She is one of those educators with a naturally calming presence ? observing her practice while undertaking my first clinical experience at the nursing home was inspiring. Her character shined in every patient interaction ? she was confident and strong but never intimidating, funny but never inappropriate, whip smart but always willing to research the answer to a question that we asked and she was unsure of the response. Sometimes it is difficult to identify with language all of the characteristics that make someone an outstanding nurse, educator, or individual in general, but her actions during the clinical experience spoke volumes. She effortlessly comforted patients who were scared, stroked the hair of patients in pain, talked to patients with disoriented dementia with grace, kindness and respect. To students, she is engaging, positively challenging, nurturing, patient, fair and clear. She is able to use her personal experience in nursing practice to inform our education in a way that is highly effective. She seems to love teaching, and every student I spoke with seems to love her as a professor. She practices nursing and teaching in a way that is entirely effortless and fluent. Like a heartbeat or a pupil constricting when lit, her exemplary teaching is a reflexive and instinctive activity. She is the perfect example of the kind of Professional Nurse, we students should aspire to become, and she fully deserves the honor of this award.