Four Nursing educators recognized with Louisiana Great 100 Nurses and the Louisiana Nightingale Awards

July 22, 2026

There are moments in every nurse's career that become part of who they are—the first patient they comfort, the first life they help save, the first family who whispers, "Thank you," and the first student who discovers they, too, are capable of becoming an extraordinary nurse.

For more than a century, the Delgado Community College Charity School of Nursing has prepared nurses for those moments. Generation after generation, Charity graduates have answered the call to serve—not because it is easy, but because it matters. They have cared for neighbors through hurricanes, pandemics, tragedies, and triumphs. They have become leaders, educators, innovators, advocates, and mentors whose influence extends far beyond the bedside.

This year, the Charity School of Nursing proudly celebrates another chapter in that extraordinary legacy as faculty and alumni are recognized through two of Louisiana's highest nursing honors: the Louisiana Great 100 Nurses and the Louisiana Nightingale Awards. These recognitions are more than awards—they are reflections of lives dedicated to caring for others and advancing the nursing profession.

Recognized Among Louisiana's Great 100

The Charity School of Nursing proudly congratulates Shena Sanders, MSN, RN, and Dr. Mary Barrow, PhD, RN, on being selected to the Louisiana Great 100 Nurses.

Founded in New Orleans nearly four decades ago, the Louisiana Great 100 recognizes registered nurses whose careers exemplify exceptional leadership, clinical excellence, mentorship, professional achievement, and compassionate service. Being named to the Great 100 is widely regarded as one of the highest honors a nurse can receive in Louisiana, recognizing individuals whose influence strengthens patients, colleagues, communities, and the profession itself. The Charity School of Nursing is equally proud to celebrate the many Charity alumni who were also selected among this year's Great 100 honorees. Their accomplishments reinforce what generations of patients, healthcare leaders, and employers have long known—Charity nurses lead.

Celebrating Excellence in Nursing Education

The Charity School of Nursing also proudly congratulates two outstanding faculty members who have been nominated for the 2026 Louisiana Nightingale Awards, one of the state's premier nursing recognition programs honoring excellence in nursing practice, leadership, innovation, research, and education.

Janine Lemoine, DNP, APRN, FNP-C – Nurse Educator of the Year Nominee
Devin C. Vernor, MSN, RN, CPN – Rookie Nurse Educator of the Year Nominee

Every great nurse can point to an educator who believed in them before they believed in themselves—a faculty member who stayed after class, a clinical instructor who challenged them to think differently, or a mentor who refused to let them settle for "good enough." Nurse educators shape the future of healthcare long before a graduate ever walks across the stage or enters a patient's room. Their impact is measured not only by the students they teach, but by every patient those students will care for throughout their careers. The Charity School of Nursing also celebrates the many Charity alumni nominated across multiple Nightingale Award categories this year. Their continued excellence in clinical practice, leadership, advanced practice, education, and community service reflects the enduring strength of the Charity tradition.

The Charity Legacy

Awards recognize achievement. Legacy creates it.

Every honor received by a member of the Charity family reflects generations of nurses who came before them—faculty who demanded excellence, mentors who invested in others, and graduates who carried the Charity name with pride, humility, and purpose.

Our greatest accomplishment has never been measured simply by the number of graduates we produce. It is measured by the trust placed in them when a patient needs an advocate, when a family needs hope, when a student needs encouragement, and when a community needs a leader.

That is the true measure of a Charity nurse.

Charity School of Nursing Dean Jennifer Fernandez adds, "One of the greatest privileges of serving as Dean is witnessing the incredible impact our faculty and alumni have on the lives of others. These recognitions celebrate far more than professional accomplishments—they honor servant leaders who have devoted their careers to caring for patients, mentoring future nurses, and strengthening healthcare across Louisiana. Every one of these honorees represents the very best of the Charity tradition, and their achievements inspire all of us who have the privilege of calling this remarkable school home."

Honoring the Past. Leading the Future.

The Charity School of Nursing has always been about more than preparing students for a career. It prepares them for a calling.

Today we proudly celebrate Shena Sanders, Dr. Mary Barrow, Dr. Janine Lemoine, Devin C. Vernor, and the many Charity alumni recognized through the Louisiana Great 100 Nurses and the Louisiana Nightingale Awards. Their accomplishments remind us that excellence is not a destination—it is a tradition carried forward by every nurse who chooses to serve with compassion, integrity, and excellence.

Congratulations to each of our honorees. Your Charity family is incredibly proud of you. Thank you for carrying forward a legacy that continues to inspire our students, strengthen our communities, and shape the future of nursing across Louisiana.

Once a Charity nurse, always a Charity nurse!

Contributed by Jennifer Fernandez, Dean, Charity School of Nursing