Each May during Florence Nightingale's birthday week, the Houston Chronicle joins with local partners and sponsors to celebrate National Nurses Week and the role nurses play in delivering the highest level of care.

Since 2000, The Houston Chronicle has solicited nominations from the public for its Salute to Nurses awards. Nominations then are reviewed by a blue ribbon panel, and 15 outstanding nursing professionals are chosen to be honored as greater Houston's Top 15 Nurses of the Year.

UST Makes Salute to Nursing List for Last Six Years

For the last six years, a University of St. Thomas’ Peavy School of Nursing faculty member or student has made the Salute to Nurses list in the Houston Chronicle. This year, full-time, veteran nursing student Sara Weinrich receives the recognition.

“I feel much honored to even be considered to the lineup for Houston Chronicles Salute to Nurses,” Weinrich said. “I am in a nursing program with so many incredible people who all support each other and work very hard to one day be called a Nurse. I will graduate spring 2021 and can't wait after years of slowly taking the prerequisites and three years of nursing courses.

Sara’s Nomination

Before this recognition, Weinrich was notable. She was recognized by the University of St. Thomas as the outstanding veteran student of the year in 2019. She also was awarded the Associated Nursing Alumni Scholarship. She is a Dean's list scholar.

“Sara is a veteran of the United States Coast Guard, UST-NSA Nursing Student Association board member, Big Brother Big Sisters of America volunteer, and an inspiration to her fellow nursing students,” Dr. Poldi Tschirch, dean of the School of Nursing, said. “Sara is described by her peers as ‘passionate, caring, and extremely smart; she is always helping others out.’”

She is a peer-mentor/tutor for a challenging nursing class and always stays late to give students extra support. UST-NSA Nursing Student Association President added that Sara ensures decisions, actions, and tasks are always executed promptly and contributes significantly to the success of the student organization.

Sara’s nursing professor describes her as “one of the most well-rounded students that I have encountered in my 29 years of teaching at various institutions.”

During the last two years, Sara has been focusing on her two passions, nursing and teaching.

“She strongly believes in education, and she wants to become a nurse educator,” Tschirch said. “Sara is an inspiration for all of us at the Peavy School of Nursing, University of St. Thomas, and we want to recognize her hard work and dedication.“

Weinrich wants to be a Nurse Midwife

Weinrich has big plans after entering the world of nursing.

“After gaining experience as a nurse I would love to go back to school to become a certified Nurse Midwife,” she said. “I would love to one day in the future be able to open a birthing center that facilitates not only the woman going through her pregnancy but offers educational courses for women's health in my community.”

Weinrich credits UST and the Nursing School for giving her support during her education. “All the professors and advisers just want to see you succeed because they are all so passionate about the future in health care as well as their students,” she said.

Enroll in Nursing School

If you want to become a nurse, contact UST’s School of Nursing for information.