In the News
THE KAPPA ETA CHAPTER OF SIGMA NURSING RECEIVES PRESTIGIOUS CHAPTER KEY AWARD for the 11th Time.
(The most Key Awards of any Sigma Chapter in New Jersey)
The Kappa Eta Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing (Sigma Nursing), located at New Jersey City University, has been honored with the 2023-2025 Chapter Key Award, the organization’s highest recognition for its chapters.
Out of more than 650 chapters worldwide, only a select group achieves this distinction, which celebrates excellence in advancing Sigma’s mission of global nursing leadership and scholarship. This award recognizes chapters that demonstrate exceptional achievement in membership engagement, service and community impact, education, and leadership development.
This marks the eleventh award that Kappa Eta Chapter has received this honor. The award was presented to Tara Marko (NJCU / Nursing Department graduate) during Sigma’s 48th Biennial Convention, 8-11 November 2025, in Indianapolis, IN, USA.
The Kappa Eta Chapter is honored to receive this recognition, a testament to the dedication and passion of its leaders and members. Their ongoing commitment to advancing nursing through leadership, scholarship, and service continues to strengthen the profession and the communities they serve.
Dr. Joyce Wright is the chapter advisor and Dr. Patricia Joffe, (former faculty member) is the President of Kappa Eta chapter.
Congratulations to Dr. Shanda Johnson, the 2023 recipient of the Rutgers School of Nursing Alumni Association President’s Award. This award recognizes an individual who contributes to the welfare and improvement of the Rutgers School of Nursing and /or the Rutgers School of Nursing Alumni Association.
Congratulations to Dr. Barbara Blozen, EdD, MA, RN, BC, CNL elected by her peers to the Board of Directors at The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN)
The purpose of the NCSBN is to provide an organization through which jurisdictional boards of nursing act and counsel together on matters of common interest and concern affecting the public health, safety and welfare, including the development of licensing examinations in nursing.
The National Council of State Boards of Nursing’s mission is to empower and support nursing regulators across the world in their mandate to protect the public, NCSBN is an independent, not-for-profit organization. As a global leader in regulatory excellence, NCSBN champions regulatory solutions to borderless health care delivery, agile regulatory systems and nurses practicing to the full scope of their education, experience, and expertise. A world leader in test development and administration, NCSBN’s NCLEX Exams are internationally recognized as the preeminent nursing examinations.
NJCU’s Sara Teplitsky RN-BSN 2022 Graduate is awarded the New Jersey Consortium of Sigma Theta Tau’s Chapters’ Rising Star Award for Leadership
Kappa Eta Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau, representing the Nursing Department at New Jersey City University was honored to congratulate Sara Teplitsky, BSN, RN, CEN for the Rising Star Award for Leadership.
Sara earned an associate degree in nursing from Brookdale Community College in 2020, graduated with a BSN from NJCU, with the distinction of Magna Cum Laude and is presently a graduate student in the Family Nurse Practitioner program at Chamberlain University.
Sara’s accomplishments are numerous for the Kappa Eta Nursing Honor Society; she manages our partnership with a Jersey City homeless shelter, assumed numerous roles for the chapter such as secretary to communications and webmaster. She created a new face book page and Instagram to communicate with all segments of members.
Sara is an Emergency Department nurse at Old Bridge Medical Center, and she was chosen to represent her nursing unit at the Emergency Nurse Association Convention in Denver, Colorado. Under her leadership, the Emergency Department was awarded the 2023 Lantern Award. The Lantern Award for Emergency Departments recognizes demonstration of exceptional and innovative performance in leadership, practice, education, advocacy, and research. It allows ED’s to showcase accomplishments by incorporating evidence-based practice and innovation into emergency care, and a visible symbol of quality, safety, and a healthy work environment.