Vanessa Gepielago (Nursing) received the Lillian Wald Community Nursing Award for her efforts to encourage a change in Nevada law regarding sexual education. She encouraged the review and passage of a bill that would modernize the current curriculum, which she believes would help reduce the state's rising teen pregnancy rate. The award is named in honor of 19th century nurse Lillian Wald, who pioneered the concept of public health nursing. The School of Nursing presents the award each semester to an upper-level student who demonstrates upstream advocacy that addresses a community health problem.
