BIRMINGHAM, AL — Karla Papagni of Cullman, Alabama, an honors nursing student at UAB, recently won first place in the University of Alabama (UA) System Honors Day competition for her presentation, “Doula Support: Attitudes of Intrapartum Nurses. A Qualitative Study of the Patient’s Perspective.”

The event, which included honors student presentations from all three UA campuses, was held recently at the Spencer Honors House on the UAB campus. Awards were presented in each of the following categories: Natural Sciences & Math, Humanities, Social & Behavioral Sciences, Engineering & Business, and Health-Related Professions. Papagni competed in the Health-Related Professions section.

In recognition of this accomplishment, Papagni also has been named a Rising Star of Scholarship by Sigma Theta Tau International, the nursing honor society, and will present her research poster at the organization’s biennial international conference this fall.

Other UAB honors nursing students who submitted work for the competition are: Rachel Benz of Hoover, Jada Jeffrey Knight of Maylene, Jackie Richardson of Florence and Alison Hernandez of Decatur.

The UAB Honors in Nursing Program is coordinated by Ellen Buckner, D.S.N., UAB associate professor of nursing. It is endowed by a gift from Birmingham resident Celia Wallace, a member of the school’s Board of Visitors.