March 21, 2020

Due to COVID-19, Theta Epsilon has decided to cancel the GKTW Volunteer Day, the 2020 Induction Ceremony, and the 28th Annual Scholarship Day. We are very sad that these events need to be canceled, but it is the necessary and responsible thing to do to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Once this pandemic has passed we will work on rescheduling our events and providing our members with opportunities to network, serve, and educate.

Thank you to all nurses who are on the front lines taking care of patients during these stressful times. Thank you to all teachers who are working hard to adjust their curricula to keep students learning from home. Thank you to all Theta Epsilon members who are practicing social distancing and quarantining to help reduce further spread of the virus. We appreciate all of you!

September 10, 2019

The Theta Epsilon grant applications are now open! They will be available online until October 15th. If you are in need of funds for a research or quality/process improvement project, this is a great opportunity for you. You are eligible to apply if you are a Theta Epsilon member, have not received funding from Theta Epsilon in the past 3 years, and are the PI of record or the originator of the project. The funding amount is up to $1,000.00 total.

If you have questions, please contact Vicki Loerzel at sttithetaepsilon@ucf.edu

March 30, 2019

Theta Epsilon’s 2019 Induction Ceremony was a huge success! 75 members were inducted last night, and we had a total of 145 new members join Theta Epsilon.

For more information, and to see more photos, click below.

March 18, 2019

We are very proud to announce that Theta Epsilon’s current president, Joyce DeGennaro, was selected as one of UCF’s 2019 Women’s History Month Awardees! Each year for Women’s History Month, UCF’s Faculty Excellence department selects 31 inspiring women who have made a difference in UCF and the community. Joyce is an amazing person, and this honor is well deserved!

March 01, 2019

We are thrilled to announce that our keynote speaker at Scholarship Day this year will be Nora Warshawsky, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, CNE, FAAN. Dr. Warshawsky will be presenting, “Why the nurse manager practice environment is important: Outcomes that matter!”

January 09, 2019

Are you looking for an event where you can present your research, either as a poster or as a podium presentation, to a room of healthcare professionals and students? If so, submit your abstract to be considered for Theta Epsilon's 27th Annual Scholarship Day!

Abstracts are due on 02/04/19 at 5pm.

We welcome abstracts for Clinical and Process Improvement, Education and Research.

January 06, 2019

In December, Theta Epsilon member Kavika Chugh was tragically killed in a car crash. Kavika graduated from the College of Nursing with her BSN in May, 2018 and was inducted into Theta Epsilon in March, 2018. She graduated from the College of Nursing as an Honors in the Major student and was working as a new graduate nurse at Dr. Philips Hospital.

We have created an online memorial to celebrate the life of Kavika where people can write down their memories of her or write down their condolences to her family. The document will be available for editing for the next week (until January 11th) and the final product will be shared with her family. Please, take a few moments to celebrate her life with us!​

July 22, 2018

Dear members,

As my tenure as the Theta Epsilon Chapter President ends, I would like to thank all our members for their support and participation in our chapter over the last several years- we have accomplished many great things!  This year we gave back to the community and got members involved in helping others. We started a Puerto Rico Hurricane Relief program that was adopted by UCF, we participated in Habitat for Humanity, and we gave flu shots at the UCF Health Center.  We also started a Facebook page (STTIThetaEpsilon- so like us!) and website: https://www.ucfsttithetaepsilon.com. We inducted over 175 new members into the chapter this year and also had one of our best Scholarship Days ever with 50 poster and podium presentations.

We continued our grants program and awarded Dr. Susan Fowler funding for her research examining critical care nurse perceptions of hope inspiring strategies.  We also continued our excellence awards program and Dr. Fowler also was awarded the chapters Excellence in Leadership Award- Congratulations Sue on both awards!

No chapter can operate without a dedicated group of members.  I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to the outgoing members of the Theta Epsilon Board of Directors.  Thank you to: Patty Geddie (secretary), Stephen Heglund (Counselor, Governance Committee Chair), Maureen Covelli (Past-President), Lisa Kinchen, Linda Hennig and Anne Peach (Leadership Succession Committee), and Jayne Willis, Salena Tully, and Donna Breit (Governance Committee).  

Continuing on the Board are: Joyce DeGennaro (President), Diane Andrews (Treasurer), Vicki Loerzel (Past-President), Dawn Turnage (Vice- President), Amanda Schultz (Webmaster), Ellen Reising (Membership Involvement), Josie Weiss (Leadership), and Dawn Eckoff (Governance).

I would like to congratulate the following members for their election to the Theta Epsilon Board of Directors: Sarah Sakala (Secretary); Kelly Allred (Counselor); Susan Chase, Jayne Willis and Matthew Berry (Leadership Committee); and Sarah Rose Thornton, Susan Fowler, Lygia Arcaro, and Patricia Quigley (Governance Committee).  These members will be joining Joyce DeGennaro, our new President, for the 2018-20 term.

Again, I would like to thank everyone for their support and participation.  If you are interested in volunteering for next year, please send us an email at sttihonorsociety@ucf.edu.

June 05, 2018

A huge thank you to all of our members who came out to our STTI Theta Epsilon Chapter 2018 Annual Meeting!  Our newest Theta Epsilon Board of Directors were announced, and we awarded Susan Folwer with the 2018 Leadership Award.  Thank you again for coming!  We are looking forward to the rest of the year! 

February 08, 2018

Thanks to all for your contribution to a very successful donation drive to support those affected by Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico this past September.  The response was overwhelming with supplies sent multiple times through Operation Puerto Rico Care-Lift.  Flights landed in Aguadilla, on the west coast of the island, where distribution of supplies began locally as well as sent to the more hard hit mountainous regions of the island.

For more pictures and information about Operation Puerto Rico Care Lift go to their Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/pg/operationpuertoricocarelift/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1208496885918175

November 06, 2017

In November, we were able to award funding to two members for their research and scholarship.  Ms. Fameisha Williams was awarded funding for her DNP project titled “Impact of Transcatheter Aortic Value Replacement Education on Nursing Knowledge” and Dr. Susan Fowler was awarded funding for her research study “Critical Care Nurse Perceptions of Hope Inspiring Strategies”. Congratulations! 

November 02, 2017

In early November, President-elect, Joyce DeGennaro, and current President, Vicki Loerzel, attended the 44th Biennial Convention for STTI in Indianapolis, Indiana.  They joined over 1000 other delegates from chapters all over the world and represent Theta Epsilon in the House of Delegates where new leaders were elected and amendments to the international by-laws and proposed resolutions were adopted.

November 01, 2017

Theta Epsilon Chapter also partnered with the UCF Student Nurses’ Association on “Let’s Nurse Puerto Rico Back to health” to collect supplies for people in outlying areas in Puerto Rico affected by the recent hurricanes.  The effort was so successful, that the program was adopted by the broader University of Central Florida community. Donations are now coming in from other colleges across the UCF campus.  We will be posting pictures soon on our website https://www.ucfsttithetaepsilon.com/ and Facebook page STTI Theta Epsilon Chapter when the next plane of donations is delivered to the island.

October 18, 2017

In October, our fall membership meeting was sponsored by Orlando Health. The program featured member Dr. Susan Fowler who provided strategies to energize staff nurses as participants in the advancement of the art and science of nursing thorough scholarship. The meeting was attended by over 50 members and students and provided continuing education credits.​ Thank you to everyone who came out and joined us! 

October 04, 2017

On October 4th, a few of our own Theta Epilson members volunteered at the Health Knights Expo at the University of Central Florida.  Our members administered over 250 flu vaccines to students, which is absolutely amazing! Great job! 

October 04, 2017

It was recently announced that a few of our members had won awards from the Florida Nurses Association.  Patrica Geddie was awarded the Advanced Practice Nursing Award and Vicki Loerzel was awarded the Nursing Research Award.  Anne Peach was also elected to the Florida Nurses Association board of directors as Vice President.  Congratulations to Anne Peach, Patricia Geddie, and Vicki Loerzel for their recent recognition! If you are a regional STTI member and want to share your recent accomplishments, please do not hesitate to reach out! We want to hear from you! 

October 04, 2017

Our national Sigma Theta Tau International President, Cathy Catrambone, has recognized our regional Theta Epsilon chapter to receive the Showcase of Regional Excellence award for our efforts to fulfill the presidential call to action. A huge thank you to our Philanthropy and Recognition chair, Joyce DeGennaro, who reached out to the national board about the progress and improvements our board members have been working on throughout our chapter.

July 29, 2017

Congratulations to our very own chapter member of Theta Epsilon, Mary Lou Sole.  Dr. Sole is a widely published nurse scientist, Orlando Health Endowed Chair, and the current dean at the University of Central Florida College of Nursing and has devoted her career to the world of critical-care nursing. Sole and 22 other honorees from Australia, Canada, Finland, Taiwan, the United Kingdom and U.S. were inducted at the STTI 28th International Nursing Research Congress in Dublin, Ireland, on July 29. The award is the highest level of recognition available for nurse researchers, honoring those who have achieved significant and sustained recognition, and whose research has improved the profession and the people it serves. Her devotion and passion inspires us all. Read more here!

June 13, 2017

A big thank you to everyone who joined us for our June Chapter Meeting that was held at Nemours Children's Hospital on June 14, 2017. Results of the election were revealed and our needs survey was addressed as we discussed our future plans with our Sigma members. Nemours' very own Toni Christopherson, the Director of Nursing Professional Excellence, provided us with a wonderful presentation of Nemours' developments and programs for their nurses. During this meeting, we also recognized several members who are doing exceptional things within their field. Iris Appenrodt was awarded the Nursing Excellence in Service Award, Jayne Willis was awarded the Nursing Excellence in Leadership Award, and Daleen Penoyer was awarded the Nursing Excellence in Scholarship Award. Dr. Susan Chase was also honored as Distinguished Friend of Theta Epsilon for her selfless service and continual support and advocacy for the Chapter. Thank you for networking with us and we cannot wait to see you next time!

April 11, 2017

Thank you to all who attended the 26th Annual STTI Theta Epsilon Scholarship Day on April 11, 2017! Nursing students from UCF College of Nursing and nurses from the community shared their clinical, education, and research projects with attendees. Over 90 people attended this conference with our Keynote speaker, Dr. Diane Andrews, and there were 22 podium and 16 poster presentations. Peer reviewed poster awards went to UCF Honors in the Major students Ryan Woodmansee and Amber Atkinson. See you all next year!

February 17, 2017

On February 17, 2017, many undergraduate and graduate students were inducted into Sigma Theta Tau - Theta Epsilon Chapter as new members. Congratulations to all! 

November 01, 2016

In Fall 2016, the Theta Epsilon Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau organized a collection for Harbor House, a safe haven for victims of domestic abuse in Central Florida as a part of the Founders' Day day of service. The items donated by members and friends of STTI did a great job in contributing to the Holiday as well as meeting the everyday needs of the women and children who depend on this very critical safety net.

October 05, 2016

On October 5, 2016, the Theta Epsilon Chapter celebrated STTI's Founder's Day by having a Theta Epsilon's Day of Service! We hosted an orientation for Shepherd's Hope at the College of Nursing for members and non-members. For those of you who are unfamiliar with Shepherd’s Hope, this organization provides healthcare services for those individuals in the community who are uninsured, not eligible for government assisted health care and have income at or below the 200% poverty level. Furthermore, patients are cared for regardless of citizenship status. There are 4 clinics in the Central Florida area: Longwood, Downtown, East Colonial Drive, and Ocoee. Patients are seen on a first come first serve basis with hours offered for the most part on Monday-Thursday evenings, though the Longwood Clinic offers daytime hours on Monday and Tuesday. The clinic is completely staffed by volunteers. Additionally, area hospitals accept referrals for laboratory and radiologic services all free of charge to the client. There is also a large net of specialty providers for more advanced, specialty healthcare services which Shepherd’s Hope can use for referrals.