2026 Grants and Scholarships Recipients Announced
Media Contact: Bryan Black
Thirty-one nurse practitioners and NP students receive $155,000 in professional funding through AANP's annual Grants and Scholarships program.
The American Association of Nurse Practitioners® (AANP) is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2026 AANP Grants and Scholarships program. During this funding cycle, the association awarded a total of $155,000 in professional funding to 31 members through four grants and 27 scholarships. AANP is honored to invest in the future of nurse practitioners (NPs) through this annual program. AANP’s grant program supports research projects, evidence-based practice and quality improvement projects, and patient/provider education and aligns with the AANP Research agenda, including NP Workforce, NP Policy, NP Education, NP Practice and NP History.
The AANP Scholarship program provides financial support for those just starting their journey to becoming NPs or are seeking their DNP or PhD. These scholarships support valuable, advanced learning, maximize NPs’ professional development and help them become trusted health care experts for their patients. Those interested in applying for funding may learn more about AANP grants, scholarships and other opportunities on the AANP website.
"AANP is proud to invest in the future of the nurse practitioner profession," said AANP President Valerie Fuller, PhD, DNP. "Whether supporting a student pursuing their dream of becoming an NP or helping an experienced clinician advance research and innovation, these grants and scholarships strengthen the future of health care. Congratulations to this year's recipients. Your dedication to improving patient care will have a lasting impact on communities across the country."
"The professional value of the scholarship extends well beyond 'free money.' It is a testament to the AANP goal of empowering all nurse practitioners and NP students to advance accessible, person-centered, equitable and high-quality health care." — Josue Juarez Campos, 2026 AANP Scholarship Recipient
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2026 Grant Award Recipients
- Brayden Kameg, PhD, DNP, PMHNP-BC, FAAN, FAANP, of the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
- Mary Peters, DNP, APRN, PMHNP-BC, FNP-BC, of Family Health Services from Sandusky, Ohio.
- Jason A. Saucier, PhD, RN, CRNP, of Penn Medicine from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
- James Sims, DNP, APRN, ANP-BC, NP-C, CENP, of PeaceHealth Medical Group from Eugene, Oregon.
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2026 Scholarship Award Recipients
Master’s in Nursing
- Carlvon M. Aquino, BSN, RN, CCRN, CV-BC, of Purdue University Global from Rochester, Minnesota.
- Chandra Bailey, BSN, CSAC, LPC, LSATP, of Old Dominion University from Chesterfield, Virginia.
- Merly L Barahona, BSN, RN, CNOR, of George Mason University from Manassas, Virginia.
- Libing Berghofer, RN, of Frontier Nursing University from Vancouver, Washington.
- Deon Brown Jr, BSN, RN, of the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston from Houston, Texas.
- Taylor Campbell, BSN, RN, of Miami Regional University from Brooklyn, New York.
- Alexa Gunsolley, BSN, RNC-NIC, of the University of Connecticut from Bridgeport, Connecticut.
- Josue Juarez Campos, BSN, RN, CDN, of Walden University from Albuquerque, New Mexico.
- Sabrina Kowalchuk, BSN, RN, of Immaculata University from Malvern, Pennsylvania.
- Jennifer Kwapick, BSN, RN, C-EFM, of Wilkes University from Woodbridge, Virginia.
- Lacrecia Pierce, BSN, RN, of Old Dominion University from Richmond, Virginia.
- Bianca Pierre, BSN, RN, of Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences from Providence, Rhode Island.
- Tanya Sanchez, RN, CEN, CPAN, of William Paterson University from Jersey City, New Jersey.
- Sarvatma Sharma, BSN, RN, CEN, of Frontier Nursing University from Maple Valley, Washington.
- Michelle Spresser, RN, BSN, AGACNP-Student, of West Coast University from Simi Valley, California.
- Kylie Trone, BSN, RN, CPEN, of the University of Pennsylvania from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
- Tamicia Watson, BSN, RN, of Walden University from Kansas City, Missouri.
- Risa Wilder, RN, of the University of Colorado from Leadville, Colorado.
Doctor of Nursing Practice – Post-Master’s
- Kiara Evans, FNP-C, of Delta State University from Olive Branch, Mississippi.
- Megan Lewis, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC, of Frontier Nursing University from Franklin, New Hampshire.
- Cassandra Newell, MSN, RN, CPNP-PC, CPN, of the University of Missouri–Kansas City School of Nursing and Health Studies from Fairway, Kansas.
- Elizabeth Wenger, CRNP, of Cedarville University from Richfield, Pennsylvania.
Doctor of Nursing Practice – BSN to DNP
- Shelby Lynn Assavedo, RN, BSN, CRRN, of LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans from St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana.
- Samuel Feliscuzo, BSN, RN, CNRN, of the University of California San Francisco from San Francisco, California.
- Alexis Keppel, BSN, RN, of LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans from Madisonville, Louisiana.
- Mykhaylo Kurko, BSN, RN, of Arizona State University from Phoenix, Arizona.
- Jordan Michaels, BSN, RN, ONC, of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill from Cary, North Carolina.
"The value of this scholarship, both personally and professionally, is truly immeasurable. It brings me one step closer to becoming a health care provider dedicated to serving underserved and overlooked communities — while raising two children and pursuing my career." — Deon Brown Jr., 2026 AANP Scholarship Recipient
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The American Association of Nurse Practitioners® (AANP) is the largest professional membership organization representing the 461,000 licensed nurse practitioners (NPs) in the United States. As The Voice of the Nurse Practitioner®, AANP advances health policy and promotes excellence in practice, education and research to support high-quality, patient-centered care. Learn more at aanp.org.