Outstanding Young Nurse Alumna Award

Alexis Hardin earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of South Carolina in 2021. During her time at USC, she served as Assistant Vice President for the Student Nurses Association and a member of the Dean’s Undergraduate Student Advisory Council.  
After graduation, Hardin began her nursing career at Prisma Health Baptist providing care to pregnant mothers and their newborns and educating new families throughout the labor and delivery process. In 2022, her compassionate care and commitment to excellence was recognized earning her a Daisy Award.

Hardin holds certifications in Basic Life Support from the American Heart Association and Neonatal Resuscitation from the Neonatal Resuscitation Program. Her passion for patients and families recently extended beyond the hospital to the State House, advocating for a House Resolution in support of Necrotizing Enterocolitis Awareness Day.

Currently, Hardin works at Prisma Health Richland’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, providing critical care to preterm infants. She acts as the hospital’s Patient and Family Educator, educating families on vital skills such as infant CPR and home care for medically complex children. Hardin also serves on the NICU Unit Council, addressing issues related to practice, quality of care and competencies.  

Outstanding Nurse Alum Award

Lieutenant Commander Nate Aranas earned his Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of South Carolina in 2009 and was commissioned through the Navy ROTC Gamecock Battalion. His first assignment was as a Med-Surg nurse at Walter Reed, where he deployed to Kuwait in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn before returning to serve as an ER trauma nurse. In 2012, Aranas continued his emergency medicine career at U.S. Naval Hospital Guantanamo Bay and later in Naples, Italy, where he led a high-fidelity Code Blue program.

Aranas went on to lead the nation’s only joint DoD–VA emergency department at the Federal Health Care Center, establishing its first ED Fast Track and serving as Assistant Officer in Charge of the trauma partnership with Cook County, Chicago, helping lay the foundation for Corpsmen Trauma Training nationwide. Most recently, he served as Emergency Department Service Chief at Walter Reed, Officer in Charge of the Baltimore Shock Trauma Program, and Public Affairs Officer for Naval Medical Readiness and Training Command Bethesda, deploying twice with Medical Response Team One for COVID-19 operations in Louisiana and Montana.

Currently, with 14 years of active-duty service, LCDR Aranas serves as Director for Medical Services at Naval Medical Center San Diego, where he oversees more than 700 staff, 14 departments, seven physician training programs, and multiple national accreditations. 

Outstanding Legacy Nurse Alumna Award

Jeanne Cavanaugh retired in September 2025 after an accomplished career with the University of South Carolina College of Nursing, where she served as Director of Clinical Partnerships, and Director of the Center for Nursing Leadership and Amy V. Cockcroft Leadership Fellowship for a total of eight years.

A proud alumna, Cavanaugh earned both her Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Master of Nursing from USC. Before entering academia, she dedicated 37 years to Palmetto Health, 30 of which she served as the Director of Nursing, overseeing a wide range of service areas, including Oncology and Emergency Services.

Throughout her career, Cavanaugh has been an active leader in the nursing profession. She has served as President of several professional organizations and boards, including Sigma Theta Tau International Alpha Xi Chapter, the South Carolina Organization of Nurse Leaders, and the USC Nursing Partnership Board. She currently contributes her nursing leadership expertise as a member of the Prisma Health Midlands Board of Directors.

Cavanaugh remains an engaged member of Sigma Theta Tau and the SCONL. Her lifelong passion continues to support health care leaders in advancing quality, compassionate, patient-centered care through leadership, practice, education and research.