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Browns Summit resident and Moses Cone Health System nurse Joan Delk has been named this year's grand prize recipient of the Cherokee Inspired Comfort Awards.

"I never thought I'd make it this far," Delk said after the surprise celebration to announce she'd won.

The Cherokee Inspired Comfort Award was established in 2003 to recognize nurses and other nonphysician health care professionals for exceptional service, sacrifice and innovation.

This year, Cherokee Uniforms received more than 1,000 nominations from across the country and winners from five categories were chosen by a panel of nurse leaders and Cherokee Uniforms professionals.

The categories are advanced practice nurse, registered nurse, licensed practical nurse/licensed vocational nurse, student nurse and nonphysician health care professional.

Delk, a Regional Cancer Center Nurse, won in the registered nurse category for "always considering all of the patient's needs and considering the big picture," her former supervisor Linda Hunt said.

"She just went all out," Hunt added.

Hunt nominated Delk for the national award after witnessing her hard work in helping to care for a Sudanese leukemia patient who didn't have family in the area.

The woman, Alice Lawrence, and her brother eventually moved in with Delk.

"She's just a very generous person; if she can help you, she will," Hunt said.

"She's the kind of person who will give you the shirt off her back if you needed it," Hunt said.

As the grand prize winner, Delk received an engraved crystal plaque, an all-expenses-paid cruise for two and $1,000 worth of uniforms from Cherokee.

Though she has received a lot of recognition, Delk says she doesn't deserve it.

"I just did what I would want somebody to do for me," she said.

Contact Tiffany S. Jones at 449-4731, or tjones@news-record.com