3.95 and concentrations in family medicine with additional pulmonary, gastroenterology and cardiology rotations. While completing the program, Jung received the Professional Master’s Excellence Award, Nese Advanced Practice Nurse Award, and the Center of Geriatric Nursing Excellence's Gero Scholar award.

In addition, Jung was heavily engaged in the College of Nursing Graduate Affair and Nurse Practitioner Graduate Council as a student representative, Penn State's Graduate and Professional Student Association, and the Diversity and Advocacy Committee. She was an active volunteer for the Caring Card Project, the Center for Geriatric Nursing Excellence, the NP student orientation, and the COVID-19 contact tracing team.

Jung expressed thanks to Sandra Halbruner, Nikki Hill, Madeline Mattern, Sheilah Yohn, Andrea Yevchak-Sillner, and her preceptors at Geisinger Lock Haven and Gray’s Woods, Mount Nittany Physicians Group, Penn State University Health Services, and Senior Life Altoona for their continued support of her nursing education.

"In nursing, I see different aspects of life from the first cry to the final breath and everything beautiful in between. My nursing experiences make me humble every day; realizing our limitations as humans, while finding hope together," said Jung.

Upon completing the nurse practitioner certification process, she hopes to stay local and secure a job within the State College area, focusing on family medicine with her medical, surgical and geriatric nursing backgrounds.

Jung will be honored with the scholarship at the 32nd annual Nightingale Awards Gala at 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 22, at the Sheraton Harrisburg Hershey Hotel in Harrisburg. Click here to learn more about the Nightingale Awards of Pennsylvania.