Husson University ROTC Graduate Receives the Colonel Tanya Wahlberg Nurse Cadet Excellence Award
Published on: November 14, 2022
BANGOR, MAINE – Husson University announced today that Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) graduate, Madison Morano, Class of ‘22, a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army received the prestigious Colonel Tanya Wahlberg Nurse Cadet Excellence Award. Named in honor of a former second brigade professor of military science, the award is presented each year to individuals who demonstrate excellence through leadership, character, academics and physical fitness.
Lieutenant Colonel Steven A. Veves, LTC, IN, a professor of military science at the University of Maine characterized this accomplishment as “a huge deal.” According to Veves, “Maine is traditionally one of the smaller programs and with that comes a smaller nurse population. Second Lieutenant Morano had to compete against larger schools, with more applicants, in order to win this award.”
After winning the Colonel Tanya Wahlberg Nurse Cadet Excellence Award, Morano took time to reflect on all of the hard work it took to earn this recognition. “As I pursued my degree, I kept putting pressure on myself to do better,” she said. “This award validated all of my hard work and I was honored to accept it.”
Ever since she was a little girl, Morano wanted to be a member of the U.S. Army. “I would see people dressed in uniform at the grocery store or in a restaurant and I was always fascinated by them.” Now an officer in today’s Army, she has no regrets about joining the armed services. “I love the camaraderie of the Army,” said Morano. “I always wanted to give back to my country and this is a great way to do it.”
There was no Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) program offered at her high school, so Morano joined the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program during her first year at Husson University. ROTC is a leadership program offered at Husson University in partnership with the University of Maine through the Black Bear Battalion.
“Every semester, we were required to take an ROTC course,” said Morano. “Besides participating in physical training three mornings a week at both Husson and the University of Maine, we also had to participate in a military lab every Wednesday.” In addition to her ROTC requirements, Morano had to complete the challenging courses needed to earn Husson’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree.
Husson’s emphasis on experiential learning provided Morano with practical experience that supplemented her classroom and simulation laboratory learning. While she was at the University, she completed a Nurse Summer Training Program in Fort Wainwright, Alaska. “I was able to work in a military hospital and get a real feel for what my future would hold,” she said.
Following the completion of a basic course in San Antonio, Texas, Second Lieutenant Morano will be stationed at the Madigan Army Medical Center. This medical center is located on Joint Base Lewis-McChord, just outside Lakewood, Washington. It’s an integral part of the Madigan Healthcare System - one of the largest military hospitals on the West Coast. Morano’s goal is to specialize in labor and delivery nursing. She hopes to someday become a nurse anesthetist.
Husson University’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree prepares students to enter a variety of practice settings as professional nurses. Potential practice settings include all areas of hospital nursing, ranging from critical care to newborn nursery, as well as community health, clinic, psychiatric, and long term care settings. Clinical experience in nursing is integrated throughout the program of study. To learn more about Husson’s BSN degree program visit https://www.husson.edu/college-of-health-and-pharmacy/school-of-nursing/undergraduate-nursing/.
Husson University’s School of Nursing provides the advanced knowledge students need to become caring professionals dedicated to meeting the health needs of all people. Graduates help patients achieve their maximum health potential. Nurses comprise the largest component of the expanding healthcare sector[1]. Career opportunities are available for individuals who seek one-on-one relationships with patients or executive positions in the health industry. This includes nurses in every specialty, including mental health and primary care.
Students can choose to enroll in undergraduate or graduate nursing programs. The undergraduate program is a four-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree that’s available on campus. The University also offers a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree program online or on campus with a choice of four specializations. These specializations include the Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGAC-NP) program, Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) program, and the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) program. There’s also a Post-Graduate Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) Certificate program.
The facilities at Husson University include a state-of-the-art nursing simulation learning center with lifelike manikins that give aspiring nurses the opportunity to practice their skills, a cadaver dissection lab, excellent library resources and wireless computer access.
The School of Nursing is just one of several schools that are a part of Husson University’s College of Health and Pharmacy. Others include the School of Physical Therapy, the School of Occupational Therapy and the School of Pharmacy.
For more than 120 years, Husson University has shown its adaptability and strength in delivering educational programs that prepare future leaders to handle the challenges of tomorrow through innovative undergraduate and graduate degrees. With a commitment to delivering affordable classroom, online and experiential learning opportunities, Husson University has come to represent a superior value in higher education. The hallmarks of a Husson education include advanced knowledge delivered through quality educational programs. According to a recent analysis of tuition and fees by U.S. News & World Report, Husson University is one of the most affordable private colleges in New England. For more information about educational opportunities that can lead to personal and professional success, visit Husson.edu.
[1] American Association of Colleges of Nursing, Nursing Fact Sheet, https://www.aacnnursing.org/News-Information/Fact-Sheets/Nursing-Fact-Sheet, Accessed 5/3/22