Mercy Health Partners Foundation held the Sixth Annual Silver Lamp Nursing Awards dinner at The Foundry in Knoxville on Feb. 25 to recognize outstanding nurses within the Mercy System and to promote staff excellence and clinical quality. 

The awards were established to celebrate and honor nurses for the service they provide patients, recognizing the shortage of funding for nursing education and the nursing shortage. This year, Silver Lamp Named and Meritorious awards were presented to 33 of the 43 outstanding nominees. 

In addition to the Silver Lamp Meritorious Awards, several named awards were presented.  These awards are made available by gifts to fund scholarships by generous donors. Honorees in both categories will use the awards for continuing education, certification and tuition to area schools of nursing.  Those receiving scholarships from Baptist Hospital of Cocke County were Jennifer Zajacek, a Medical/Surgical nurse, who was awarded the Dr. Fred and Chris Valentine Nursing award which was established by the Valentines before his death and was presented by Mrs. Valentine.

Dr. Patti Ketterman, Administrator and CEO of Baptist Hospital of Cocke County also presented the Marion Roberts Nursing Scholarship to Jennifer Freeman, a nurse at the Cocke County Convalescent Center. 

Mercy Health Partners Foundation congratulates these deserving nurses as it seeks to provide excellence in healthcare in the communities it serves.