Two SSM Health registered nurses were recently recognized with University of Wisconsin College of Nursing Nightingale Awards nominations through the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh College of Nursing and the College of Nursing Board of Visitors.
Nominees and winners – all registered nurses in Wisconsin – were congratulated for their expertise, dedication, and commitment to excellence and inspiration to colleagues.
Shae Lueptow, an SSM Health Ripon Community Hospital Emergency Room nurse, was nominated for a Nursing Excellence honor, while Annette Kottke, an SSM Health St. Agnes Hospital Infusion Resource nurse, was nominated for a Nurse Leader honor.
As the hospital’s pediatric emergency care coordinator, Lueptow updates PALS based education, reorganizes pediatric supplies, and leads practice improvements. Families and colleagues alike praise her clear communication, calm demeanor, and deeply compassionate care.
Kottke is a respected nurse leader in ambulatory infusion, anticoagulation, and home infusion services. She guides teams through complex changes, leads system infusion initiatives, and shares her deep expertise to elevate practice. Colleagues value her calm, collaborative style, strong mentorship, and the stable, “family-like” culture she builds.
Chancellor Manohar Singh noted the Nightingale Awards Dinner offers a meaningful opportunity to honor the extraordinary impact nurses make across the region and beyond.
“This gathering reminds us of the strength, dedication and professionalism modeled by UWO alumni and by the remarkable leaders being recognized this evening,” he told the crowd of nursing professionals.
Singh said as health care continues to evolve – with new technologies, new demands and new challenges – the role of nurses remains indispensable.
“It is the human qualities of this profession that shape the future of care: the ability to listen, to think critically, to adapt creatively and to offer compassion in moments when it matters most,” he says. “Without these qualities, even the most advanced tools cannot meet the needs of our families, colleagues and communities. Tonight’s honorees demonstrate how essential these human elements are, and they inspire us with their commitment to excellence.”
The celebration stands as a tribute to Florence Nightingale, whose legacy continues to inform the education and experience we provide students at UW-Oshkosh. Her example of courage, insight and advocacy laid the foundation for modern nursing, and her influence endures in the knowledge, integrity and empathy UW-Oshkosh strives to nurture in every graduate.
Annett Kottke and Nancy Korom
Shae Lueptow and Nancy Korom