Miss America 2025 Abbie Stockard offered congratulations and encouragement to 429 new graduates of Cizik School of Nursing at UTHealth Houston during their commencement ceremony at NRG Arena on May 14.

Stockard, who herself is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from Auburn University in Alabama, recounted how her nursing journey began with visiting a friend in the hospital at age 9.

“One of my best friends in the world lives with cystic fibrosis,” Stockard said. “She gave me more than friendship – she gave me purpose. She showed me what real strength looks like and the kind of person I wanted to be.”

Vowing to fight for her friend and others living with the disease, Stockard raised more than $200,000 for cystic fibrosis (CF) awareness and research, and she advocated on the state and national level. While in Houston, she visited teens with CF being treated at Texas Children’s Hospital (TCH). Joining her was Cizik School of Nursing BSN to PhD student Hannah Zeller, whose work with this patient population at TCH is inspiring her doctoral research to examine the barriers and facilitators to treatment adherence for adolescents and young adults with CF.

Stockard is serving as a National Ambassador for Cystic Fibrosis in her year as Miss America and will resume her final year of nursing studies the week after she crowns her successor. She praised the Cizik School of Nursing Class of 2025 for their perseverance and reminded them to always hold close what inspired them as individuals to become nurses.

“Nursing school isn’t for the faint of heart, and this degree you’re holding today? That wasn’t handed to you – you earned it,” she said. “You’re stepping into a world that needs you, and not just as skilled professionals, but as compassionate, courageous leaders in health care.”

The ceremony began with a moving rendition of the National Anthem sung by graduating BSN student Julianne Lee. Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) graduates Chiamaka S. Ujari and Colleen A. Manning delivered the welcome and farewell addresses, respectively.

Interim President of UTHealth Houston Latanya J. Love, MD, officially conferred degrees to the graduating students and commended them on the hard work and sacrifices required to become Cizik School of Nursing alumni.

“The best is yet to come,” said Love, the Alkek-Williams Distinguished Chair. “We are so immensely proud of you and can’t wait to see the advances you will make as our newest leaders in nursing practice, education, and research.”

Faculty and student awards

Also during commencement, three faculty members and a graduating DNP student were honored with special awards.

Receiving the student-selected John P. McGovern Outstanding Teacher of the Year Awards for 2025 were assistant professors Joyce Ju, DNP, RN, FNP-BC, CNE, and Sydnee Lucas, DNP, RN, FNP-BC, representing undergraduate and graduate faculty, respectively. The awards are made possible by an endowment from the John P. McGovern Foundation.

Honored with this year’s DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurse Educators was Mitzy Kobeissi, DNP, MSN, FNP-C, CPAHA, an associate professor in the Department of Graduate Studies. Receiving the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nursing Students was Laura Douglas, DNP, CCRN, NPD-BC, who graduated with her DNP on the nurse executive track. DAISY Awards is an international program based on nominations from patients and colleagues that recognizes nurses for clinical excellence and compassion. 

Cizik School of Nursing Class of 2025

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing: 259
• Master of Science in Nursing: 80
• Doctor of Nursing Practice: 51
• BSN-DNP Nurse Anesthesia: 20
• Post-graduate completion programs: 19

This article will be updated early next week with a Flickr link to commencement photos.