Rebecca Wysocki, left, an intensive care unit nurse manager with Ascension, received a Nurse Leader Award from Nancy Korom at the UWO Nightingale Awards Dinner event April 9.
Pausing for a photo at the University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh 2026 Nightingale Awards recognition dinner, from left are UW-Oshkosh faculty member, Bonnie Soik; Ellie Chernichko; Amy Bernitt; Sharon Dix; and Corrine Wendland, who were named 2026 Nursing Excellence award-winners.
Bonnie Soik, family practice nurse practitioner at Aspirus Stevens Point and a University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh assistant professor, was among award recipients at the 2026 Nightingale Awards recognition dinner April 9 at Culver Family Welcome Center.
Nominated for her nursing excellence, Soik’s 19-year career spans respiratory therapy, emergency nursing, primary care and academia.
Patients describe her as a “steady, lifechanging presence who listens deeply, follows up consistently and blends advanced clinical expertise with holistic, relationship centered care.”
Other 2026 Nightingale winners were Nursing Excellence winners, Amy Bernitt (clinical team leader on inpatient surgical unit at ThedaCare RMC-Appleton); Ellie Chernichko (emergency nurse at Aurora-Oshkosh); Sharon Dix (oncology nurse at ThedaCare Regional Cancer Center); Corrine Wendland (family birth care nurse ThedaCare-Shawano); and Rebecca Wysocki (ICU nurse manager with Ascension) who was honored as a 2026 Nurse Leader. See event photos here.
Pursuit of excellence
Chancellor Manohar Singh noted the Nightingale Awards Dinner offers a meaningful opportunity to honor the extraordinary impact nurses make across the region and beyond.
“This gathering reminds us of the strength, dedication and professionalism modeled by UWO alumni and by the remarkable leaders being recognized this evening,” he told the crowd of nursing professionals.
Singh said as health care continues to evolve—with new technologies, new demands and new challenges—the role of nurses remains indispensable.
“It is the human qualities of this profession that shape the future of care: the ability to listen, to think critically, to adapt creatively and to offer compassion in moments when it matters most,” he said. “Without these qualities, even the most advanced tools cannot meet the needs of our families, colleagues and communities. Tonight’s honorees demonstrate how essential these human elements are, and they inspire us with their commitment to excellence.”
Seon Yoon Chung, dean of the UWO College of Nursing, Health Professions and STEM, provided a greeting to attendees; Nancy Korom, a UWO alumna and vice president of patient care services, chief nursing officer at Children’s Wisconsin, served as master of ceremonies.
The celebration stands in tribute to Florence Nightingale, whose legacy continues to inform the education and experience we provide students at UW-Oshkosh. Her example of courage, insight and advocacy laid the foundation for modern nursing and her influence endures in the knowledge, integrity and empathy we strive to nurture in every graduate”
UWO School of Nursing and Health Professions