Cleo Everhart and NCAOHN OHN of the Year Awards: Please nominate a deserving colleagues for these awards!!! Deadline is Feb 25, 2026

The North Carolina Association of Occupational Health Nurses wishes to honor a member of the association who has demonstrated outstanding services to the field of occupational health nursing.  

Attached are fillable PDF forms to nominate a deserving peer for the annual Cleo Everhart and NC Nurse of the Year award. Once completed, you can save the form and send to the award committee members below.

Rita Oakes- rita.oakes@duke.edu

Chad Queen- Chad.Queen@conehealth.com

Marissa Gamboa- Marissa.gamboa@duke.edu

 

Eligibility requirements for the Cleo H. Everhart Award address the exemplary performance of an OHN focusing on direct clinical nursing care and employee services and programs. Nurses in dual roles of direct care/management duties can also apply. See form for details. 

 

Eligibility requirements for the Medique NC Nurse of the Year Award is presented each year to a member of NCAOHN who has demonstrated excellence in Leadership/Management in the field of occupational health nursing.  

Nominees will be rated on a specified point evaluation scale related to these criteria.  Each chapter knows a nurse deserving of this honor.  Please consider nominating a member of your association qualifying for this distinction.  

Nomination deadline extended to February 25, 2026.   

The 2026 Cleo Everhart & Medique NC Nurse of the Year award winner will be recognized during the NCAOHN Spring Conference at Star Hill Golf Club, 202 Club House Drive, Cape Carteret, NC   March 25-27, 2026.         

**We understand that many employers have reduced or cut funding for conferences/ trips. If you are interested in being nominated and cannot attend the conference, please feel free to reach out to me to discuss.                                  

                

Warm Regards,

Rita W. Oakes RN, BSN, COHN-S

Rita W. Oakes, Chair

NCAOHN Awards Committee Chair

Duke University Employee Health

Office- 919-681-0513

Cell: 336-260-4160

 The NC Great 100 Award     Great 100 is not sponsored by NCAOHN but instead exists to recognize and honor Registered Nurses in North Carolina for their commitment to excellence and to promote a positive image of the nursing profession. 

 Click here for more nomination information:   https://www.great100.org/nomination.aspx

 Past winners can be found on the NCAOHN website.