Events & Celebrations
Celebrating Excellence:
Diane Thompkins Honored as 2026 Distinguished Alumna
The Thompkins-Tompkins Family Reunion Foundation, Inc. proudly celebrates Diane Thompkins, our Foundation Historian, who has been selected by the University at Buffalo School of Nursing to receive its 2026 Distinguished Alumni Award.
Two Days of Recognition
This prestigious recognition celebrates Diane’s extraordinary career in nursing, her commitment to service and leadership, and the lasting impact she has made on the nursing profession.
Diane will be celebrated during two special events at the University at Buffalo.
On Wednesday, September 23, 2026, the University at Buffalo School of Nursing will formally present Diane with the 2026 Distinguished Alumni Award during the School of Nursing’s 90th Anniversary Gala.
The celebration will continue on Thursday, September 24, 2026, when the University at Buffalo recognizes Diane as the School of Nursing’s 2026 Distinguished Alumni Award recipient during the university’s Alumni Association Achievement Awards.
Preserving Our History While Making History
This recognition is especially meaningful to the Thompkins-Tompkins family because Diane serves as Historian of the Thompkins-Tompkins Family Reunion Foundation, Inc.
Through this role, she helps preserve our family’s history, celebrate the accomplishments of generations past and present, and ensure that our collective story is carried forward for future generations.
Now, we have the privilege of adding her own extraordinary achievement to the history she works so diligently to preserve.
Diane’s story exemplifies the values of service, leadership, excellence, and legacy that our Foundation seeks to celebrate. Her accomplishments remind us that our family history is not only something we inherit — it is something each generation continues to build.
The Thompkins-Tompkins Family Reunion Foundation, Inc. extends its heartfelt congratulations to Diane Thompkins on receiving this exceptional and well-deserved honor.
Congratulations, Diane! Your Thompkins-Tompkins family proudly celebrates you, your service, and the remarkable legacy you continue to create.
A Distinguished Career of Service and Leadership
Diane’s remarkable professional journey includes service in the United States Air Force Nurse Corps, where she completed flight nurse school and attained the rank of Captain; 14 years at the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center; and nearly two decades of leadership with the American Nurses Credentialing Center, where her work helped advance nursing certification, accreditation, and advanced practice nursing.
Her influence on the nursing profession has created a legacy of its own. In 2024, the American Board of Nursing Specialties renamed its lifetime achievement award in her honor — the Diane Thompkins Lifetime Achievement Award — recognizing her enduring contributions to nursing specialty certification.
🎓 Celebrating Excellence! 🎓
We are proud to honor Mr. Wilkerson D.M., a distinguished member of our Thompkins-Tompkins family, on his graduation from the University of Florida – Class of 2025 with a Master in Psychology (Summa Cum Laude) through the Salute to Veterans Education Program.
With dedication, resilience, and academic excellence, Mr. Wilkerson has not only earned top honors but has also set his sights on the future. He will be continuing his journey by pursuing PhD studies focused on Service and Community Psychology — a path that reflects his commitment to giving back and creating lasting impact.