“I am writing to nominate Steven Bereta for the DAISY Award in recognition of his service and mentorship to our community and our undergraduate nursing students. Throughout the Spring Quartet, Steve took a leadership role in a pilot program for our BSN students to teach human health and development in our community. Our specific need was to have a practicing nurse partner with our BSN students to facilitate conversations with young middle school age boys about their emotional health, healthy relationships, safety, puberty and development. The initial sessions were informal gatherings of “Teen Talks” for our Health Education Day in April at El Sol Arts and Science Academy in Santa Ana. In May, Steve again volunteered his time to implement a day-long 8th Grade state-mandated sexual health course at EL Sol in partnership with our BSN students. Again, his leadership and generosity was exemplary.
His caring attitude towards the middle school aged boys was evident, demonstrating outstanding communication skills. We received extremely favorable feedback regarding his teaching skills with the middle school students and our faculty is impressed with his mentoring of our BSN students. He has made a difference in our community as he taught a profoundly underserved population of at-risk youth to value their emotional and physical health. His poise and candor proved the difference in our impact and the comfort in our young BSN students’ confidence to engage in community service.”

(L to R) Donna Grochow (Director-Nursing Quality, Research and Education), Steven Bereta (Honoree), Karen Grimley (CNO)