Nursing students honored with Flower Bud Award
PASADENA, Texas — San Jacinto College and HCA Houston Healthcare Southeast continue to strengthen their partnership in preparing the next generation of nurses, as two San Jac nursing students were recently awarded HCA Southeast’s Flower Bud Award.
Ana Melendez Lazo and Denisse Flores Lopez, both students in the Central Campus nursing program, were recognized for demonstrating compassion, empathy, and professionalism — the hallmarks of the Flower Bud Award, created by HCA Southeast in 2024 and modeled after the prestigious Daisy Award.
The recognition celebrates nursing students who anticipate the needs of others, advocate for patient safety, uphold respect in difficult situations, and embrace continuous learning in clinical settings. Students are nominated by HCA Southeast nurses who directly observe their practice during rotations.
“This is the first time we are awarding two students from the same clinical group, and I’m not surprised they are from San Jacinto College,” said Tiffany Castelitz, Assistant Chief Nursing Officer, HCA Houston Healthcare Southeast.
Through this collaboration, San Jac students gain real-world experience in one of the region’s leading healthcare systems while HCA Southeast invests in developing the skilled, compassionate workforce needed to care for the community.
“We are grateful for our partnership with HCA Southeast, which provides our students invaluable opportunities to learn from experienced professionals,” said Dr. Rhonda Bell, Dean of Health and Natural Sciences at San Jacinto College Central Campus. “Seeing Anna and Denisse honored in this way highlights the quality of education and the strong mentorship our students receive.”
About the Awardees
Lazo was commended for her critical thinking and her sensitivity to patient dignity, ensuring comfort and privacy while providing safe and respectful care. She has accepted a position at Texas Woman’s Hospital in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. She has plans to pursue her Bachelor of Science in Nursing with future plans to earn her doctorate so that she may educate future generations of nurses.
Lopez was praised for her active listening, warm demeanor, and eagerness to grow as a nurse. She has accepted a position at UTMB Galveston in the Medical-Surgical unit and will continue her education toward a Bachelor of Science in Nursing with future plans to become a Nurse Practitioner or Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist.
Both students were honored with a certificate and pin in front of their clinical group and the HCA Southeast nurses who nominated them.
About San Jacinto College
Surrounded by monuments of history, evolving industries, maritime enterprises of today,
and the space age of tomorrow, San Jacinto College has served the people of East Harris
County, Texas, since 1961. The College is ranked second in the nation among more than
1,100 community colleges, as designated by the Aspen Institute and was named an Achieving
the Dream Leader College of Distinction in 2020 and 2026. As a Hispanic-Serving Institution
that spans five campuses, plus an online college, San Jacinto College serves approximately
45,000 credit and non-credit students annually. It offers more than 200 degrees and
certificates across eight major areas of study that put students on a path to transfer
to four-year institutions or enter the workforce. The College is fiscally sound, holding
bond ratings of AA+ by Standard & Poor’s and Aa2 by Moody’s. San Jacinto College is
accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
