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The Guthrie County Hospital celebrated its many “rockstars” Thursday with an awards banquet during National Hospital Week.

CEO Pat Peters recognized the hospital employees for their service from five to 25 years working for the hospital. Cardiac Rehab Manager Christine Drake and Surgical Services Manager Doris Terwilliger were also recognized for being honored as two of this year’s 100 Great Iowa Nurses.

The highlight of the banquet were the DAISY and Sunshine Awards. Danielle Lauzon was recognized as the DAISY Champion, honoring her for her efforts in promoting the award, and out of 11 nominees Theresa Schiller was named this year’s recipient for the DAISY award, a national program for exceptional nurses. Working for Guthrie County Hospital for almost 13 years total, Schiller says she loves the small town family feel, “Big hospitals, you don’t know people come and go so quickly. Here, they can be here for a while or even if they’re only here for a day or two, you get to know them, you get to build a relationship with them, you know them on a first name basis.”

The hospital also awarded its first ever Sunshine award for exceptional certified nursing assistants, and out of three nominees Kris Jarnagin was selected. Jarnagin has worked for Guthrie County Hospital for five years and said it was wonderful to receive this award, “I count it a blessing to work here. I love cheerleading the patients onto better health, and I have great respect for the patients that I help them walk through their final days of their lives here on earth.”

Nurses and CNAs were nominated by patients, colleagues, and families, and both awards were determined by the school nurses of the Adair-Casey/Guthrie Center, Panorama, and West Central Valley School Districts.