Left to right: Jolene Walters, Clinic Director, Tenille Forbes RN, Lester Randall Kickapoo Tribe Chairman, Phil Griffin Deputy Director, Bureau of Disease Control and Prevention/Submitted Photo

(KAIR)--A local nurse is heading to Washington D.C., the site of a ceremony where she will receive national recognition for nursing success.

Tenille Forbes is a Registered Nurse who works at the Kickapoo Nation Health Center. She has been named Kansas State Immunization Nurse of the year from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and Center For Disease Control.

“Basically, this particular award is based off of education,” Forbes said. “So, educating community members on the importance of immunizations. I revitalized the whole immunization program for the health clinic. Basically, it's just about being able to recognize and reinforce commitment to childhood health and wellness.”

Forbes learned that she had received the award Tuesday.

“I found out during the annual health fair out here at the Kickapoo Tribe and I found out that I was nominated by our clinic physician and our clinic director,” Forbes said. “I never thought that I would be a competitor, an awardee for such high achievement, and I was just really shocked. But, I'm so excited about it.”

Forbes this summer will receive state recognition, and then travel to the nation's capital to receive additional honors as part of the award.

“You have to be nominated for the state award and once you're chosen by the state, then it goes to the committee for the Center for Disease Control,” she said. “They have a committee that goes through all of the state winners and then they pick a national awardee.”

In June, there will be a state award ceremony followed by a national award ceremony in Washington D.C.

Forbes is a resident of the Atchison County community of Effingham.