NLN Foundation for Nursing Education Announces 2026 Scholarship Awards Winners

Home / News

NLN Foundation for Nursing Education Announces 2026 Scholarship Awards Winners

23 Graduate Students in Nursing Share Over $143,000 in Scholarship Funds

Washington, DC — Twenty-three advanced degree nursing students have been awarded over $143,000 in financial support for the coming academic term through the annual competitive scholarship program sponsored by the National League for Nursing Foundation for Nursing Education. Among them are 19 winners of scholarships of up to $8,000 each, along with recipients of named scholarships awarded to students representing special sectors of the graduate nursing degree pool of candidates. The formal presentation to the scholarship winners will take place during the 2026 NLN Education Summit in Washington, DC, September 23-25.

“Congratulations to these well-deserving students enrolled in advanced degree programs and committed to careers in nursing education. Thanks to the generosity of our dedicated donors to the NLN Foundation the total available has increased every year, with 2026 funds totaling more than $143,000 this year. Their donations have helped us expand the number and size of scholarship awards and also focus on specialized areas within nursing education,” said NLN Foundation Chair Patrick Robinson, PhD, RN, ACRN, CNE, AHN-BC, ANEF, FAAN, provost and executive vice president of academic affairs at Pacific College of Health and Science.

“With the cost of professional education continuing to rise and the uncertainty surrounding federal student loan restrictions adding to the economic stress of borrowing to finance an advanced degree, the National League for Nursing is more committed than ever to providing meaningful financial relief to those who want to pursue graduate nursing education and join the ranks of nurse faculty,” said NLN President and CEO Beverly Malone, PhD, RN, FAAN.

2026 NLN Foundation Nursing Education Faculty Scholarship Award Recipients

  • Haifa Almalki, MSN, Michigan State University
  • Karen Bell, MSN, RN, National University
  • Ali Berumen, MSN, BSN, UC Davis
  • Davida Chatman, MSN, CPN, CPEN, University of Texas Medical Branch
  • Miki DeMary-Andrew, MSW, BSN, RN, West Virginia Wesleyan College
  • Lauren Guthrie, MSN-Ed, RN, University of Missouri - Kansas City
  • Taneshia Lacy, MSN, RN, Villanova University
  • Laurie Lopez, EdD(c), MSN, RN, CEN, CNE, University of West Georgia
  • Sarah Martin, MSN, RN, Post University
  • Amy McNicoll, MSN, RN, CNE, University of Texas Medical Branch
  • Leeanna Neeley, MSN, RN, CEN, Northern Kentucky University
  • Edward Obeng Amoah, MPhil, BSc, Dip. Edu., RN, Purdue University
  • Eric Peprah Osei, BSN, RN, University of Illinois Chicago
  • Traci Rader, MSN, BSN, ADN, RN, CNE, Grand Canyon University
  • Bailey Regier, MSN, RN, CNE, University of Northern Colorado
  • Katelyn Shepherd, MSN, RN, Walden University
  • Samantha Stong, MSN, RN, Nebraska Methodist College
  • Leanna Valentine, EdD(c), MSN, RN, CEN, University of West Georgia
  • Esmira Yusufova, MSN, MPA, RN, CNE, CHSE, AHN-BC, NE-BC, Pace University
NLN Steve Cerame Nurse Educator Scholarship Award: $8,000

Honoring former NLN Chief Financial Officer Steve Cerame for his 26 years of service, awarded annually to a future full-time nurse educator currently enrolled in a master's or doctoral program.  
 
  • Galen Ziegler, MS, RN, CMSRN, CNE, Liberty University
Edmund J.Y. Pajarillo Health Informatics and Innovation Scholarship Award: $5,000

With a focus on informatics and innovation in the use of data analysis and health information technology, the Edmund J.Y. Pajarillo Scholarship supports applicant(s) enrolled in an accredited graduate-level program in this growing field of nursing education

  • Danielle Steele Mendez, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, Florida Atlantic University
Cecelia Lou Vriheas Scholarship Award: $6,000

Awarded to a nurse pursuing an advanced degree in nursing education who is the first in the family to pursue higher education and belong to an historically marginalized/excluded group, including but not limited to Black, Indigenous, Native American, Pacific Islander, immigrant populations, and those from rural areas.

  • Eurina Cha, Ph.D., MSN, RN, CRRN, PHNA-BC, CHES, CPH, CSU Los Angeles 
NLN Health Carousel Foundation Nurse Educator Scholarship Award: $8,000

Awarded to a nurse who received an initial nursing degree outside of the United States but is currently registered in the United States and pursuing an advanced degree to further a career as a full-time nurse educator. 
 
  • Rezvaneh Manzour, MSN, BSN, RN, University of Pittsburgh

For information about the NLN Foundation for Nursing Education, visit NLN.org/Foundation.

#####

About the National League for Nursing

Dedicated to excellence in nursing, the National League for Nursing is the premier organization for nurse faculty and leaders in nursing education. The NLN offers professional development, networking opportunities, testing services, nursing research grants, and public policy initiatives to its nearly 45,000 individual and 1,000 institutional members, comprising nursing education programs across the spectrum of higher education and health care organizations. Learn more at NLN.org.

July 28, 2026

Source

Michael Keaton, Deputy Chief Communications Officer

mkeaton@nln.org