Three Parkland College health careers students were recently honored for demonstrating exceptional caretaking potential for patients and their families.
Anyone in a position to observe the students' care—faculty, peers, patients, families, or other community residents—may nominate students for future Valenti Awards. Nominees should have provided skilled medical and emotional care and offered sustenance and hope to patients in any of a variety of settings, from hospitals to community-based medical or skilled nursing facilities to private residences. As many as five awards may be presented annually to Parkland students enrolled in the following categories: 1) as a certified nursing assistant (CNA); 2) as an emergency medical services trainee (EMS-Basic); 3) in a Certificate program; 4) in an AAS degree program; and 5) in any Health Professions program, such as nursing, veterinary technology, dental hygiene, or respiratory care.
The Valenti Award endowment was a bequest from the late Martin Wagner, a longtime Urbana resident, University of Illinois educator, and nationally recognized expert in labor relations. Homebound from 2005 until his death in 2009, Professor Wagner wished both to recognize the high-quality, dignified care he received from area health care professionals who worked together to support him and his family, and to advance the education and training of future caregivers. His splendid caregivers included Diversified Healthcare Services, led by its president, Gloria Valenti, R.N, a leading health care professional in east central Illinois.
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