Every day across Galen College of Nursing, our faculty and staff bring our mission, values, and culture to life through the work they do and the care they show for one another and our students. The Tom Dwyer Service Excellence Award and the Kevin B. Cunningham Culture Excellence Award recognize individuals who exemplify what it means to be part of the Galen community.

These two awards are among Galen’s most meaningful honors, celebrating those who consistently go above and beyond—whether by delivering exceptional service or by strengthening the culture that makes Galen such a special place to learn and work.

This year’s nominees represent campuses and departments across the organization, and each one has made a lasting impact through their dedication, leadership, and commitment to our shared values.

The Tom Dwyer Service Excellence Award recognizes a team member who:

Please join us in congratulating Carol Maciel-Hardy of the San Antonio Campus, recipient of the 2026 Tom Dwyer Service Excellence Award.

Carol exemplifies Galen’s commitment to excellence through her unwavering dedication to serving students, supporting colleagues, and living our I.C.A.R.E. Values every day. Her servant leadership, compassion, and willingness to put others first make her an outstanding representative of this prestigious award.

One nomination captured Carol’s impact beautifully:

“It is near impossible to narrow Carol’s impact down to one moment. Every day, she makes sure everyone is taking breaks, eating lunch, and taking care of themselves. She greets us with ‘what can I take off your plate today?’ and checks in again before she goes home. If someone is having a hard day, she is the first person to reach out. She has had a major positive impact on our culture.”

The Kevin B. Cunningham Culture Excellence Award honors a team member who:

Congratulations to Dr. Nicole York of our Sarasota Campus, recipient of the 2026 Kevin B. Cunningham Culture Excellence Award.

Dr. York embodies the heart of Galen’s Building the Lamp culture through compassionate leadership, meaningful collaboration, and an unwavering commitment to creating an environment where students and colleagues feel seen, supported, and empowered.

Her nomination included this powerful example of her leadership in action:

“Dr. York demonstrated exceptional leadership and deep empathy during a highly sensitive student issue. Recognizing the high stakes, she immediately created a safe, distraction-free environment to ease the student’s anxiety. I learned that day what trauma-informed listening meant — she ensured a nervous student felt safe, valued, and anchored.”

Congratulations to each of this year’s nominees. Your dedication, compassion, and commitment to Galen’s mission and culture make a difference every day. Whether through exceptional service or by strengthening the culture that defines our community, each of you helps make Galen a place where students and colleagues can thrive.