NURSE AT ST. FRANCIS EARNS TRIBUTE AWARD

Christine Byrd of Cape Girardeau won one of five Tribute to Missouri Nurses awards in the Patient Care category. Byrd is a nurse at St. Francis Medical Center.

A Tribute to Missouri Nurses is a statewide recognition program sponsored by St. Louis University Hospital Auxiliary and St. Louis University School of Nursing. The program is designed to recognize nurses throughout the state for excellence within the profession and to promote nursing in a positive light while raising money for nursing scholarships.

Last fall, a call for nominations went out to health care facilities throughout the state. At deadline, more than 350 nominations were received. A selection committee consisting of community members with a strong interest in health care chose ten finalists and five awardees. All received special recognition at a black-tie gala at the Adam's Mark Hotel on April 24.

Each awardee received $1,000, a specially commissioned crystal sculpture, and a commemorative plaque. In addition, awardees each received the honor of designating $1,000 to a Missouri school of nursing scholarship fund.