Jordan Vaughn, a 2026 graduate of the Practical Nursing program at Kankakee Community College, has been awarded The DAISY Award® for Extraordinary Nursing Students.

The annual award is part of The DAISY Foundation’s mission to express gratitude to nurses with programs that recognize them for the extraordinary, compassionate and skillful care they provide patients and families.

A former patient nominated Vaughn, a Bourbonnais resident.

“I was very impressed with the care I received from the student nurse, Jordan,” the patient wrote. “He took the time to explain what was happening with my care, which helped me better understand my situation and feel more involved in the process. Throughout the day, he was attentive, compassionate, and made me feel like a priority. His reassuring presence brought me comfort and eased my concerns.

“The time he spent with me truly made a difference in my day and positively impacted my hospital experience. I only wish he could have remained my nurse for the rest of the day. His dedication and genuine concern for his patients are qualities that will make him an exceptional nurse.”

A committee at KCC chose Vaughn and he received the award on July 23 at the Practical Nursing pinning ceremony. Vaughn received a certificate, a DAISY Award pin and a sculpture called A Healer’s Touch, hand-carved by artists of the Shona Tribe in Zimbabwe.

Vaughn has accepted a full-time position at Miller Healthcare in Kankakee.

KCC’s Practical Nursing program has a competitive entry process and accepts new students each fall semester. It incorporates classroom lectures, clinical experiences and lab demonstrations. The program is designed to prepare students for work in hospital departments, as well as in long-term care, home care, business and industry, outpatient clinics, public agencies, and physicians’ offices. LPNs also can apply for advanced placement into KCC’s registered nursing program.

For information about entry requirements, consult with a KCC advisor or contact the program director, Jennifer Rogers at jrogers@kcc.edu or phone 815-802-8828.

About The DAISY Foundation

The DAISY Foundation is a not-for-profit organization, established in memory of J. Patrick Barnes, by members of his family. Patrick died at the age of 33 in late 1999 from complications of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP), a little known but not uncommon auto-immune disease. (DAISY is an acronym for Diseases Attacking the Immune System.) The care Patrick and his family received from Nurses while he was ill inspired the creation of The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses, an evidenced-based means of providing nurse recognition and thanking nurses for making a profound difference in the lives of their patients and patient families.

More information is available at DAISYfoundation.org.