Arizona Diamondbacks Nurse Night: Nurse Threw First Pitch, Nurse Sang The National Anthem!
Event Recap
The Arizona Diamondbacks and Nurse.org teamed up for a special night dedicated to nurses and other healthcare workers where they could experience the game in ultimate comfort, thanks to the state-of-the-art retractable roof and air conditioning. Fans got to beat the summer heat and enjoy a cool, refreshing evening cheering on their favorite team and healthcare champs.
During this thrilling matchup, we spotlight FOUR remarkable nurses who have gone above and beyond the call of duty. They took center stage on the field, receiving recognition during the pregame ceremony. One nurse threw the first pitch, and another nurse sang the National Anthem!
Nurses Honored!
FOUR nurses were honored on the field during the pregame ceremony. The nurse with the most votes got to throw the first pitch! All four nurses received 2 game tickets, Clove shoes and a prize bundle from Nuwest!
Here is the nurse who got to throw the first pitch who was chosen by an online vote:
First Pitch Winner, Hanna Caldwell: Hanna Caldwell is a nurse at Banner Desert. She works in the ER. She began as a nurse during COVID. She is compassionate, knowledgeable, and skilled! She has encouraged her fellow nurses during these trying years through nursing school and later on as the put their skills they have learned! Hanna encouraged her sister to join this profession and just recently attended her pinning ceremony!
Here are the other three nurses recognized who were chosen by an online vote:
Cecilia Zepeda: I am nominating my sister, Cecilia Zepeda to be one of the nurses who throws the first pitch. Aside from being a Dbacks fan, Cecilia is San Luis High School nurse in San Luis, Az. She is very passionate for her work and is committed to offering her school community not only with the best care, but also with compassion and empathy. She is a true example of what it means to love what you do. She is committed to excellence and takes her work very seriously. She connects with the students and gets to know them individually to meet any of their medical needs, especially for chronic cases. She obtained her CNA certification while still attending San Luis HS herself and continued her education to become a registered nurse. She worked at Yuma Regional Medical Center for a few years, but decided she wanted to give back to her community and the school which helped her reach her goals, hence the reason she moved to San Luis HS as their nurse. Cecilia is a true role model for those around her!
Thomas Ballan-Duran: Hailing from Texas, Thomas's journey has taken him from the front lines of the Army, where he served as a Combat Medic in Afghanistan, to his current role as Nurse Manager of Outpatient Mental Health at the Phoenix VA. Along the way, he has faced challenges, embraced personal growth, and become a source of inspiration for many. https://www.va.gov/phoenix-health-care/stories/from-combat-medic-to-nurse-manager-thomas-ballan-durans-inspiring-journey-of-resilience-and-compassion/
Bernadine “Bernie” Huff: I have never known a more beloved nurse and friend than Bernie Huff. I’m not skilled enough to send you social media links or stories but I can tell you about her many accomplishments. We met working as hospice nurses. Bernie was always assigned the most medically challenging patients and VIP’s because of her skill sets and abilities to best represent the company. Her hours, mileage and weekends on duty were longer than anyone else but she never complained. Patients always come first. She got a scholarship from hospice and earned her Masters then PhD and now is teaching a nursing program created to address the nursing shortage in Az at GCU -BSN to RN program. She continues to work with hospice as her weekends allow to repay her scholarship commitment. She often works tirelessly 6-7 days a week. The last time she got to have a day off, she took her spouse to a DBacks game for his birthday. She loves watching her favorite Az sports teams. In fact, last time we got a chance to talk on the phone, she was multitasking grading homework and had the Dbacks game on in the background. Bernie rarely takes time off for herself but when she gets an opportunity, I cannot think of anyone more deserving of being recognized than her. I know her hospice families, colleagues and students would be thrilled if she was chosen. Thank you so much for your time.
Nurse Sang The National Anthem
Olivia Smith, the nurse singer with the most votes, had the honor of singing the National Anthem on the field. She also received 2 game tickets, Clove shoes, and a prize bundle from NuWest!
Awards and Prizes:
- The 4 nurses with the most votes were honored on the field during the pregame ceremony!
- The 4 nurse winners each received 2 game tickets, courtesy of Nurse.org, a pair of Clove shoes, and a prize bundle from NuWest!
