Vegas Golden Knights Nurse Appreciation 2025
2025 Event Details
This was a fun, unforgettable night of hockey, camaraderie, and gratitude with the Vegas Golden Knights!
Meet the 2025 VGK Nurses!
The following nurses were nominated by the nursing community to be honored at Healthcare Heroes Knight! After a community, online vote, they were selected as the three nurses to be recognized at the game. Two of the nurses got to ride the Zamboni while the third got to crank the siren! Each winner received 2 game tickets, Clove shoes, a prize bundle from Nuwest!
Here are the nurses chosen by an online vote:
Ramona Fonseca: I am honored to nominate my mother, an emergency room nurse, for her extraordinary dedication, resilience, and compassion. Her journey as a caregiver began early, when, as a 15-year-old teenage mother, she needed to find a career to support my brother. Now, at just 46 years old, she has served as a nurse for nearly 30 years, building a career defined by selflessness and strong work ethic—qualities she displayed most impressively during the COVID-19 pandemic.
When the pandemic hit, my mother was on the front lines, serving in hospitals across the U.S. and on the mainland. Yet her commitment didn’t stop there; determined to make a broader impact, she moved with me, as a single mother, to the Big Island of Hawaii. There, she joined a COVID response team and provided essential care to a small, rural community, sacrificing the comforts of home in Colorado to serve where she was most needed.
Her compassion reaches far beyond our borders. Recently, she traveled to Tanzania on a mission trip with a Mission Hospital, where she has been instrumental in improving maternal and fetal health. She is dedicated to training local nurses, sharing essential skills that have a direct impact on reducing maternal and infant mortality, especially within the Maasai tribe community in northern Tanzania.
In addition to her international efforts, her compassion is felt deeply at home. She has taken it upon herself to purchase quality socks and warm hoodies from her own pocket to distribute in the ER to frequent visitors, many struggling with alcoholism and other challenges. She has been nominated for Employee of the Year, received Daisy Award nominations, and is frequently recognized for her kindness and humility, though she never seeks recognition.
My mother’s dedication often requires long hours, late nights, and time away from family, even on my birthdays and holidays, because she knows her community relies on her presence. I have seen her bear this burden with tears, yet she has never neglected me, instilling in me the true meaning of a strong work ethic. Inspired by her example, I am now pursuing my own path in healthcare, with hopes of becoming a surgeon.
Her love for the city of Las Vegas, especially its sports, has also inspired me to nominate her. A dedicated fan since the founding of the Vegas Golden Knights, she has celebrated every milestone, proud to see Las Vegas represented on the professional sports map. This nomination would be a dream come true for her, and I am grateful for the opportunity to honor her incredible commitment and heart.
Janelle Wilcox: Janelle is the school nurse at my child's school and she is AMAZING, kind and treats the children with the upmost care. I might be biased since I LOVE the school she works at, but she really is great!
Ramona Manguiat: Ramona is a nurse who has been working in the field for almost 10 years now. She is an exceptional charge nurse in the Emergency Department who always watches out for her staff, especially any new nurses or new grads. She ensures that new grads feel comfortable enough to ask for help and that is what helps mold our new nurses to become exceptional like her!
Awards and Prizes:
- THREE nurses were recognized at the game!
- The 2 nurses with the most votes were honored on the ice and got to ride the Zamboni!
- The third-runner up cranked the siren!
- The 3 nurse winners each receivd 2 game tickets, courtesy of Nurse.org, a pair of Clove shoes, and a prize bundle from NuWest!
2024 Event Recap
The Las Vegas Golden Knights, reigning Stanley Cup champions, celebrated the dedication and resilience of nurses and healthcare workers during this matchup against the Florida Panthers.
Two remarkable nurses who have gone above and beyond the call of duty took center stage on the ice and rode the Zamboni to the cheers of a roaring crowd!
Event Photos
Meet the 2024 VGK Nurses!
The following nurses were nominated by the nursing community to be honored at Healthcare Heroes Knight! After a community, online vote, they were selected as the two nurses to be recognized at the game and ride the Zamboni.
- Carolyn Hafen: "Carolyn has been a nurse for over 15 years. She is currently the Emergency Department Director and has worked at Spring Valley Hospital for over 17 years. She is not only an amazing nurse, who provides compassionate and empathetic care to the patients, but she is also a great leader and mentor for the staff working in the emergency department. She is consistently helping to lead them to be great caregivers in our community. Carolyn worked during October 1 and since that night has made sure to be an active member in emergency preparedness. Carolyn works hard every single day to make sure that not only her department, but that the entire hospital is taken care of. She goes above and beyond!"
- Sara Weaver: Sara is an outstanding registered nurse who always has a positive attitude and makes every day better. She is a two-time DAISY winner and an excellent relief charge in our times of need. She always goes above and beyond!
Awards and Prizes:
- The 2 nurse winners each received:
- A pair of Clove shoes!
- A set of Jaanuu scrubs!
- A prize bundle from NuWest!
