Nevada Nurses Foundation

Callee Amari, CNA

2024 NNF Scholarship Recipient, Pre-Licensure ADN

Callee lives in Sparks, Nevada. She currently works at Renown Regional Hospital as an Acute Float Pool CNA and is pursuing a RN license from Truckee Meadows Community College, graduating in the spring of 2025. She hopes to stay in the float pool and advance her "jack-of-all-trades" skills in her nursing career. One day she hopes to obtain a master's degree in nursing and become a nursing instructor at TMCC. Callee absolutely loves to teach, and it is one of her biggest passions. She is a tutor for TMCC in pathophysiology, pharmacology, and nursing care 1 and 2. Through tutoring, she has grown very fond of the realm of teaching nursing and wishes to stay in it!

Jesse Gonzalez, RN

2024 NNF Scholarship Recipient, Doctorate

Jesse is a Lake Tahoe native and Nevada graduate from Western Nevada College's ADN program and Nevada State College's RN-BSN program. He currently resides in Carson City, Nevada, as a Behavioral Health RN at Carson Tahoe Health. He is attending Johns Hopkins University virtually for his upcoming Doctorate in Nursing Practice (DNP), Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) degree, with an anticipated graduation in May of 2026. Jesse intends to specialize in general psychiatric-mental health across the lifespan, with the aim of accomplishing an increase in access to mental health care here in rural Northern Nevada. With this expertise he is excited to eventually offer Northern Nevada innovative practices from the renowned Johns Hopkins School of Nursing.

Bryannah Katayama

2024 NNF Scholarship Recipient, Pre-Licensure BSN

Bryannah was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, and currently resides in Las Vegas. She is a student attending Chamberlain University College of Nursing student pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). She works as a Dialysis Technician at HealthTrust/HCA. Her anticipated graduation date is October, 2025. With her education, Bryannah aims to contribute to nursing by focusing on patient-centered care and advancing healthcare practices. She states that this scholarship from the Nevada Nurses Foundation significantly aids her educational journey and brings her closer to achieving her professional goals.

Jamine Gatewood, CNA

2024 NNF Scholarship Recipient, CNA to RN

Jamine resides in Reno and currently works at the Nevada Cares Campus as a CNA in the medical clinic. She is pursuing her ADN from Carrington College of Reno and will graduate in June of 2025. After graduating she wants to continue working with the homeless population as it is greatly underserved. She would also like to work in med/surg or telemetry to hone her nursing skills. Jamine does want to continue with her education and pursue a BSN. Eventually she would like to work in geriatrics and rehabilitation as that is where her journey started and is an area of practice she has grown to love over the years. She wants to continue making a difference in other lives and creating quality outcomes for the people she encounters in her practice.

Jenna Beam, RN

2024 NNF Scholarship Recipient, MSN

Jenna Beam and her husband raised their three children in Gardnerville, NV. She graduated from Western Nevada College's ADN program in 2022 and Nevada State University's BSN program in 2023. She currently works as a cardiac nurse in the telemetry unit at Carson Tahoe Regional Medical Center, and has also worked as a chemo infusion nurse at Carson Valley Medical Center. With a planned graduation date of 2027, Jenna is attending University of Nevada, Reno's Orvis School of Nursing Graduate MSN/FNP program with an emphasis in dermatology. Her career goal is to specialize in dermatology, caring for patients suffering from skin melanomas and researching the underlying diseases causing them in Northern Nevada. She looks forward to continuing to serve the people of Nevada.

Jerilyn Ogden

2024 Rural & Frontier Scholarship Recipient

Jerilyn is a second year nursing student at Great Basin College pursuing her Associate of Applied Science in Nursing. Jerilyn is from rural Nevada, born and raised in White Pine county. Before pursuing her passion for nursing, she worked as an equipment operator at a local mining company in White Pine. She currently holds a seat as a Senator in Student Government at GBC and previously served in the Student Nursing Organization as first year president. She is also currently working as a nurse apprentice at NNRH in Elko, Nevada. Her career goal after attaining her RN license is to work in the emergency department where she hopes to give her patients the quality of care they deserve. Jerilyn loves spending time with her son, family, and friends.

Matthew Giacoma

2024 Erick Christopherson Scholarship Recipient

Matthew has lived in Reno ever since he was 2 years old. Upon graduating nursing school in December, he aims to be a cardiac nurse, with the ultimate goal of becoming a nurse practitioner in dermatology. He has a passion for caring for others and cannot wait to make a true difference in the well-being of his future patients.

April Ramirez

2024 Rural & Frontier Scholarship Recipient

April is starting her final semester of nursing school to complete her Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) at Carrington College. She is a proud mom of a 7-year-old daughter, who has been April's biggest motivation to pursue her dream of becoming a Registered Nurse. Becoming a mother gave her the push she needed to follow her passion for nursing. In 2023, she was diagnosed with cancer, renal cell carcinoma, and although she is now cancer-free, this experience has only strengthened her determination to finish her degree and continue moving forward. Her long-term plan is to specialize in oncology nursing.

Tracy Hall, CNA

2024 NNF Scholarship Recipient, CNA to LPN Program

Tracy is a mother to four wonderful children. She is currently working as a CNA/Nurse Apprentice at Desert View Hospital in Pahrump, Nevada. She is pursuing a LPN program at Las Vegas College. She has always had it in her heart to help and care for people. In addition to being a full-time worker, student, and single parent, she also volunteers for back-to-school and senior citizen health fairs. She can't wait to achieve her nursing degree and share her knowledge and skills with her community.

Jenna Bailey, RN

2024 Jessie J. Valentine Scholarship Recipient

Jenna has lived in Northern Nevada since the age of 12 and considers this beautiful area home. She began her nursing career at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic which shaped her experience and dedication to patient care. She has worked at Carson Tahoe Regional Medical Center on the telemetry cardiac/neuro unit for the entirety of her career. She is pursuing her Family Nurse Practitioner degree at the University of Nevada, Reno and will graduate in May 2027. She is excited to take on a more advanced role in providing care to individuals and families of Northern Nevada. After graduation, she plans to leverage her skills and education to make a meaningful impact on healthcare in the area. Through her studies she hopes to discover her true calling in terms of a specialty but has an interest in dermatology, hospice, and cardiology.

Stacia Nightingale, RN

2024 NNA Scholarship Recipient

Stacia is an Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) student at the Orvis School of Nursing, expecting to graduate in May, 2025. She is the proud mother of four children, ranging from ages 8 to 15, and has dedicated her life to both her family and her career in nursing. She is passionate about providing exceptional medical care, leadership, and mentorship in the healthcare field. As she continues her education, Stacia remains committed to creating a better life for her children while pursuing her aspirations of becoming a nurse practitioner.

Romelyn Aljen Dizon

2024 Optum Scholarship Recipient

Romelyn Aljen was born and raised in the Philippines and currently resides in Las Vegas. She graduated from Valley High School in 2018. She is currently employed at Optum while pursuing her goal to become a Registered Nurse. Her family's suffering through medical conditions and poverty in the Philippines caused her to pursue her career choice at Arizona College of Nursing. The skills and experience she has gained by working for Optum has taught her to be compassionate, enhancing the patient's experience while receiving treatment, and delivering exceptional customer service. She has always dreamed of taking care of people, and believes that when career and passion are put together, the most beautiful thing becomes the result. Aljen hopes to make a significant impact in healthcare, friends, and her family's lives someday while doing what she loves.

Jeanette Tellefsen, RN

2024 NNF Scholarship Recipient, RN to BSN Program

Jeanette is originally from the northern suburbs of Chicago but has called Las Vegas home for the past 21 years. With 28 years of nursing experience, she has had the privilege of working in diverse areas such as telemetry, labor and delivery, postpartum, and for the past 16 years, the NICU. Currently she is pursuing her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) at the College of Southern Nevada, with plans to graduate in December. In addition to nursing, Jeanette has earned certification as a life coach, which has allowed her to incorporate mental well-being and personal growth into both her life and career. She is also proud to be a wife and mother to three children – one daughter and two sons.

Kelly Dilger, BSN, RN

2024 NNF Scholarship Recipient, MSN Program

Kelly, originally from Utah, has called Nevada home for most of her life. She grew up in a rural area outside of Las Vegas and is deeply passionate about serving rural, minority, and at-risk communities. She was inspired to pursue nursing after witnessing the need for primary care providers in lower-income areas – a decision that profoundly changed the direction in her life. She earned her BSN from Roseman University in 2020 and is currently pursuing her MSN as a Family Nurse Practitioner at Touro University, with plans to graduate in June, 2025. Kelly currently works in the Intermediate Care Unit (IMC) at Valley Hospital. In addition to her dedication to nursing, Kelly is passionate about cats, traveling, outdoors, and music. After graduation, she plans to seek healthcare opportunities serving underserved communities, particularly in rural areas of Southern Nevada. Her ultimate goal is to have her own practice, providing safe, inclusive, and competent care to meet the needs of her community.

Efrain Perez

2024 Erick Christopherson Scholarship Recipient

Efrain is a Las Vegas native, currently attending UNLV's undergraduate nursing program. He is projected to graduate by December, 2025. He hopes to continue pursuing his dream of becoming a family nurse practitioner after working at a local Las Vegas hospital for a year or two. His ultimate goal as a family nurse practitioner would be to open his own clinic in the Las Vegas community to provide free services and care for the highly underserved Hispanic community, since he has seen the lack of access to healthcare many of his undocumented friends have to go through. Efrain hopes that through his career as a nurse he will be able to become a pillar of the Las Vegas community and make a long-lasting impact for Hispanics within our beautiful city.

Raven Pastores

2024 Joan Operario Legacy Scholarship Recipient

Originally from Los Angeles, Raven is pursuing her BSN at Arizona College of Nursing at the Las Vegas campus. Throughout her childhood, she was surrounded by her family of medical professionals and continues to receive support and encouragement from them while continuing her educational journey towards nursing. She has been working full-time as a medical assistant for four years and has dedicated the last year to her patients at Optum Care Cancer Care. Her experience in Oncology continues to drive her passion for patient care. She enjoys being a part of her patients' journeys at such a sensitive time in their lives while striving to provide compassionate care for them and their families. She does all things with her four-year-old son in mind and is optimistic about her future nursing career.

Eugene Chester Farr

2024 NNF Scholarship Recipient, CNA Program

Since Eugene was a kid, he always wanted to be in the medical field, coming from a family of nurses and people who are in the army. Taking the CNA course program serves as his stepping stone toward achieving much larger goals such as becoming a LPN and eventually a RN. He really enjoys helping people as he treats them as his own family.

Princess Ariane Ramos, CNA

2024 NNF Scholarship Recipient, LPN Program

Princess was born and raised in the Philippines. She moved to Hawaii as a teenager, and in 2021 relocated to Reno. She recently graduated from Unitek's Practical Nursing program and is now preparing for the Board Exam for her LPN license. She works at Alta Skilled Nursing and Rehab Center, and with the upcoming opening of Northwest Specialty Hospital, she hopes to further enhance her skills and provide care to those in need. Her aspiration to further her education and to become a RN stems from a deep-seated desire to make a meaningful impact on the lives of patients and their families.

Erin Andrew, MS, RN

2024 NNF Scholarship Recipient, Doctorate Program

Erin and her family relocated to Las Vegas three years ago. She received a BS in International Business from Northeastern University in Boston, then embarked on a second career in Nursing, graduating from Georgetown University's DEMS Clinical Nurse Leadership program in 2017 with honors. After only two years of nursing practice, she was invited back as an adjunct faculty to support nursing students as a clinical instructor. Erin is currently a full-time student at UNLV School of Nursing pursuing her PhD in Nursing Clinical Research and in the process of completing post-graduate certificate in Public Health. Her expected graduation date is summer/fall 2027. Women's health is her passion, and her goal is to research and advocate for policies that support postpartum women and reduce the maternal mortality and morbidity rates. She is also a program manager and research assistant for a study investigating maternal mental health in the Clark County Latina Community. She works as a Women's Health clinical instructor and is an avid participant in numerous community health organizations.

Rebecca Strong

2024 NNF Scholarship Recipient, Pre-Licensure BSN

Rebecca is a second-year BSN student at Unitek College in Reno, pursuing her lifelong dream of becoming a nurse. Inspired by her mother and grandmother – both exceptional nurses – she is determined to follow in their footsteps and carry on the family legacy of compassionate care. For nearly ten years, Rebecca worked in the Employee Health office at Carson Tahoe Health as a steward for needs of employees. Recently changing departments to meet the demands of nursing school, she now works in the laboratory as a specimen processor and phlebotomist. Despite the long commute from her home in Fallon to Carson, she remains committed to her work, driven by her passion for helping people and her love of brightening patients' days with her warm smile. With a planned graduation in December, 2025, Rebecca aspires to bring her nursing skills to rural communities, where she aims to deliver excellent, patient-centered care. Her dedication to her patients and her deep-rooted desire to serve make her a promising future nurse, ready to make a positive impact on the lives of those she serves.

Alix Mejia

2024 NNF Scholarship Recipient, CNA to RN Program

Alix resides in Elko and is pursuing her associate degree of science in nursing at Great Basin College, with an anticipated graduation in May, 2025. She is currently a Nurse Extern at Northeastern Nevada Regional Hospital, which she finds is giving her invaluable experience and allowing her to use the skills she has been taught. Working as an apprentice has only reassured her of her career path, as she is excited to work in a field that she is passionate about. She has a particular interest in intensive care and plans to gain experience in that area as well as floating to other departments to gain as much experience as she can. Alix's goal is to become a certified registered nurse anesthesiologist. She is passionate about using her education to make a meaningful impact in healthcare, particularly by improving patient outcomes, advancing medical knowledge, and working in underserved communities. She aims to help as many people as possible and support those in their worst conditions to their best levels of functioning.

Maritza Miramontes

2024 Optum Scholarship Recipient

Maritza was born and raised in Las Vegas. She has worked in healthcare for over five years, starting at Southwest Medical. She currently works at Optum as the senior patient experience specialist, bridging gaps in communication and de-escalating patient concerns to get them care when they need it. She is pursuing her ADN at College of Southern Nevada and scheduled to graduate in December of 2025. She hopes to stay at Optum and relocate to a clinical setting while continuing her education toward a BSN. Maritza's goal is to become a labor and delivery nurse to bear witness to aspiring parents bringing new lives into the world.

Jessica Rayl-Lee

2023 NNF Scholarship Recipient, Pre-Licensure BSN

Jessica was born and raised in Bountiful, Utah. She is the youngest of four girls. Growing up she desired to become a Police Officer or a Nurse. In 2009, after much debate, she decided to become a Police Officer and joined the Air Force Security Forces. In 2011 Jessica moved to Las Vegas, joining the Security Forces Reserve unit at Nellis Air Force Base. In 2012 she also became a Nevada State Trooper serving her community for 9 years. After meeting her future husband and becoming a mom to a beautiful baby girl, she decided it was time to move to a safer career field. Jessica could fulfill both of her career aspirations and continue to serve others by becoming a Nurse. In 2022, she was accepted into Nevada State College's accelerated BSN program, where she is currently on track to graduate with a BSN in December of 2023. After completing her degree, her goals include working as a Trauma Nurse, obtaining a Nurse Practitioner license, and continuing her Air Force Reserves career by becoming a commissioned Officer as a RN. She currently resides in Henderson with her husband and daughter.

Brittany Perez, RN, BSN, ADN, CPEN

2023 NNF Scholarship Recipient, Masters Program

Brittany is currently enrolled in UNLV's PMHNP program. She has worked at UMC for a decade as a Certified Pediatric Emergency Nurse. She was inspired to advance her education to be able to care for children and adolescents with mental health problems in the Las Vegas community. Brittany is also passionate about precepting nursing students and education; she is an ENPC instructor. She works as an RN at various festivals and events throughout the year. When not working or going to school, Brittany spends time with her husband and children.

Janice Enriquez, APRN, CNM

2023 NNF Scholarship Recipient, Doctorate Program

Janice is a Certified Nurse Midwife and Women's Health Nurse Practitioner. She has lived in the Las Vegas area for almost 20 years. Her nursing experiences have included oncology and obstetrics. As an advanced practice registered nurse, she has worked in a variety of specialty settings. Currently she works in a private practice while pursuing the Doctor of Nursing Practice Degree at UNLV. Janice's DNP project is focused on the Evaluation of Risk-appropriate Perinatal Care in Nevada. Her goal is to help improve outcomes for Nevada's maternal child population, reduce disparities in care, and teach future nursing professionals. She is invested in her Las Vegas community and in her spare time, volunteers for a variety of causes. She is eternally grateful to all the supportive people in her life.

Kaela Phenix, CNA

2023 Jessie J. Valentine Scholarship Recipient

Kaela is a second-year nursing student at Western Nevada College and will be graduating in May of 2023. Her passion for working in healthcare started in 2018 when she earned her CNA license. She has worked as a CNA at Carson Tahoe Hospital since 2019, and she has worked on the pediatrics unit since 2020. She has always wanted to work with children, and this has inspired her to become a labor and delivery nurse on the Women's and Children's unit. Kaela is very excited to graduate and start working as an RN soon. She enjoys spending time with her husband Tim, her dog Ace, and her family and friends. She lives in Gardnerville among the beautiful Sierra mountains where she spends a lot of time outdoors. She enjoys hiking, archery, fishing, making art, and reading.

Nancy Brandt, CNA

2023 NNF Scholarship Recipient, CNA to RN Program

Originally from El Paso, Texas, Nancy relocated to Reno in 1989. She graduated from Reed High School in 1991 and enrolled at Truckee Meadows Community College in 1993, shortly after the birth of her son. Despite her eagerness to become a nurse, her responsibilities as a single parent forced her to temporarily halt her studies to provide for her son. After a lengthy stint in the casino industry, she resumed her education and obtained her CNA certification in December, 2021. Nancy is now a Critical Care Technician at Renown Regional Medical Center in Telemetry, while also attending Truckee Meadows Community College as a first-semester nursing student. She anticipates earning her degree in December, 2024, and aspires to continue her education to pursue her BSN. Although she is content working in Telemetry, Nancy plans to explore other career opportunities in the field of nursing. She has held a long-standing dream of becoming a nurse and is eager to bring her most valuable trait – her empathy – to the forefront. Her objective is to give back to the nursing community and to make a meaningful impact on the patients she encounters and the wider community.

Yolanda Gardner, RN

2023 Rural & Frontier Scholarship Recipient

Yolanda is currently enrolled at the University of Reno Nevada. She is pursuing her doctorate degree in the Acute Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner program. She has been in the healthcare field for over 25 years and is looking forward to providing care in the rural setting upon graduation in 2025. She was inspired to continue her education by the lack of practitioners available in rural communities. Yolanda currently works in the emergency room at Humboldt General Hospital in Winnemucca, NV. She is passionate about promoting and encouraging new graduates through their transition into the workforce. When she is not working or going to school, she enjoys traveling with her family.

Tyler Hamblet

2023 Erick Christopherson Scholarship Recipient

Tyler was born and raised in Las Vegas. He is in his second semester at Nevada State College in the full-time BSN nursing program and anticipates graduating in August, 2024. He currently works on campus at Nevada State College as a peer mentor and course assistant to incoming first semester nursing students. Tyler has a passion for the cardiovascular system and hopes to accomplish his education goals of becoming a cardiac ICU nurse and becoming a CRNA down the road.

Katherine "Kate" Schmuck, CNA

2023 NNF Scholarship Recipient, CNA to RN Program

Kate is currently a CNA working at Renown Regional Medical Center in Reno. She attends Truckee Meadows Community College in the Maxine S. Jacobs nursing program. She is finishing her second semester and is scheduled to graduate in May, 2024. Kate is very interested and passionate about pediatric intensive care and aspires to begin her career in the pediatric ICU. After she gets a year of experience, she plans to attend a nurse anesthetist program in Las Vegas with the hope of earning her doctorate in nurse anesthesia and working as a traveling CRNA.

Lauren Rametta, RN

2023 NNA District 1 Scholarship Recipient

After graduating from UNR's Orvis School of Nursing in 2017, Lauren worked in the Northern Nevada area for six years as a registered nurse. After working bedside and in various leadership roles, Lauren found that her next passion was in preventative care. Currently she is pursuing her Masters of Science in Nursing as a Family Nurse Practitioner at UNLV, with an anticipated graduation date in December of 2024. To fulfill her dream of providing additional healthcare services to Nevadans, Lauren will work within the outpatient care setting. In addition to nursing, she enjoys being outdoors, camping, and living an active lifestyle with her family – something she hopes to inspire and educate her patients to do in order to improve their health through active lifestyle choices.

Tylar Conley, LPN

2023 NNF Scholarship Recipient, LPN to RN Program

Tylar was born and raised in Las Vegas. She has been working in healthcare for 10 years, starting as a CNA in 2013 and now as a LPN. After working as a CNA for 3 years she decided that her next step would be furthering her education. She attended LPN school 2015-2016 through Kaplan College, and started her LPN career in Maternal Child department and then moved on to Adult Medicine department within Optum Care. Tylar anticipates starting the LPN-RN bridge program in Fall, 2023, at College of Southern Nevada as well as graduating in December, 2024, with her RN. Once she receives her degree, she has a strong interest in doing surgical nursing such as post-operative care. Aside from work and school, she has a 5-year-old daughter who loves to dance and swim.

Natalie Wurdemann

2023 From I Nurse II Another Scholarship Recipient

Natalie is pursuing her BSN at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. She has also completed coursework for Bachelor's Degrees in Psychology and Political Science and will graduate with them once she finishes the nursing program. She is a proud member of the Catawba Indian Nation. All of her family on her dad's side lives on the Catawba reservation in Rock Hill, SC. Unfortunately, substance abuse has been a massive problem on the reservation, and her dad and many other members of her family have struggled substance use, with one cousin dying from an opioid overdose a few years ago. In addition to experiencing the effects of substance abuse firsthand, Natalie also worked as a bartender and server in the nightlife industry for ten years, where substance abuse is prevalent. After witnessing substance abuse's devastating effects on her family, friends, and community, she found her passion for nursing and has decided to dedicate the rest of her life to helping promote the health and healing of families in our community. Her life goal is to advocate for individuals struggling with substance abuse and give them hope for recovery. Natailie also wants to help reduce the negative stigma around addiction and promote health for all individuals. Addictions do not define who an individual is but is a disease worth treating and restoring well-being. She strives to leave the world a better place for her child and all other new generations.

Kim Thompson, RN

2023 NNF Scholarship Recipient, MSN Program

Kim is originally from the Netherlands, although she and her family have lived in Las Vegas for almost her entire life so she considers herself to be a Vegas local. She is a recent college graduate (2022) and has completed her first year as a nurse, stating that it has been an exciting, tearful, and rewarding experience thus far. She has a daughter, Juliet, who is the light of her life and, along with her family, has been the push she needed to go back to school to further her career as a NP. Kim intends to work with youth and underserved populations in Las Vegas. She also sings, although she will never be caught singing in front of other people.

Jill Rankin, DNP, RN, CNS

2023 NNA Scholarship Recipient

Jill has been a nurse since 2003, graduating with her bachelor's and master's degree from Youngstown State University and a Doctor of Nursing Practice from Carlow University (Pittsburgh). Jill is currently working to complete her PhD at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. She is in the process of writing her dissertation focusing on stress, the rational choice theory, and academic dishonesty. Her background includes pediatric nursing and school nursing. She has been in academia for 15 years with Youngstown State University (Ohio), Hiram College (Ohio), Arizona College of Nursing (Las Vegas), and Chamberlain College of Nursing (Las Vegas), teaching courses in Pediatric Nursing, Nursing Research, Community Health Nursing, and Nursing Leadership. Jill serves on a number of professional boards and organizations. She is also co-owner of Home Helpers Home Care of Southwest Las Vegas. She and her husband, Edward, provide quality in-home companion care for clients, including veterans, in the Las Vegas area.

Ma Shirley Holcomb, CNA

2023 Unitek College Scholarship Recipient

Ma lives in Reno and works at the Northern Nevada Medical Center in Sparks as a Patient Care Tech. This role allows her to channel her compassion and care for others into meaningful work. She is furthering her education through the LPN program at Unitek College, as part of her unwavering commitment to enhancing her skills and providing the highest standard of care to those she serves. Ma states that her journey is "one woven with threads of love, dedication, and a sincere desire to make a positive impact in the field of healthcare". She and her husband Shawn have four children – Shawn Jr., Annjeanette, Angelica-Ivy, and Nathan-Angelo – who are the driving force behind her dedication and passion for creating a better future.

April Rose Abero, LPN

2023 Debra & Dr. John Scott Scholarship Recipient

April Rose currently works full-time at Dialysis Care Center as a LPN to meet her financial need while enrolled in a rigorous full-time Bachelor of Science in Nursing program at Nightingale College. She has a passion for providing compassionate care to individuals facing mental health challenges. Her enthusiasm for the field is evident in her work experience at Sacramento County Jail, Sacramento Primary Care Center, and her active participation in mental health advocacy efforts. Her mission is to make a difference in the world of mental health care. In her limited free time, she enjoys spending time with loved ones, finding solace in nature, and exploring mindfulness techniques that she believes will serve her well in her future role as a mental health nurse.

Theresa Lemus, MBA, BSN, RN, LADC

2023 NNF Scholarship Recipient, Doctorate Program

Theresa was born and raised in Topeka, Kansas. She graduated with her BSN from the Washburn University School of Nursing in 1993. One of her earliest career-shaping experiences occurred at the beginning of the HIV epidemic when the diagnosis was highly stigmatized and fatal, when she realized that one of her first HIV-positive patients with less than a week to live was a high school classmate. While the experience was personally devastating, it laid a foundation that shaped Theresa's career with a focus on serving vulnerable populations and improving public health through the integration of physical, mental, and spiritual health. Although she has served various roles in primary and pediatric care, most of her nursing experience has been in partnership with federal agencies. She currently works in the HRSA-funded Rural Community Opioid Response Program (RCORP) and serves as the team lead to ensure access to medication-assisted treatment in rural communities across the US and US territories. She serves as a counselor-intern supervisor and provides clinical direction to the Family Support Center in Winnemucca, as well as teaching at the Orvis School of Nursing at UNR. She is active in various boards and community-based organizations, as well as the NNA.

Cherokee Hermo, CNA

2023 NNF Scholarship Recipient, CNA to LPN Program

Cherokee was born and raised in Maui, Hawaii, graduated from a small school in Upperlake, California, and moved to Nevada about four years ago. Since she was a young girl she knew she wanted to be a nurse, and she is passionate about helping others. She completed a CNA program right out of high school and started working in long-term care, followed by working in a local hospital where she found she loved acute care and got to meet the best nurses. She is currently enrolled in the LPN program at Unitek College, and her future plans include finding a LPN-RN bridge program. Cherokee has five amazing kids, include 18-month-old twins. She states that describing her life as chaotic and busy would be an understatement, but she is very excited to see what the future has for her, her education, and her career.

Ta'Nesha Finley

2023 NNF Scholarship Recipient, CNA Program

Ta'Nesha is currently in the CNA program at the College of Southern Nevada. She is an older single mother of a 13-year-old cheerleader/dancer, and states that between work, her school, her daughter's school and activities, she sometimes doesn't know how she makes it all work. Her mother was her biggest cheerleader and supporter and always asked her to get into the healthcare field because of her love for people and her need to help. Her mother passed away three years ago, but Ta'Nesha is well on her way to eventually graduating from CSN as a Licensed Practical Nurse.

Hanna Neider

2023 Christine Van Winkle Scholarship Recipient

Hanna lives in Las Vegas and is currently attending Nevada State University. Her study of interest is pediatric nursing, and her anticipated graduation date is December of 2024. She hopes to accomplish so many things with her education, but mainly she wants to care for those who are hurting. Hanna wants to be able to come alongside those who are suffering and help them, not only physically but emotionally and mentally as well.

Dara Delgado-Lawrence, RN

2023 NNF Scholarship Recipient, RN to BSN Program

Dara is attending Nevada State University and is on track to graduate in the summer of 2024 with a BSN. Her dedication and passion for nursing has allowed her to achieve a cumulative GPA of 3.9. In addition to her academic pursuits, she is involved with the policy and procedure committee for the VA, a proud mentor for nursing students of the Southern Nevada Black Nurses Association, and – above all else – she is a mother. After her graduation, Dara plans to use the knowledge obtained to continue educating the community, improve patient care, and improve mentorship/leadership abilities, thus improving diversity and inclusion in healthcare.

Ashley Webb

2023 Philippine Nurses Association Scholarship Recipient

Ashley is currently enrolled at the College of Southern Nevada in the fulltime ADN program, looking to graduate in May of 2024. She is part of CSN's nursing clubs, including BRIDGES and the SNA chapter where she has opportunities to volunteer with peers and help the community. Currently she works as a Nurse Apprentice at a local hospital, and she has already found much reward and feelings of fulfillment working alongside the nursing teams. Once graduated, she aspires to become a NICU nurse, then working in the CVICU. Ashley's long-term plans include a BSN and eventually becoming a CRNA. She plans to always give back to the nursing community which has held the door open for her to realize her potential. She loves traveling and has a passion for cooking. When she is not studying or working, she is enjoying time with family, trying to start her newfound hobby of golfing, with her nose in a book about real estate/investing, or at the Pilates studio.

Andrei Del Rosario

2023 Greg Peistrup Scholarship Recipient

Originally from Camarines Sur, Philippines, Andrei was raised in Las Vegas. He started in the healthcare field as a volunteer at Sunrise Hospital in 2017. After the tragic October 1^st event that impacted the Las Vegas community, he observed how a dedicated nurse was caring for his patients and their families. Since that time, Andrei realized he wanted to become that nurse. He graduated in 2019 at East Career and Technical Academy with a diploma including an emphasis in Nursing Assistant. Currently, he is in his second semester at Nevada State University in the full-time BSN nursing program, expecting to graduate in December, 2024. He works on campus as a course assistant to first semester nursing students. Supporting the community serves not just an importance to his life, but also as an influence to his interest in Emergency Trauma Nursing. After gaining enough experience in the field, he would like to strive for a master's degree in nursing education.

Jacqueline Martinez

2023 Unitek Scholarship Recipient

Jackie was born and raised in the beautiful small town of Truckee, California. She moved to Reno after her first son was born in 2007, and she now lives in Sparks, Nevada, with her two amazing teenage boys. She has worked primarily in medical since she was 14 years old, starting as a file clerk for a primary care/urgent care office and working her way up through the years. In 2019 she became an EMT-B and in 2020 became an Advanced EMT, which allowed her to work per diem with the local ambulance service and as a full time medical assistant. Jackie loves patient care and wanted to further her education to do more for her patients. She decided to go to nursing school, which is something she had always wanted to do but the timing never seemed right until now. She looks forward to continuing her education even after becoming a LPN and hope to someday work in the ER.

Melissa Ann Bongcaron, CNA

2023 NNF Scholarship Recipient, CNA to RN Program

Melissa received her Bachelor's of Science in Public Health with cum laude honors from San Diego State University. She is currently pursuing her Master's in Nursing (MSN) at UNLV and is on track to graduate in fall, 2024. She is a part of the inaugural Direct-Entry MSN program, which is designed for students with non-nursing Bachelor's degrees. Her passion to help others stems from her youth in a medically underserved area in California. A majority of the patients there were considered to be minorities and low-income, and their access to quality healthcare was heavily restricted. From a young age, Melissa was able to conceptualize the link between socioeconomic disadvantages and poor health outcomes, which is what prompted her to pursue an education in both Public Health and Nursing. She increased her understanding by working as a nursing unit clerk, then later as a CNA on a medical-surgical unit. Melissa hopes to act as an advocate to close the gap on these healthcare disparities and ultimately make a positive difference in her patients' lives by sharing kindness and compassion through her style of care. Currently she is focusing on school full-time while serving as her cohort's secretary in the School of Nursing and as an active member of SNA.

Brittney Rosiles

2023 NNF Scholarship Recipient, Pre-Licensure BSN

Brittney is pursuing her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at UNR and is set to graduate in December of 2023. Brittney grew up in Reno, where she lives close to her family. She currently works as a Nurse Apprentice at Carson Tahoe Regional Medical Center. She completed her MPH in 2021 and was inspired to continue her education in nursing due to the lack of healthcare access and patient education in her community. She is passionate about serving as an advocate for her patients and helping them through some of the most trying times of their lives. Her goal is to continue her education to become a Nurse Practitioner and eventually open up her own practice in her community. She enjoys reading, spending time with her family and friends, and traveling.

Chiara Mari Azucena BSN, RN, MSN

2023 Philippine Nurses Association Scholarship Recipient

Chiara was born and raised in the Philippines and completed her Bachelors of Science in Nursing and Masters in Nursing at University of St. La Salle. She and her husband moved to the United States in 2017. Chiara has extensive experience working in skilled nursing facilities in Reno. She served as a Covid/Quarantine Unit Charge Nurse for three years before becoming a certified Nursing Home Infection Preventionist and Assistant Director of Nursing. She is currently the Employee Health and Wellness Nurse of Northern Nevada Medical Center and Northern Nevada Sierra Medical Center. During the pandemic, she witnessed patients and families struggling, which reignited her passion for mental health. She is currently pursuing a Post-Masters Certificate in Nursing through Chamberlain University's Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Track. Chiara believes that her perseverance, patience, and passion will lead her to her ultimate goal of becoming a Psych NP.

Kylie Torres

2023 Rural and Frontier Scholarship Recipient

Kylie is a citizen of the Walker River Paiute Tribe. She attended grade school at Schurz Elementary School and graduated from Yerington High School in 2017. She acquired her Phlebotomy Certificate at Carrington College Reno in 2018 and began working at the Walker River Tribal Health Clinic. In 2022, she attended Carrington College Reno again, graduating in December with a Medical Assistant Certification. While working in the medical field with the patients, Kylie saw the impacts her job made on people in their daily lives and decided to further her career. In 2023 Kylie attended Western Nevada Community College to achieve her Emergency Medical Technician certification while working towards an Associates of Science in Health Studies as prerequisites to pursue an Associates Degree in Nursing. She has been accepted into the program and will graduate in 2025 from Carrington College in Reno. Kylie currently works full time while traveling 200 miles round trip to attend school. She enjoys fishing, camping and spending time with her family.

Hope Sands, RN

2022 NNF Scholarship Recipient, RN to BSN Program

Hope has lived in Las Vegas since she was 5 years old. She graduated from Arbor View High school and then College of Southern Nevada in December, 2020, with an Associate’s Degree in Nursing. She is currently attending Nevada State College for her Bachelor's in Nursing. Hope works at Summerlin Hospital in the Pediatrics department. She states that it was very challenging becoming a nurse during a pandemic, but she is proud of herself for what she has accomplished and for knowing that every day she makes a difference in a child's life. After she graduates, she hopes to be a clinical instructor for nursing students to show them what working in pediatrics is like. In her free time, she enjoys reading and trying new coffee places around town with her husband.

Allen Perez, MSN-Ed, RN, CNE

2022 NNF Scholarship Recipient, Doctorate Program

Allen is the Dean of Academics Affairs at Chamberlain University College of Nursing in Las Vegas, Nevada. Allen has served his community as a volunteer with Southern Nevada Medical Reserve Corps for twelve years. He is the President-Elect of Sigma's Phi Pi Chapter, the largest chapter of Sigma. Allen's nursing career started in 2010 as a graduate from Carrington College in Las Vegas. He received his Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Master of Science in Nursing from Grand Canyon University. He is currently a Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing Education candidate at Northcentral University, and his dissertation focuses on identifying a relationship between high-fidelity simulation and the development of clinical judgment in pre-licensure nursing students. Before joining Chamberlain University as faculty, Allen's nursing practice focused on rural emergency care, and he firmly believes that high-quality healthcare is dependent on Nevada's nursing schools instilling the expectation of professional nursing practice by socializing students to professional organizations.

Chelsea Chambers RN, BSN

2022 NAPNA Scholarship Recipient

Chelsea is a 5th generation Nevadan, born and raised in the Carson Valley. She graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno and has been a registered nurse at Saint Mary's Regional Medical Center for the past 2.5 years working on the Cardiac Telemetry Department. She also currently works at a surgery center in Carson City. She is pursuing her Masters of Science in Nursing as a Family Nurse Practitioner to fulfill her dream of providing healthcare services to her beloved Northern Nevada community. Chelsea's passion and focus is around preventative medicine and to provide patients with the education and recourses necessary to live long, active, and healthful lives. She also enjoys precepting and teaching new graduate nurses, and she aspires to be a local clinical nursing faculty member after graduation.

Thania Rodriguez, CNA

2022 Jessie J. Valentine Scholarship Recipient

Thania currently resides in Carson City with her husband Dylan and two sons, Treyden and Daxen. She graduated from Carson High School in 2015 and became a Certified Nursing Assistant soon after. She worked as a CNA for two years, and shortly after that she received her certification as a Medical Assistant. She has worked for Carson Tahoe Medical Group as a certified nursing assistant, and then as a medical assistant for the last two years. Thania is attending Carrington College for her RN, Associate's in Nursing. Her goal is to further her knowledge in the medical field to adequately and confidently take care of future patients. She wishes to thank Carson Tahoe for sponsoring the Jessie J. Valentine Scholarship and helping her to further her education.

Elizeth Jackson

2022 NNF Scholarship Recipient, Pre-Licensure BSN Program

Elizeth is a junior at Chamberlain University seeking her BS in Nursing. She hopes to one day work at one of the major hospitals in the state of Nevada. Her heart is in pediatrics, and she would love to be caring for little humans in the NICU. She looks forward to her last year and a half at Chamberlain University with an open mind to gain experience, knowledge, and the skills required to become an extraordinary nurse. One of her goals is to seek a leadership position in the Student Nurses Association. In her free time, Elizeth enjoys being outdoors with her family and having small adventures. She states that her scholarship will play a key role in shaping her into a successful person in the future, and that donors like you make life brighter for student nurses. She hopes that one day she too will be in a position to bring a smile to another student in need.

Arashdeep Kaur, CNA

2022 Unitek Scholarship Recipient

Arashdeep is currently in her second year in the Bachelors of Science in Nursing program at Unitek College. Her interest in healthcare started when she was in high school taking classes relating to the medical field to further explore career choices. After finishing high school and gaining knowledge about the healthcare field, she got a job as a CNA in telemetry to gain hands-on experience working with patients and learning new skills. She is extremely excited to be a nursing student and looks forward to working as a nurse and taking care of her fellow Nevada citizens.

Cheyenne Shoup, CNA

2022 NNF Scholarship Recipient, CNA to RN Program

Cheyenne has been a CNA for nine years and currently works at Northern Nevada Medical Center. She is pursuing her RN at Carrington College. After graduating she plans to work in a Med/Surg unit to build her foundation. Then she would like to utilize both her Bachelor of Public Health and RN education to work as a Public Health Nurse aiding underserved communities.

Melissa Mancuso, RMA

2022 Optum Scholarship Recipient

Melissa moved to Las Vegas in 2015 from Vancouver, Canada. Two years later, she decided to change careers and become a Medical Assistant. After graduation, she started her career at Southwest Medical Associates/Optum in the Maternal Child department and eventually transferred to Urgent Care. After 5 years of working as an MA, she wanted to advance her career and become an RN. Melissa is currently in her first year at Chamberlain University. When she graduates, she hopes to become an ER or L&D nurse.

Megan Herbst

2022 Unitek Scholarship Recipient

Megan was born and raised in Reno and is a full-time nursing student at Unitek college in Reno pursuing her BSN. She is expected to graduate in October of 2023. She is currently employed at Renown as a Critical Care Technician in the Trauma ICU. Megan has dreamed of becoming a nurse for as long as she can remember and hopes to continue to make a difference in the lives of the patients she encounters and in the community that she cares so deeply for.

Laquienta Kirby

2022 Rural and Frontier Scholarship Recipient

Laquienta is a proud mother of two who is currently pursuing her career in nursing at Great Basin College. Although she was born in Los Angeles, she has been in Pahrump since 2014 where she continues to touch the lives of so many families in the community. At the age of two, Laquienta and her three older siblings were placed into foster care, where they encountered a series of unfortunate events with no one to advocate for them. She promised herself as a young girl that as an adult, she would always advocate for others, and she has done just that. In 2012 she started her first business working with other foster children to overcome their childhood trauma. In 2015, she opened an assisted living facility where she took care of hospice patients. She focused on providing care, comfort, and quality of life for residents with serious illnesses approaching the end of life. Lastly, in March of 2020, she opened a daycare in Pahrump licensed for 81 children, and she is currently looking to provide a daycare in Tonopah. Laquenta hopes to continue making a difference in the lives of patients she encounters and in the community she calls home.

Carrie Ann Barrier, BS, ADN, BSN

2022 NNF Scholarship Recipient, MSN Program

Originally from Oregon, Carrie earned a Bachelor of Science emphasizing animal science from Oregon State University. While living in Texas, she met a new graduate nurse who was very enthusiastic and described nursing in a way she knew was going to be her new career. She graduated with an Associate Degree in Nursing from Cisco College in Abilene in 2011 and worked in a post-anesthesia care unit, in a medical surgical unit, and in a private capacity providing care for a traumatic brain injury victim. After moving to Nevada in 2016, she found a passion for gastrointestinal nursing. Carrie obtained her BSN in 2018 from Grand Canyon University and began work at Carson Tahoe Health, where she has worked in medical surgical and ICU. She currently works in endoscopy at CTH while pursuing a Master of Science Family Nurse Practiconer degree from Texas Women's University. She currently rides, trains, and competes with cutting horses, and in the future she would like to combine the care of nursing patients with utilizing horses for therapy.

Shane Palomo, CNA

2022 NNF Scholarship Recipient, LPN Program

Shane is originally from Philippines and moved to the USA in 2015. She currently resides in Sparks with her husband Jovannie and son Johan. She graduated with a BS degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management in 2013 and worked in the hospitality field for 6 years, yet found her heart wanting to serve back to the community. She decided to work for veterans and is currently employed at Northern Nevada State Veterans home as Certified Nursing Assistance Team Leader. Shane is attending nursing school at Unitek College pursuing her LPN, and expects to graduate in February, 2023. Her goal is to continue her education to broaden her skills and knowledge while making difference in the lives of people, especially her patients. She has committed herself to lifelong learning, strongly believing that education and the learning process doesn't end at graduation but rather continues as long as a person has the willingness to learn and the courage to take those first steps toward a dream.

Elizabeth "Beth" Melton,
APRN, CNM, IBCLC

2022 Debra & John Scott Scholarship Recipient

Beth has been a nurse for 25 years and currently lives in Reno. She was inspired by her grandmother, who served in the Peace Corps, to become a Nurse Midwife, and her dream is to serve those in need. She is enrolled at University of Cincinnati's Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Program. She is currently juggling school along with entrepreneurship as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN), Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM) and Internationally Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC). She provides women's health, prenatal, home birth, and lactation services, and plans to expand her services to the entire family when she finishes her FNP post-Masters certificate in the fall of 2022. Beth is passionate about providing a functional approach to health care, combining traditional and western medicine to get to the root of health issues. Beth is also a professor at Unitek College and enjoys inspiring nursing students to reach for their dreams and become excellent nurses. "Nursing is an amazing career, you'll never get bored and if you do you can always learn more or change your specialty leading to a whole new adventure."

Elvis D'Souza, LPN

2022 NNF Scholarship Recipient, LPN to RN Program

Yes, Elvis was named after the King of Rock and Roll, and he has heard every joke that relates to to his name and takes them in stride. He has been an LPN for the last 7 years and graduated from Kaplan, Sacramento. He has been trying to finish his prerequisites while holding a full-time job, and he has been trying to find a school in Reno where he can transition and complete his RN/BSN. He was excited to learn Unitek opened its doors in Reno last summer. Elvis works as a home health nurse for a local hospital, and the work has been very gratifying, especially during the pandemic. After completing his RN/BSN program, he aspires to become a Family Nurse Practitioner. He enjoys working out at the gym, hiking, and traveling to new places, and his large extended family keeps him busy.

Joyce Coleman, RN, BSN, MSN

2022 NNA Scholarship Recipient

Joyce is a board certified women's health nurse practitioner who was born and raised in Philadelphia. She earned her BSN from Villanova University and was commissioned into the Navy Nurse Corps upon graduation. She later transferred into the Air Force Nurse Corps where she specialized as an obstetrics nurse, taught medical-surgical nurses transitioning to obstetrics, and coordinated childbirth education classes as a Lamaze-certified childbirth educator. Joyce created a breast wellness clinic at Langley Air Force base and became an international board certified lactation consultant and a breast health educator. Joyce subsequently earned her Master of Science from Virginia Commonwealth University, then taught diploma and associate degree nursing students for ten years. She moved to Las Vegas and served as a breast health nurse practitioner and clinical team lead. In 2019 Joyce's career returned to its military roots as she provides primary care for women veterans. She is enrolled in the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Advanced Practice Nurse program at the University of Nevada, Reno. Her DNP project aims to advance nursing science in human papillomavirus vaginal self-collection for women veterans. She is passionate about providing integrative, trauma-centered care to vulnerable women veterans and conducting quality improvement initiatives and research to do the same.

Christopher Thompson, AEMT

2022 Erick Christopherson Scholarship Recipient
2022 Orvis School of Nursing Scholarship Recipient

Christopher was raised in Las Vegas, attending Western High School and the University of Nevada Las Vegas before transferring to the University of Reno to finish a Bachelor of Arts in History. In 2017 he became an Advanced Emergency Medical Technician and began working for REMSA Health and Care Flight. Working side by side with an incredible team of nurses and paramedics motivated him to pursue a career in nursing. In 2021 he was accepted into Orvis School of Nursing's accelerated BSN program. After completing his degree Christopher plans to work in the emergency department and after gaining some experience becoming a flight nurse.

Alyssa Anderson

2022 NNF Scholarship Recipient, Pre-Licensure BSN Program

Alyssa moved to Reno in 2014 to attend the University of Nevada. Shortly after moving to the area, she met her future husband and graduates in 2017 with her degree in Nutrition. She quickly discovered a passion for science, learning, and helping others. This influenced her to make the decision to study nursing. She enrolled in Unitek College in Reno to attend the new Bachelor of Science in Nursing program and began classes in April of 2021. She was a Unit Clerk in the ED at Renown South Meadows and then in the NICU at Renown Regional Medical Center. She worked in these acute care settings with some of Nevada's most talented, brave, and inspiring nurses. Alyssa is now in her last year at Unitek College and is also the communications director for the Nevada Nursing Student Association. She is passionate about community and wants to be a leader for nurses everywhere. After she graduates in October of 2023, Alyssa hopes to work as a Registered Nurse in critical care. She also plans to continue her education with aspirations of becoming a Family or Acute Care Nurse Practitioner.

Andrew Reyes, RN

2022 NNF Scholarship Recipient, RN to BSN Program

Andrew completed nursing school in 2019 and attended the TMCC nursing program which he found to be very challenging. He is a 31M nurse and has worked in the Cardiac ICU at Renown since June, 2021. He has lived in Reno for about 10 years and plans to stay there. He is currently attending his first course at Nevada State College toward his BSN. Andrew's plan is to go to nurse practitioner once he completes his BSN.

Ana Guillen, CMA

2022 Unitek Scholarship Recipient

Ana grew up in Mexico and moved to the US when she was 10 years old. She currently resides in Reno with her daughter Delsey. She grew in love with the healthcare field while in high school taking a health occupations class. She became a certified medical assistant shortly after graduating and has been a medical assistant for more than 10 years. She is currently a Health Quality Coordinator at Northern Nevada Medical Group and a Unit Clerk at Carson Tahoe Regional. Ana wanted to further her education in nursing, so she is currently enrolled in Unitek's Bachelor of Science program and will be graduating in February, 2025. She hopes to become a Labor and Delivery Nurse.

Marilou Gasper, LPN, CNA

2022 NNF Scholarship Recipient, LPN to RN Program

Marilou was a CNA for years before going back to school to become a phlebotomist. While working two jobs, she went back to school again for the LPN program. She felt fulfilled at that time, but as years went by, she knew she could do more. While working full-time, she took classes to work her way into RN school at Western Nevada College. This was not an easy road, but Marilou considers herself to be a hardworking and resilient person. Becoming an RN is an ultimate childhood dream, and she is determined to fulfill that dream and become the best she can be in her profession no matter what obstacle may come her way. When this journey is finally completed, she plans to give back to the community by volunteering her services to health promotions such as blood drives, vaccination drives, and to devote 100% effort to the care of children and senior citizens any way that she can.

Jennifer Bochenski, CMA

2022 NNF Scholarship Recipient, LPN Program

Jennifer was born and raised in Reno, NV. She is a proud mother of one son, Brodi, who is 16. She has worked at the University of Nevada Student Health Center as a registered Certified Medical Assistant for three years. She has two associates degrees, but wants to further her education and be more successful in life. She is "a huge giver", and she wants to be the patients' voice when they cannot make themselves heard. Jennifer is currently enrolled at Unitek College in the LPN Program and plans to gradudate in February, 2024.

Jessica Bruffy, CNA

2022 Nightingale College Scholarship Recipient

Jessica is currently in her second year at Nightingale College seeking her BSN. Her love for healthcare started at a young age, and she promptly entered the healthcare field out of high school as a Certified Medical Assistant for a Cardiology clinic. She found her love with electrophysiology during this time. After seven years in Cardiology, she decided to switch her focus to healthcare management. For the last three years Jessica has been an office manager for a private practice neurology clinic and has continued to gain healthcare knowledge and experience to better serve the Reno community. She hopes to continue her education and become a Nurse Practitioner in Cardiology focusing on electrophysiology.

David Mateos, CNA

2022 Erick Christopherson Scholarship Recipient
2022 Philippine Nurses Association Scholarship Recipient

David is a last-semester BSN student at Nevada State College. He works as a Nurse Apprentice at Henderson Hospital and as an agency CNA for nursing SNFs. He originally fell in love with nursing when he started his CNA program in 2017 and did his clinicals at Marquis Centennial Hills, a SNF. He loved the feeling of helping those who could not help themselves and the wonderful life stories they would share. He was further motivated by losses in his own family to go forward with his education, starting at Nevada State College in summer, 2021. David would like to work as a psychiatric nurse for both pediatric and adult populations. He would also like to create community awareness of suicide prevention and how to help those who feel there is not better option. He is planning to continue his education to get his DNP and to focus on psychiatric populations.

Katherine "Katie" Archer, CNA

2022 Jessie J. Valentine Scholarship Recipient

Katie is a native Nevadan, born and raised in Reno. She attended Spanish Springs High School and then the University of Nevada Reno where she completed her pre-requisites for nursing school. She started nursing school in the spring of 2021 and is expecting to graduate in December, 2022. She is currently a CNA at Carson Tahoe on the Pediatrics unit as well as CCT at Renown Regional on the Intermediate Care Unit. Her hope is to get a job at Carson Tahoe, but she is still deciding what kind of nursing she wants to go into. Katie's goal is to continue her education to get a BSN and maybe one day getting a masters degree. She lives in Spanish Springs with her husband and a sweetheart of a dog.

Destiny Linnell, AEMT

2022 Renown RMC Scholarship Recipient

Destiny has worked in emergency medicine since she graduated from high school in 2016. In the last three years, she has been an EMT educator, AHA BLS CPR instructor, Carseat technician, and performed in Color Guard at Humboldt General. She has also worked at REMSA. In her free time, she did standbys at local motocross events and other big events. She began working at Banner Churchill EMS during this time as well. She currently works as an ER tech at Renown Regional and as an AEMT at Humboldt General in Winnemucca. She has spent countless hours and has taken countless classes to become better in her position. Specializing in trauma in the ER, she is involved in the patient belongings committee, working to get people's belongings returned back to them. Destiny is attending the BSN program at Unitek College in Reno, and she hope eventually to become a nurse practitioner.

Rebekah Volker, LPN

2022 Rural and Frontier Scholarship Recipient

Rebekah has been an LPN since 2014. She has lived in Pahrump since January, 2017, where she worked at the nursing home until accepting a job in hospice. She feels that hospice is her calling and has loved the work she does with this community. She gets to be a part of a very intimate part of people's lives while helping to support them and their families. Rebekah is currently a student at Great Basin College in the RN program. She plans to sit for her NCLEX in May, 2023. Her current goal is to finish her RN and show her six beautiful daughters that they can do anything that they set their hearts on. Her long-term goal is to become a Nurse Practitioner and work in her community.

Megan Herbst

2022 Arthur L. Davis Publishing Scholarship Recipient

Megan was born and raised in Reno and is a full-time nursing student at Unitek College in Reno pursuing her Bachelors of Science in Nursing. She expects to graduate in October of 2023. She is currently employed at Renown as a Critical Care Technician in the Trauma ICU. Megan is the current Northern Regional Director for the Nevada Nursing Student Association (NVNSA) and has dreamed of becoming a nurse for as long as she can remember. Megan plans to give back to the nursing community for many years to come, and she hopes to continue to make a difference in the lives of the patients she encounters and in the community for which she cares so deeply.

Gabrielle SuSong-Bennett, RN

2022 NNF Scholarship Recipient, MSN Program
2022 Optum Scholarship Recipient

Gabrielle has been a nurse since 2004, starting her career in the Emergency Department at University Hospital in Cleveland, OH. In 2007 she relocated to Las Vegas and had the pleasure of working at Spring Valley Hospital and Sunrise Hospital. In 2016 she started her current job with the team at Southwest Medical as a Nurse manager in Primary Care. In February, 2022, Gabrielle started her journey to pursue a Master’s in Nursing Informatics at Western Governors University. She chose this path because she wants to be part of the integration of healthcare and technology and the pursuit of providing efficient and quality care to all patients.

Bryan Rangel-Almanza

2022 Erick Christopherson Scholarship Recipient

Bryan lives in North Las Vega. He is currently unemployed and attending Nevada State College for his BSN, where he is currently in his fourth semester out of five. His hopes for accomplishments with his education is to work either in the ER or in the ICU in UMC once he graduates. After gaining some experience, Bryan ould like to join the military and serve as a military nurse. He also hopes to further his education after serving in the military and pursue a career as a CRNA or NP.

Amber Damitz, MA

2022 Optum Scholarship Recipient

Amber currently attends Nightingale College for her BSN in hopes of pursing her MSN shortly after. She works full full as a Medical Assistant at the Tenaya Urgent Care. She is a firm believer that a person's current situation in life doesn't determine outcomes unless allowed. She truly believes she was placed on Earth to help others and strives to work harder and help others in any way she can. Amber is a true patient advocate and recently experienced the passing of her son's father, partially due to the inability to pay for his seizure medication. She is committed to doing her life's best work by helping others.

Stacy Swenson, LPN

2022 Philippine Nurses Association Scholarship Recipient

Stacy currently lives in Reno, having moved from San Jose, CA, almost six years ago. She married a combat medic who served 30 years in the Army. She has worked as an LPN for the Department of Veterans Affairs for ten years now, starting her nursing career as a CNA. She is pursuing her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Nightingale College with an anticipated graduation in May of 2023. After graduation, Stacy is excited to continue her commitment to taking care of veterans in a new role at VA healthcare system. With scholarly achievement and commitment to excellence in nursing, Stacy became a member of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing in 2022 to continue to excel her hands-on experience and clinical skills.

Kyle Simon, BS, CNA

2021 NNF Scholarship Recipient, LPN Program

Kyle currently lives in Reno and is enrolled in the LPN program at Unitek College. He works as a CNA in the ICU at Carson-Tahoe Regional Medical Facility and has been there for just over a year now. His plan after graduation is to get his wound care certification, followed by continuing his nursing education, possibly becoming a nurse practitioner. Kyle currently has a bachelors degree in community health science. He states that he cannot wait to be able to help the community more as he progresses through his nursing career.

Juan Ramirez, LPN

2021 NNF Scholarship Recipient, LPN to RN Program

Juan currently works at the Horizon Health Rehabilitation Center in Las Vegas as a LPN. He is pursuing his Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Nightingale College and anticipates graduating in 2023. His interests include working in neuroscience, providing care to patients and participating in clinical studies.

Meron Teffera

2021 NNF Scholarship Recipient, BSN Program

Meron is from Las Vegas, Nevada. She is a full-time nursing student at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, with an expected graduation date of May, 2022. She also works part-time as a sales associate at Express. Upon graduation she hopes to become a labor and delivery nurse. In the future, Meron plans to continue her education to eventually obtain her DNP. She also aspires to some day travel to third world countries and provide aid in communities where health disparities exist.

Shelby Lee, RN, ASN

2021 NNF Scholarship Recipient, RN to BSN Program

Shelby works as an RN at Carson Tahoe Hospital on a surgical orthopedics floor. She acquired her Associates Degree of Nursing through Western Nevada College, and she is currently working on her BSN through Nevada State College. She was born and raised in Northern Nevada, and she enjoys being able to take care of her community. Shelby plans to continue her education past her BSN by acquiring further certifications to expand her scope and knowledge.

Brooklyn Butler, CNA

2021 Jessie J. Valentine Scholarship Recipient

Brooklyn currently works at Carson Tahoe Regional Medical Center as a Unit Clerk/CNA in the Surgical Orthopedic Unit. She is enrolled in Unitek College's BSN program, with an anticipated graduation in December of 2023. She plans to apply for an apprenticeship as soon as she is eligible. Brooklyn's ultimate goal is to become a Labor and Delivery nurse.

Christina "Chrissy" Scilacci, CNA

2021 NNF Scholarship Recipient, CNA to RN Program

Christina lives in Elko, Nevada, and is currently employed at Highland Manor as a Nurse Apprentice. She will be starting her second year of nursing school at Great Basin College, with a graduation date of June, 2022. She is also taking classes towards her BSN. Her areas of interest are geriatrics, mental health, and hospice. Christina hopes to continue her education, possibly getting her PMHNP, so she can give back to rural communities like her own where mental health services are so desperately needed.

Katie Snow, BS

2021 NNF Scholarship Recipient, BSN Program

Katie lives in Reno and works for Renown Regional Medical Center in the respiratory department. She holds a BS degree in biochemistry and molecular biology and is attending the Orvis School of Nursing at the University of Nevada Reno, with an anticipated graduation date in December, 2021, with a BSN. She believes that her education for her BSN has vastly improved the knowledge she can provide to her patients in the hospital. In addition to hospital care, Katie hopes to become involved in community health promotion in a nursing capacity and improve the quality of life for the clients of her community. Her future goals include continuing her education to obtain her DNP.

Chelsea Erickson

2021 Chamberlain University Scholarship Recipient

Chelsea is currently a senior at Chamberlain University of Las Vegas with an expected graduation date of August, 2022. She is the Vice President of the Student Government Association and Student Veterans Association. As the Vice President, she acts as an advocate and liaison between students and faculty. She is a peer mentor, which gives her the opportunity to mentor students who are just starting on their nursing school journey and are unsure of what to expect. Chelsae's motiviation includes her two children, who are one and two years of age. Upon graduation, she hopes to accept a position in the ER or ICU. Her professional nursing goals include working to the best of her ability, reaching her full potential, and delivering remarkable patient-centered care. Her long-term goal is to continue her education and attend CRNA school in order broaden her skill set.

Lisa Thayer, RN, BSN, ADN

2021 NNF Scholarship Recipient, MSN Program

Lisa grew up in Oakland, California, and now lives in Sparks, Nevada. She received her ADN from TMCC and her BSN from UNR. She is now pursuing her MSN from UNR. She has been a nurse in the oncology field for most of her career, starting on the oncology floor at Saint Mary's, then moving to Cancer Care Specialists, where she was an infusion room nurse, and now serving as an oncology nurse navigator at Carson Tahoe Cancer Center. Lisa loves the oncology field and hopes to continue as an APRN in oncology upon completion of her MSN. Lisa has been nominated for a Northern Nevada Nurse of Achievement Award six times, both as an outpatient and inpatient nurse.

Ron Gonzalezi, MS, MSN, RN

2021 NNF Scholarship Recipient, Doctorate Program

Ron is originally from Philadelphia, but now calls Nevada home. He lives in Las Vegas and currently teaches full time as a professor for the College of Southern Nevada's Associate Degree Nursing Program. He has been a registered nurse for 29 years, and his background ranges from medical/surgical, operating room, emergency/trauma, and nursing administration. He obtained his Master's in Healthcare Administration in 2006 and his Master's in Nursing in 2008. Ron truly enjoys educating and helping influence future nurses by sharing his knowledge and experiences with future generations of healthcare workers. He volunteers for a variety of community and professional organizations, and he mentors students from other colleges and universities pursuing graduate-level nursing education. He is currently enrolled in the Doctor of Nursing Practice Program at Touro University Nevada. After graduation, Ron would like to continue with his passions by providing leadership in both education and clinical practice for all Nevadans.

Cheryl Moreno

2021 Philippine Nurses Association Scholarship Recipient

Cheryl has lived in Henderson, Nevada, for the last 20 years. She is currently pursuing her BSN at Nevada State College, and her expected graduation date is December, 2022. Cheryl hopes to eventually become a labor and delivery nurse, but is open minded to other areas of nursing. She truly believes that nurses make a difference in their patients' lives by being kind, caring, and supportive, and she feels that becoming an RN is her calling in life.

Brian Dankowski, MS, RN, BSN, ADN

2021 NNA District 1 Scholarship Recipient

Brian is a nursing professor for Great Basin College (GBC), where he teaches first-year nursing students. He earned his Associate of Applied Science in Nursing (ADN) and Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from Great Basin College. He also holds a Master of Science in Nursing Education from the University of Nevada, Reno. He graduated at the top of his class, receiving the Deans Award for the highest GPA for all master's programs. Brian is currently enrolled in the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Clinical Nurse Educator track at the University of Nevada, Reno. He hopes to complete a bridge program through the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, to earn a Ph.D. He is passionate about nursing, nursing education, and improving care for vulnerable populations, with a focus on improving nursing care and patient outcomes for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual (LGBTQIA+) population in Nevada.

Dawn Sheldon

2021 NNF Scholarship Recipient, LPN Program

Dawn is a full-time LPN student at Unitek College with an expected graduation date of March, 2022. For the last 9 years she has been a Dental Assistant, enjoying the ability to help people meet their health goals so that they may improve their quality of life. While raising her three boys, who are her motivation to succeed, she volunteers in the community by helping coach her children's various sporting activities. After she graduates, her ambition is to continue her education by earning her BSN and eventually her MSN. Once she has earned her BSN, Dawn sees herself being a valuable asset to the healthcare industry, while working in the ER, ICU, or Labor and Delivery.

Katrina Mesias, CNA

2021 NNF Scholarship Recipient, CNA to RN Program

Katrina is a Nevada resident currently employed with Saint Mary's Regional Center as an Oncology certified nurse assistant. She previously worked for a skilled nursing facility and has worked as a CNA for five years. She is enrolled at Truckee Meadows Community College and working on her pre-nursing courses. Katrina plans to apply to a nursing program by the fall of 2022 and is working hard to pursue her career as a Registered Nurse.

Larissa Diaz

2021 NNF Scholarship Recipient, LPN to RN Program

Larissa is a full time student at College of Southern Nevada in the LPN to RN bridge program. Expected graduation date is December, 2022. For the last 10 years she has worked as LPN. She enjoys helping people through wound care, hospice, and home health services. Nursing is truly Larissa's passion, and she is excited to continue her education to a BSN and MSN. Her goal is to be a wound specialist. She is looking forward to becoming a RN and continuing to help the community.

Rebecca Paulson

2021 NNF Scholarship Recipient, BSN Program

Rebecca has lived in the Reno area for 25 years. She is attending the Orvis School of Nursing at the University of Nevada, Reno with an expected graduation date of December, 2022. She has completed her Certificate in Gerontology from the Sanford Center for Aging, and upon graduation with her BSN plans to provide compassionate and quality geriatric care for older adults in the Reno/Sparks community.

Hannah Kohler, CEN, RN, BSN, ADN

2021 NNF Scholarship Recipient, Doctorate Program

Hannah obtained both her associate's and bachelor's degrees in nursing through Great Basin College in Elko, Nevada. She has worked as a nurse since 2013 in her hometown of Winnemucca, Nevada. Throughout her nursing career, she has worked predominantly in the Emergency Department at Humboldt General Hospital. She also worked previously for Med X Air One as a critical care flight nurse. Growing up as a rural Nevadan, the community, people, and friendships hold a special place in her heart. When Hannah made the decision to go back to school for an Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Doctoral degree at UNR, it was with the thought and hope to go back and support the community that has so strongly supported her throughout her career and educational endeavors. She looks forward to graduating in the spring and all of the opportunities to come.

Jay Brownson, MSN, RN, PCCN, CNML

2021 Renown RMC Scholarship Recipient

Jay has lived in Reno for 30 years. He graduated with an ADN from Carrington College, Reno, and his BSN and MSN in education from WGU. He currently works as a nursing professor for 5th semester students at Carrington College and as a house supervisor at Renown South Meadows. Jay is attending UNR for his DNP in nursing leadership and nurse executive. He hopes to continue making a difference in nursing education and to create a better environment for those members of the LGBTQIA+ and minority communities. He would like to thank Renown so much for contributing to the scholarship funds for nurses through the NNF. "It is truly amazing all that Renown continues to do for our nurses and nursing community. Thank you for helping me to continue with my education."

Jessica Lynch, MSN, RN

2021 Rural and Frontier Scholarship Recipient

Jessica earned her associate's and bachelor's degrees in nursing from Great Basin College and a master's degree in nursing with an emphasis on nursing leadership from Western Governors University. She is currently enrolled at the University of Nevada Reno, working toward her Doctorate of Nursing with an emphasis on clinical education leadership. Jessica is a nurse educator at Great Basin College, teaching in both the associates and bachelors programs of nursing. She has also worked as an ER nurse for the entire duration of her career. She is passionate about improving patient outcomes by decreasing mortality in trauma patients in rural communities, and she hopes to make this the basis of her doctorate project. She plans to use this degree to influence positive change within her healthcare community.

Brenda Delgado, FNP, APRN, MSN, BSN

2021 WRAPNN Scholarship Recipient

Brenda is a board certified family nurse practitioner who resides in Las Vegas, Nevada. As a family nurse practitioner, she has worked in internal medicine and family practice, primarily with underserved communities. She also works as a clinical instructor for the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing and her Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Brenda is currently enrolled in the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Clinical Nurse Educator program at the University of Nevada, Reno. Her DNP project is focused on creating a transitional care pathway for uninsured diabetics that will transition them safely from their hospital discharge to a medical home in the Northern Nevada community. She is passionate about increasing access to healthcare for vulnerable populations in Nevada. After graduation, she is committed to continuing to advocate for underserved populations and to continue to provide support, guidance, and mentorship to the next generations of nurses. She would like to thank WRAPPN for sponsoring her scholarship.

Allyson Miller, BS

2021 High Sierra Behavioral Health Scholarship Recipient

Allyson is currently a second year nursing student at Great Basin College in Winnemucca, NV. She received her Bachelor's in Health Science at Boise State University, graduating in 2018. Her interest in healthcare started when she was a young child; she grew up racing motocross and had a lot of healthcare experience on the patient side, and as a result became fascinated with healthcare and the human body. When she is not busy with academics, Allyson works at a veterinarian clinic as an assistant and at the hospital as a nurse apprentice. When she is not working she enjoys being outside, playing with her dog, reading a good book, and researching ways that she can further impact the nursing field as she progresses in her career. Her long-term goal is to receive her Doctorate of Nursing Practice and open a clinic of her own.

Cailin Holt

2021 Saint Mary's Scholarship Recipient

Cailin's healthcare career began in 2018 when she decided being a graphic designer was not filling her life with enough significance. She decided that peoples' lives are literally all that matter in this lifetime on earth, so she quit her job as marketing designer at a mortgage company and became a Patient Safety Advocate at Saint Mary's Regional Medical Center in Reno. Her work badges have progressed from volunteer to Patient Safety Advocate to Patient Care Tech. Her RN badge will be hooked onto her scrubs in 2022 once she graduates from TMCC. Cailin considers her work an honor to take care of humans when they need the extra love and support. She wants to make a positive difference in her patients' lives and light a fire in their hearts by always being kind and compassionate in her care.

Leilani Ferrer, RN, MBA, BSN

2021 Greg Peistrup Scholarship Recipient

Leilani was born and raised in the Philippines and migrated to the US in 1995 at eighteen. She graduated with a BSN from UNLV in 2000 and obtained her MBA in 2007. She has worked in the ER for most of her career, but has also worked in MedSurg (1 year), Critical Care (4 years), and even did a bit of teaching for what used to be the University of Southern Nevada (now Roseman University). She postponed further graduate studies for fifteen years after getting married and having kids (a set of twin boys who are currently seven). Leilani developed an interest in psychiatric nursing and was accepted into the UNLV Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Program. She plans to work locally when she completes the program to help the community that she has served over the last twenty years. She states, "I feel a great honor to receive a scholarship from a colleague, Greg Peistrup! I worked with him briefly and respected him tremendously."

Maria Wilcox, RN, OCN

2021 Jessie J. Valentine Scholarship Recipient

Maria lives in Dayton, Nevada, with her husband Randall and daughter Ayisha. She began her career working as a nursing assistant at Saint Mary's in 2003, and after graduating from Carrington College in 2010, moved to Saint Mary's Oncology department. After thirteen years of working in Reno, she transitioned to outpatient Oncology nursing at Carson Tahoe hospital, which is closer to her hometown. She moved to the Carson Tahoe Cancer Center in August of 2017. She obtained her Oncology Certified Nurse certification and has held positions as RN Supervisor and Nurse Manager. She is now collaborating with leadership at the Cancer Center to provide support to outpatient oncology nurses who provide infusion services to patients in the Carson City community and all of the outlying rural areas. In 2011, Maria received the Northern Nevada Rookie of the Year award for Saint Mary's Regional Medical Center organization. She is a member of the Sierra Nevada Chapter Oncology Nursing Society, Nevada Nurses Association, and American Nurses Association. She is currently working on her Bachelor's degree at Nevada State College, with plans to pursue her Master's Degree in the near future.

Erin Pate, MSN, RN

2021 Arthur L. Davis Publishing Scholarship Recipient

Erin started her career as a Critical Care Nurse in 2009 after serving on active duty in the United States Air Force. She wanted to continue serving Veterans and to work for the Department of Veterans Affairs, leading to a move to Northern Nevada in 2012. Erin found an interest in improving nursing leadership, prompting her to pursue a Masters in Nursing – Leadership and Administration from Ball State University in 2015. Desiring to better serve nurses and patients, support evidence-based practice, and nurse-led quality improvements, Erin applied for the Doctorate in Nursing program at University of Nevada Reno. Her focus has been on assisting nurses to overcome barriers to provide care for patients with a diagnosis of serious mental illness. Erin continues to serve in the United States Air Force as a nurse and is a wife and mom of two beautiful daughters.

Kira Ballinger

2021 Philippine Nurses Association Scholarship Recipient

Kira has lived in Elko, Nevada, for about 8 years. She has always known she wanted to get into healthcare, and she chose nursing as a career a couple of years after she graduated high school. Kira is a nursing student at Great Basin Community College pursuing an Associate's degree in nursing, having fun learning about things she is interested in as well as helping others. She plans to graduate in May of 2023.

Alyse Stern, RN, ADN

2021 NNF Scholarship Recipient, RN to BSN Program

Alyse is a registered nurse who currently lives in Battle Mountain, Nevada, and works at Battle Mountain General Hospital. She obtained her ADN through Great Basin College (GBC) in Elko, Nevada. She is attending GBC and the University of Nevada Reno to get her BSN and work toward her MSN. She is enrolled in a pathway program that allows for both BSN and MSN classes to be taken at the same time. Alyse hopes to become a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner and pursue the dream she has had since she was a kid. She wants to make a difference in rural areas and be a good healthcare provider for those that may not have adequate healthcare in their towns.

Meagan Parsons, RN, BSN

2021 NNF Scholarship Recipient, MSN Program

Meagan currently works as an emergency room nurse at the North Las Vegas VA Hospital. She received her BSN at Texas State University in 2017 and moved to Las Vegas in 2019. She fell in love with Vegas and still is. After moving here, she knew that UNLV had a lot to offer, and she is now a graduate student at UNLV in the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program. Meagan plans to work within the Clark county community after graduation. She states that she is excited both for her career and to be a part of this rapidly growing field.

Wendy Merchant, MSN-Ed,CNS,RN

2020 NNF Scholarship Recipient

Wendy has been a nurse for 20 years, begining her nursing career in Nevada after obtaining her undergraduate degree from Orvis School of Nursing, Reno. In 2005, she earned a dual master's degree at Pacific Lutheran University in Nursing Education and as a Clinical Nurse Specialist for the older adult. She has held a variety of nursing positions from leadership to staff. Wendy is currently the Executive Director of Academic Operations for Arizona College, Las Vegas. She is pursuing a doctoral degree in an area that will further her passion for nursing education. She has been a nurse in Nevada for the greater majority of her career, and she looks forward to doing her part to help nursing in Nevada grow and develop to meet the needs of the communities.

Nicole Cabrera-Heiring, BSN, RN, CLC

2020 NNF Scholarship Recipient

Nicole received two undergraduate degrees, a bachelor's in Spanish and a bachelor’s in nursing, from Minnesota State University, Mankato (MSU), where she graduated with honors. She currently lives in Las Vegas. She has worked in the neonatal intensive care unit for 15 years at Summerlin Hospital Medical Center as a level 3 registered nurse. Nicole is currently pursuing a master's degree in nursing in the family nurse practitioner track at Chamberlain University, with an anticipated graduation date of December, 2020. She is a Certified Lactation Counselor who supports new moms with breastfeeding, and she is a member of the Southern Nevada Breastfeeding Coalition. She is also a member of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners and the Nevada Advanced Practice Nurses Association. Nicole volunteers at Volunteers in Medicine of Southern Nevada and for the Remote Area Medical. As a bilingual nurse and a certified medical interpreter, she is able to provide culturally and linguistically appropriate care to the Hispanic community. She hopes to continue to provide patient-focused care, exercise leadership skills, and act as an example for future nurses to pursue their educational aspirations.

Anna Maria Holder, CCMA, BS

2020 NNF Scholarship Recipient

Nursing is a second career for Anna. She has a BS in Business Management and a MA in Communication, and she worked in the hospitality industry for 14 years. She is re-careering for a bright future in nursing. Anna is currently in the nursing program at Carrington College in Reno and will be graduating in October 2020 with her RN. She plans to enroll in an RN to MSN program after graduation. Anna has worked as a Certified Clinical Medical Assistant at Saint Mary's and Carson Tahoe. She was a volunteer at Renown's Cancer Resource Center, where she met many patients and their families whom she credits with inspiring her to pursue nursing in pediatric oncology. Anna says that working with patients and actively engaging with them to improve their health feeds her soul and fuels her passion for nursing. She is planning to serve as a volunteer on a mission with a nursing group to either Guatemala or South Africa later in 2020, depending on how long the COVID-19 precautions/quarantine last.

Masha Zelenin, RN

2020 Jessie J. Valentine Scholarship Recipient

Masha started working in Renown Regional six years ago as a phlebotomist. One year later she moved to the Emergency Department as an ED Tech and at the same time started nursing school. After graduation she worked as a Neurosurgery RN at Renown, and then as an ICU RN in Carson Tahoe Medical Center. Masha is currently in her last semester of the BSN program at WGU, and she plans to enter the MSN program in September.

Yolanda Gardner, RN, ASN

2020 NNF Scholarship Recipient

Yolanda graduated from Great Basin College in 2019 with an Associate degree in Nursing. She is currently employed at Humboldt General Hospital as an emergency room nurse. She is working to obtain her Bachelor's degree and will graduate in the summer of 2020. She plans to continue working at Humboldt General Hospital after graduation to give back to the organizations and individuals that have supported her through her studies. Yolanda's ultimate goal is to become a FNP, which will allow her to provide specialized care and help her community. Being a nurse has given her the opportunity to be a positive role model in her community and to her children. Yolanda is a firm believer that you should do the one thing that causes you joy and allows you to give back to someone else in a positive way; nursing is her joy and her way of giving back.

Casey Pruyt, CNA, AA

2020 NNF Scholarship Recipient

Casey is a lifelong Nevada resident. She resides in Carson City and will pursue her RN at Western Nevada College in the fall of 2020. With previous experience working in plastic surgery practices, she is interested in surgical nursing. Currently, Casey is actively involved with Washoe Tribe Head Start as a volunteer teacher and Parent Committee fundraising specialist. She holds an AA from the College of Southern Nevada.

Carrie Hintz, DNP, RN, CEN, CNML

2020 NNF Scholarship Recipient, Doctorate Program

Dr. Carrie Hintz is currently an Assistant Professor, as well as the Post Masters DNP Program at the Orvis School of Nursing. She graduated from Great Basin College with an associate degree in nursing, and completed her BSN at Washington State University. Carrie graduated with her MSN in Nursing and Healthcare Leadership at Duke University, and completed her Doctor of Nursing Practice at the University of Nevada, Reno. She is currently enrolled in a DNP to PhD program at Duquesne University in Pittsburg, where she hopes to focus her research on the prevalence of law enforcement suicide in the U.S. Dr. Hintz is very passionate about interdisciplinary education and collaboration, and she has presented on the cultural considerations of mental health awareness and crisis intervention to various public service agencies. Dedicated to academic and professional service, Carrie serves as a President of the Sigma Theta Tau, Nursing Honor Society – Nu Iota Chapter. She also serves on the University of Nevada, Reno Academic Integrity and Student Conduct Board and Faculty Senate Executive Board, as well as on the Nevada Nurses Association Legislative Committee.

Angel Jackson, MSN, RN

2020 Pat Alfonso Scholarship Recipient

Angel has been living in Reno Nevada for 8 years, working in medical and geriatric nursing the first 4 years and now as Director of Nursing in behavioral health.  In 2019, she  graduated from University of Phoenix with a dual master's degree in nursing and health administration. She is currently pursuing a FNP degree at UOP, with an anticipated graduation date in the summer of 2022. As she furthers her profession in the medical field, Angel's plan is to work with other nurses and professional practitioners to help increase patients' access to quality healthcare, especially in the areas of health and wellness, cultural and age disparity, and to provide increased direct care to our community needs. As a FNP, she hopes to be a legislative advocate and voice for all those who do not have their voices heard.  Her passion and goal is to touch all lives no matter the income, race, color, or culture, and to truly make a difference by building trust, enhancing collaboration, bringing hope to families, and saving lives within our community. 

Sheri Park, RN

2020 NNF Scholarship Recipient, RN to BSN Program

Sheri started her healthcare career over 20 years ago at South Lyon Medical Center as a Certified Nursing Assistant. She has worked in various hospitals all over Nevada, holding different positions ranging from a unit clerk to her current position as a house supervisor at Saint Mary's Regional Medical Center. She completed her associates degree in nursing at Carrington College in 2012. She is currently enrolled at Capella University for an accelerated RN to MSN program. Sheri hopes to earn her bachelors in December, 2020, and finish masters degree in September, 2021. She has been a nursing leader for over 6 years and loves the difference she can make with patients and peers. She was a board member for Safe Kids of Washoe County, participated on many different community coalitions, and helped shape many different programs at Saint Mary's. Sheri recently helped develop and institute a program called Care 24 which offers psychological first aid for healthcare workers. She hopes that by finishing her degree she can make a bigger impact on healthcare and the nursing profession.

Taylor Tracy, CNA

2020 NNF Scholarship Recipient, CNA to RN Program

Taylor Tracy currently lives in Pahrump, Nevada, where he is employed at Desert View Hospital as a CNA. He is currently attending Great Basin College in the ADN program and is on track to graduate in May of 2022. He plans to continue his nursing education to Bachelor's and Master's degrees following graduation. He loves serving others and looks forward to the opportunity to do so as a Registered Nurse.

Nikki Stone

2020 NNF Scholarship Recipient, BSN Program

Nikki was born and raised in Reno and is attending the University of Nevada, Reno Orvis School of Nursing. She currently works at Bath and Body Works as a full-time supervisor. She will be graduating in May of 2021 and would love to go into the pediatric field. After a couple years as a pediatric nurse, she will be going back to school to obtain her DNP to become a family nurse practitioner.

Jaimie Robinson, CNA

2020 NNF Scholarship Recipient, CNA to RN Program

Jaimie is originally from the Pacific Northwest and currently resides in Las Vegas. She is attending College of Southern Nevada as a Nursing AAS major, with an anticipated graduation in the spring of 2022. She currently works as a CNA for Harmon Hospital and EverCare health services. She hopes to obtain a BSN and continuing her education in a nursing specialty after gaining experience working as a nurse. Jaimie hopes to be part of someone's miracle every day as a nurse.

Sonya Cress-Thornton

2020 NNF Scholarship Recipient, LPN to RN Program

Sonya was raised in California on her grandmother's farm. She has lived in Southern California and Las Vegas since the age of 11 when part of her family moved to Las Vegas. She decided to make Las Vegas her permanent residence in 2010 and to work in home healthcare, returning to school at the College of Southern Nevada to become a CNA. A few short years later she continued her education at CSN to become an LPN. After taking some time off to spend with her husband and children and workiing for CCSD as a FASA in the health office, Sonya decided to continue her education at NSC where she participates in the NSC Student Nursing Association. In the spring of 2020, she earned her Associate's Degree in Science at CSN, and she will graduate in December, 2020, with a Bachelor's Degree in Nursing. She plans to work at an area hospital with an interest in IMC, ICU, and Cardiac Cath Lab. Her future plans include pursuing a master’s degree to become a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA). She states, "Perseverance pays off, no matter how long it takes."

Darlene Salvo, MSHI, RN, BSN

2020 Leadership Certificate Scholarship Recipient

Darlene is an Orvis graduate with her BSN in Nursing and has been a practicing RN since 2002. During that time, she has had opportunities to test the waters of clinical practice in Med/Surg, Ortho, Home Health, Urgent Care and Behavioral health. She continued her education by obtaining a Masters of Health Informatics from Walden university in 2012. Darlene's time spent as clinical faculty for the Orvis School of nursing impressed upon her the joy of paying it forward and providing mentorship to students. She has been active in the Nevada Nurses Association, currently holding the positions of NNA Assistant Director of Operations and District 1 President. She has been on the NNF Advisory Board since 2015 and has provided entertainment direction for several fundraising events. She also volunteers with the Carson City Health Department's COVID Response Team. Darlene currently resides in the beautiful Carson Valley with her husband and (feisty) 96 year old mother.

Iris Martinez

2020 Arthur L. Davis Scholarship Recipient

Iris resides in North Las Vegas and attends UNLV School of Nursing, scheduled to graduate in May of 2021 with her BSN. She is the current President of the Nevada Nursing Student Association and a volunteer for the Medical Reserve Corps of Southern Nevada. She hopes to work with the geriatric population, and lately she has become enamored with the Cardiovascular Care unit. Her inspiration for nursing stems from watching her grandpa struggle with his illnesses and his nurses being incredibly kind and helpful to him and her family. She wants to provide the same care and kindness to patients and families as those nurses did for her grandpa. She plans to volunteer as a nurse in community organizations that focus on ending homelessness and serving the minority population. Iris also hopes to travel to third world countries providing medical aid and education. She loves being able to help people, whether volunteering, changing socks, or educating on diet and exercise. She believes that it's the idea that someone is caring for a patient with the utmost kindness and respect that makes the patient feel well again.

Lia Harris, RN

2020 NNF Scholarship Recipient, MSN Program

Lia is a Las Vegas native and is still a resident of Las Vegas. She is a registered nurse with 5 years of experience and has worked in various departments with mostly medical-surgical patients. She currently attends Touro University Nevada as a graduate student studying for her MSN degree with concentration in family nurse practitioner (FNP). She hopes to continue her education so that she can help in her community in the role as a family nurse practitioner and as a leader to advocate for healthcare improvement.

Jaimee Garcia

2020 Philippine Nurses Association Scholarship Recipient

Jaimee is currently a full-time student at the College of Southern Nevada in the ADN program. She is a founding member and current President of AAPINA-CSN, SNA (Asian American Pacific Islander Nurses Association – College of Southern Nevada, Student Nurses Association) and Interim Treasurer for AAPINA of Nevada. She helped organize the "#CSNAAPINARELIEF" fund to give back to the medical frontliners in the Las Vegas community. She is set to graduate in May of 2021 and is planning to continue her education to obtain her BSN and eventually DNP. Her love and passion in serving others are catalysts to her nursing career. She states, "The main mission and purpose of my life is creating footprints of inspiration and to be a beacon of light to help others fulfill their mission and purpose in life."

Charloth V. Aquino, RN

2020 Debra and John Scott Scholarship Recipient

Charloth is originally from Peru and moved to the US when she was 17 years old, living in Elko ever since. She attended GBC where she received her ADN and BSN in Nursing in 2017 and 2019, respectively. She has worked at Highland Village of Elko as an Infection Control nurse since January, 2020, right when the COVID pandemic started. She is currently pursing her DNP in PMHNP at UNR. She is enjoying the program as she is fascinated with learning about mental health illness and how we can treat patients by addressing their physical health without separating out mental health issues. Nursing is Charloth's true passion and calling, and she enjoys patient care as much as learning every day.

Stephannie McGilvrey, RN

2020 Rural and Frontier Scholarship Recipient

Stephanie was born and raised in Nevada and has lived the majority of her life in Humboldt County. After serving eight years in the United States Air Force, she returned home to Winnemucca in 2013 and worked at Humboldt General as a medical assistant. She obtained her national EMT certification in 2014. Stephanie worked with Humboldt General EMS for 5 years and obtained her certification as an Advanced EMT. During this time, she realized she loved working in emergency medicine and decided to pursue a career in nursing. She graduated with her ADN in 2019, and she is attending Great Basin College with the hopes of achieving her BSN by August 2021. She currently works in the emergency department for Humboldt General as a full-time registered nurse. Education has always been an important part of her life, and she hopes one day to return the favor and teach from her experiences.

Hannah Kohler, CEN, RN, BSN, ADN

2020 NNA Scholarship Recipient

Hannah has resided in rural northern Nevada (Winnemucca) for the majority of her life. Currently she is employed as a charge nurse in the Emergency Department at Humboldt General Hospital, as well as working per diem for the hospital's integrated flight service, Med X Air One. She is currently attending graduate school at the University of Nevada Reno to obtain her doctoral degree in Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP. She anticipates graduating in the spring of 2022. By pursuing this degree, Hannah hopes to be able to provide quality care and resources to Nevada communities.

Nicole Fernandez, RN, BSN

2020 Optum Scholarship Recipient

Nicole was raised in Southern California and currently resides in Henderson, Nevada. She is currently employed as a Nurse Administrator for Southwest Medical Part of OptumCare overseeing an adult medicine team and the residency program. She has worked with Southwest Medical for 14 years. Nicole has almost 20 years of nursing experience and has worked in various hospitals, clinics, rehab facilities, and surgery centers throughout California and Nevada. She completed her BSN at the UNLV School of Nursing, and she is currently attending Western Governors University for her Masters in Health Leadership. Her anticipated graduation date is October, 2022. Nicole plans to continue working at Southwest Medical, improve her leadership skills, and help provide new and innovative ways to care for her community.

Michael John Fulgencio, RN

2020 Sandy Klepzig Scholarship Recipient

Michael's home base is Las Vegas. He worked at Spring Valley ICU for three and a half years. He is now working as a travel nurse, including a stint in March, 2020, in New York helping with the COVID outbreak there, and most recently working in Seattle. After seeing how Nurse Practioners made a difference in New York, he decided to become an NP. He is currently working towards his BSN at Nevada State College.

Natalie Edran

2020 Philippine Nurses Association Scholarship Recipient

Natalie is in the UNLV BSN program, where her anticipated graduation date is May, 2021. She hopes to work at an IMC unit to gain experience for the first few years, and then hopefully work in an ER. In her nursing career, Natalie would also like to try working in labor and delivery. Eventually she would like to continue her education by getting a DNP. She is looking forward to getting into the real world and helping as many people as she can.

Mariah Miles

2019 NNF Scholarship Recipient

Mariah started her career in the medical field as a medic in the Nevada Air Force National Guard, and continues to serve. She also works in the Renown Emergency Room as an ER trauma tech where she became familiar with the gaps in healthcare in the community. She hopes to leverage nursing to advocate for accessible health care and community education. She will be graduating from Orvis School of Nursing in December, 2019.

Jessica Slabaugh, CNA

2019 Praus & Choe
Scholarship Recipient

Jessica is a nursing student in the College of Southern Nevada's ADN program in Las Vegas. She currently works for Southwest Medical Hospice as a CNA. When she is not enveloped in nursing textbooks and assignments, she enjoys pursuing activities, such as sports (especially soccer), hiking, and various forms of art, especially acrylic painting. Jessica plans to graduate in the spring of 2020 and cannot wait to begin her career as a registered nurse. Her long-term plans include additional education to eventually be licensed as a nurse practitioner.

Marcy Matys, LPN

2019 NNF Scholarship Recipient

Marcy lives in Elko and works at Highland Manor as a LPN. She attends Great Basin College, where she is currently working on her pre-reqs for the RN program, from which she plans to graduate in 2022. Marcy currently works with geriatrics and would like to either continue in this field or work in the ER.

Mailo Brantner, APRN

2019 NNF Scholarship Recipient

Mailo currently lives in Henderson, Nevada, where she is a family nurse practitioner and works in primary care with P3 Medical Group. She is attending the University of Nevada, Las Vegas for her doctorate of nursing practice (DNP) program, with an anticipated graduation date of May, 2020. Mailo's DNP project will be involve implementing the Shared Medical Appointment (SMA) in one of the primary care clinics where she currently works to help manage type 2 diabetes in older adults. SMAs are group visits lasting 90-120 minutes led by a health care professional and are designed to address numerous healthcare challenges, including an aging population with chronic conditions, a congested healthcare system, insufficient time allowed for primary care providers to provide in-depth discussion and education for their patients' conditions, and shortages of PCPs, endrocrinologists, and diabetes educators. SMAs provide the opportunity to discuss such topics as lifestyle changes in a setting where all individuals present have the same chronic condition, as well as avoiding the need for providers to repeat the same information over and over during the day.

Linda Rittenburg, RN, BSN

2019 Optum Scholarship

Linda received her diploma in nursing from St. Elizabeth Hospital School of Nursing in Youngstown, Ohio, in 1992 and her BSN from Grand Canyon University in 2015. She is currently pursuing a Masters in Nursing Education at Grand Canyon University, with an anticipated graduation in the summer of 2020. She is the RN Director of Specialty Care at Southwest Medical/Optum in Las Vegas, including oversight of all specialty areas including Cardiology, Endocrinology, Rheumatology, Gastroenterology, Podiatry, Neurology, and Interventional Pain Management. Linda is a member of the Board of Directors for the Las Vegas American Heart and Stroke Association and a member of the United Healthcare Center for Clinician Advancement Advisory Council. She also serves on the Nomination Committee for the March of Dimes Nurse of the Year and is the Local Event Director for the "Get Your Rear In Gear 5K Walk/Run" to promote awareness for colon cancer screening. She is excited to have the future opportunity to educate, lead, and influence the future Nurses of Nevada.

Shaheen Ahmad, RN, BSN, ADN

2019 NNF Scholarship Recipient

Shaheen was born and raised in Lahore, Pakistan, and has been a nurse for over 20 years. After immigrating to United States in 1992, she earned an Associate of Nursing Degree from the College of Southern Nevada in 1997 and a BSN from Grand Canyon University in 2011. She is currently in the PMHNP program at UNR pursuing her MSN. After graduating in spring, 2020, she plans to work with adolescents with addiction and psychiatric disorders. In addition, in a previous job Shaheen had the opportunity to work with nurses with substance use disorder (SUD), and she would like to work with the Nevada State Board of Nursing and nurses across Nevada to promote awareness and interventions to help nurses with SUD. In her free time she sews, reads, and travels to a wide range of foreign countries with her kids.

Cammi Whitaker, CNA

2019 NNF Scholarship Recipient

Cammi is a student at Western Nevada College in the rural outreach program in Fallon, NV, where she currently resides. She is going into her second year for an Associate of Applied Science Registered Nurse program and will be graduating in the spring of 2020. Cammi started her medical career at a rural hospital in the med/surg department, then transferred to the Emergency Department at Banner Churchill Community Hospital where she works as an ED tech. Her long-term goal is to further her education and eventually earn her Bachelors of Science in Nursing.

Angie Davenport, RN, BS

2019 NNF Scholarship Recipient
2019 Optum Scholarship

Angie lives in Henderson, Nevada, and has been employed at Southwest Medical (part of Optumcare) for 9 years. She currently works as RN Manager of Neurology, Endocrinology, and Rheumatology outpatient clinics. She is attending Grand Canyon University in the MSN with an Emphasis in Leadership in Health Care Systems program. Her anticipated graduation date is spring, 2020. Angie looks forward to applying her knowledge toward better health outcomes for patients.

Christina (Truxal) Scilacci, CNA

2019 Rural Scholarship Recipient

Christina is currently a CNA for Highland Manor in Elko, NV, in the rehab unit. She is currently enrolled at Great Basin College and finishing her prerequisites for the nursing program. Her estimated graduation in the RN program is 2022. Her future educational plans include obtaining at least a BSN. She is interested in the fields of mental health and OB. These very different departments both hold a place in her heart for different reasons.

Kathy Goldsworthy, RN

2019 Orvis School of Nursing FNP Scholarship Recipient

Kathy is enrolled in the BSN to DNP-Family nurse practitioner program at UNR. She works for Comagine Health (formerly Health Insight) on a CMS demonstration project to reduce potentially avoidable hospitaliza-tions in the long-term care population. She will graduate in May, 2020, and plans to remain in northern Nevada as a primary care provider with a focus on wellness and integrative medicine.

Jessica Roncal

2019 NNF Scholarship Recipient

Jessica lives in Las Vegas and is a student in the CNA program at the College of Southern Nevada. On the side, She is finishing her prerequisites for the nursing program. She is a volunteer at Sunrise Hospital where she helps with transport to MIU. As a short-term goal, Jessica would like to be a CNA for a skilled nursing facility. After graduation in spring, 2022, she plans to become an RN. She aspires to work in the MIU focusing on mothers and their babies. Jessica eventually plans to get her bachelors in nursing.

Aleisha Wellman, CNA

2019 NNF Scholarship Recipient

Aleisha is a nursing student at Nevada State College BSN program, to graduate in May, 2022. She was born and raised in Las Vegas and has been a CNA for 11 years. She currently works at Valley Hospital Medical Center. Aleisha participates on the Nevada State Nursing Student Association board and the Nevada State College Student Nursing Association board. She plans to continue volunteering through Nevada Nurses Foundation. As a future nurse she is interested in wound care, burn unit, OR, and ICU fields, and eventually in educating new nurses. Although she is not sure which interesting field her path will lead her to, she is looking forward to the journey.

Julio Islas, RN

2019 Jessie J. Valentine Scholarship Recipient

Julio is a Nevada resident currently employed at Carson Tahoe Regional Center. He worked as an EMT in Tahoe-Truckee Area while obtaining his Associate's Degree in nursing. He is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing from University of Nevada, Reno. Julio intends to graduate in June of 2020, and he is planning continue his education with a Masters in Nursing.

Heather Shawcross

2019 Kurt Patterson Scholarship Grant Recipient

Heather is currently attending the University of Nevada Las Vegas nursing program, and she will be graduating with her BSN in the summer of 2020. She worked as an EMT for a 911 ambulance company where she grew a love for the medical field. Her goal is become a trauma nurse with a long-term goal of becoming a flight nurse. Heather also plans to put her paralegal certificate to use in healthcare policies. She is currently serving as the president for the Nevada Nursing Student Association.

Andrea Tarver, LPN

2019 NNF Scholarship Recipient

Andrea was born and raised in San Francisco, and she has been in the healthcare field for 14 years. She became licensed as a practical nurse in 2015 and soon after started her journey to attain her license as a registered nurse. Andrea is currently enrolled in the ADN Bridge program at CSN in Las Vegas and plans to graduate in the fall of 2020. Her long-term goal is to earn her master's degree.

Maria Lauren C. Doyle,
BSBA, BSN, RN-BC

2019 AL Davis Publishing Scholarship Recipient

Maria lives in the northwest area of Clark County, currently employed by the Veterans Health Administration of Southern Nevada Health Care System as a Registered Nurse in the Outpatient Mental Health department for homeless Veterans and their families. She will be graduating in fall 2021 with a Master's Degree in Nursing – Family Nurse Practitioner. Maria hopes to continue providing high-quality and patient-centered care for the underserved population.

Sherry L. Stofko, MSN-Ed,
RN, CEN, CPEN, CMSRN

2019 Leadership Certificate Scholarship Recipient

Sherry graduated from Penn State University with distinction in 1996. After gaining experience as a telemetry and critical care float pool nurse, she worked as a traveling nurse for nearly ten years in step-down units and emergency departments, eventually settling in the Reno-Tahoe area. Sherry began her journey in clinical education as a preceptor and quickly realized her strong inclination and passion for nursing. She currently works as a clinical educator in Reno, where she manages nursing orientation, a med-surg fellowship, and a clinical ladder program. Sherry graduated in March, 2019, with a Master's of Science in Nursing, Education from Western Governors University. She continues working in professional development, including becoming a leader in clinical education and increasing employee engagement through interactive, innovative educational offerings. Sherry also runs a monthly peer support, networking, and education group for Northern Nevada nurses.

LaShannon Young

2019 NNF Scholarship Recipient

LaShannon is currently a nursing student in the College of Southern Nevada's ADN program. She works as a Mental Health Technician and Staffing Coordinator for Rawson-Neal's Psychiatric Hospital. When not reading, studying, or attending the many Student Nursing Association meetings and events, she enjoys the greatness of being a mother, donating and volunteering her time within their classrooms and chaperoning on their fieldtrips. LaShannon plans to graduate in the fall of 2021 and enter the wonderful field of Mental Health. Her ultimate goal is to further her studies with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and to become a Forensic Nurse Specialist.

Patricia Strobehn,
MSN, APRN, FNP-BC, ENP-C

2019 Jamie Sue Coleman Scholarship Recipient

Patricia (Trish) is a third-generation nurse raised in Las Vegas. She received her ADN from the College of Southern Nevada, her BSN from Nevada State College, and her MSN from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. She is a board-certified family and emergency nurse practitioner (NP) who currently practices as an NP and teaches full time as Program Coordinator and Assistant Professor for Touro University Nevada's MSN-FNP Program located in Henderson, Nevada. Trish serves on the Nevada State Board of Nursing's Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Advisory Committee and is married with five children. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Nursing from Mercer University in Atlanta, GA. Her research focuses on strengthening and supporting a sustainable NP workforce by improving the quality of NP education, facilitating preceptor development, and increasing NP job satisfaction. Her dissertation investigates predictors of NP job satisfaction to inform workforce and healthcare policy initiatives to ultimately improve patient outcomes and decrease NP turnover at the national and regional levels.

Keiona Malone, RN, BSN

2019 Debra Scott Scholarship Recipient

Keiona (Keiana) relocated to Las Vegas from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, two years ago. She received her diploma as a Practical Nurse in 2006, an Associate Degree in Nursing from Milwaukee Area Technical College in 2007, and a Bachelors of Science in Nursing from the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, in 2017. She currently attends the University of Nevada, Reno pursuing a Masters of Science in Nursing, specializing in psychiatric mental health. Her anticipated graduation date is December, 2022. Keiona currently works as an RN Clinical Supervisor on a medical surgical/behavioral health unit at the University Medical Center of Southern Nevada. Her goal is to use her education to become an integral part of serving a population which is in great need of competent, caring nurses who genuinely are concerned with the needs of others.

Kathryn Gilman, RN

2019 NNF Scholarship Recipient

Kathryn Gilman currently lives in Pahrump, Nevada, and is employed at Desert View Hospital as a medical-surgical registered nurse. She is enrolled in Great Basin College's BSN program, where she is on track to graduate in August of 2020. Her area of interest is pediatrics, with an emphasis in endocrinology. Kathryn hopes to start graduate school in the spring of 2021 to obtain her pediatric nurse practitioner (PNP) license. Once a PNP, she plans to work in pediatric primary care or pediatric endocrinology. She states, "The journey will be long, however with my drive and dedication, I see success in my future."

Kaylie Humphreys, RN

2019 NNF Scholarship Recipient

Kaylie was born, raised, and currently resides in Reno. She works for Saint Mary's Regional Medical Center as a Cardiac Telemetry nurse, and she absolutely loves her job. She is attending the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in pursuit of a Doctorate of Nursing Practice – Family Nurse Practitioner degree. Kaylie will be graduating in May of 2020 and cannot wait to serve northern Nevada working in Primary Care medicine. She states that there is a large shortage of Primary Care Providers in our community, and she aims to become part of the solution by meeting those needs in whatever way is best. She is a member of NAPNA, and she is very interested in the progression of advanced practice nurses and enjoys learning new content with other nurses in the area.

Shelley Anaenugwu, RN, BSN, ASN

2019 NNF Scholarship Recipient

Shelley currently works as a transplant program coordinator in Las Vegas. She graduated with her ASN 11 years ago and received her BSN in May of 2018. She is currently pursuing her MSN at Touro University. She has always had a desire to advance her nursing education but was unsure of what area she wanted to focus on. While working with Family Nurse Practitioners she decided that is where she is meant to be. Shelley would like to begin work as a practitioner in a clinic or urgent care to get in touch with patients and learn how to connect with them. She feels that one of the greatest honors she could be given is the trust that she will make good decisions about patients' health and the health of their loved ones. Her dream is to one day oversee an NGO that provides education and dialysis treatment options for those in countries that do not provide these services. Shelley credits the support of her family, friends, organizations, and educational institutions with helping to realize this dream for herself and so many others.

Bret Hess, MSN-Ed, RN, COI

2019 Nevada Nursing Association Scholarship Recipient

Bret has been a nurse for 30 years caring for pediatrics patients specializing in critical care, oncology, emergency, and flight nursing. He started his education at the College of Southern Nevada. He graduated with honors from Nevada State College RN-BSN program. Three weeks later, he entered into a master's program specializing in education at Grand Canyon University. Bret is now working toward a Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree specializing in leadership at the University of Nevada, Reno Orvis School of Nursing, with an anticipated graduation date of spring, 2021. Bret is currently an educator at Nevada State College School of Nursing (NSC SON), passionately teaching pediatrics and health assessment. Along with his teaching duties, he is the Faculty Advisor for NSC Student Nurses Association and Consultant for the Nevada Nursing Student Association. He is a proud member of the Nevada Nurses Association, National League for Nursing, and Sigma Theta Tau Honor Society. He has also served as Chair of NSC SON Faculty Affairs Committee, Faculty Senate, and Counselor of Sigma Theta Tau Intenational Zeta Kappa At-Large chapter. Upon completion of school, Bret wants to exercise his new nursing "superpowers" in his teaching and be an advocate as well as a change agent for nursing students and nurses across Nevada.

Joan Marie Operario, RN

2019 Phillipine Nurses Association Scholarship Recipient

Joan has been in the nursing profession for 14 years. Her nursing background includes medical-surgical nursing, mental health nursing, and utilization management/ managed care. For the last 6 years she has worked full-time in managed care for a leading health insurance company, specifically in the nurse manager role for the past 3 years. Joan discovered she enjoys providing care to patients at a ambulatory/outpatient care setting while working as a mental health nurse in a Nevada state, and she decided to pursue an advanced degree. She is currently in the FNP-MSN program at the University of Southern California (USC) as a part-time student, due to complete the program in spring, 2020. Her curriculum integrates social work concepts/foundations such as social determinants of health and biomedical aspects which are integral to caring for patients and developing health policies. Her goals include mentoring aspiring NP students to nurture collegiality in the nursing profession and sharing her expertise.

Arvin Operario, RN

2019 Optum Scholarship Recipient

Arvin has been a registered nurse for the past 25 years. He has worked in a variety of roles, including a mental health nurse in an in-patient and out-patient setting and teaching part-time in colleges and universities in the Las Vegas area. He is currently an RN Clinical Manager for 3 specialty clinics for Southwest Medical, part of Optum Care, serving in this role for the last 8 years. Arvin is very active in the nursing community in Southern Nevada and has served as an elected member or board member in different nursing organizations, including the Nevada Nurses Association, Nevada Nursing Foundation, and Men of Nursing in Southern Nevada. His passion is to educate and spread awareness about mental illness, and he volunteers regularly and teaches police officers in Las Vegas how to assist with the seriously mentally ill population in the community.

Melissa Washabaugh, BSN, RN

2018 NNA District 1 Scholarship Recipient

Melissa is currently working as a charge nurse at Pershing General Hospital in the acute/ED department. She is also in her first year of the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Master's program at Orvis School of Nursing. Melissa serves as NNA District 1 Director at Large and has recently been promoted to chair of NNA's Rural and Frontier Committee. Melissa has been involved in several projects to improve mental health care in rural areas. Through the rural committee she has been dedicated to training nurses as safeTALK instructors, increasing the availability of this evidence-based suicide awareness training in rural communities. Her graduate work is focused on studying the impact of tele-health psychiatric evaluation for crisis patients in rural emergency rooms.

Joel Fairfield, RN

2018 NNF Scholarship Recipient

Joel completed his Associated Degree in Nursing from Great Basin College in the Spring of 2017 after a successful 27 year career as a police officer and a member of the Nevada National Guard. Since graduation, he has been working as an emergency room nurse at Banner Churchill Community Hospital in Fallon, Nevada. He is continuing his Bachelor of Science degree in nursing at Great Basin College with a planned graduation date in Spring 2019. Joel and his wife, Terri, are the parents of six children, all of whom have been proudly raised in Nevada. Joel plans to continue his nursing career serving the rural populations of Nevada.

Jaime Young, BSN, RN, OCN

2018 NNF Scholarship Recipient

Jaime has lived in Sparks, Nevada, since 2006. She currently works as a Radiation Therapy RN at Gene Upshaw Memorial Tahoe Forest Cancer Center in Truckee, CA. She graduated from Truckee Meadows Community College with her ADN in 2010 and obtained her BSN through Western Governors University in 2015. She is currently enrolled at Orvis School of Nursing at the University of Nevada, Reno in the BSN to DNP program, Family Nurse Practitioner track. Her expected graduation date in May, 2020. After graduation, Jaime plans to work as a primary care provider in Northern Nevada, focusing on healthcare provider shortage areas. She is interested in rural health and is currently working on her Doctoral project focusing on colorectal cancer screening in rural Nevada.

Lorin-Pierre Andre

2018 NNF Scholarship Recipient

Lorin-Pierre has been a resident in Henderson, Nevada, since 2010 when he relocated to perform for Cirque Du Soleil. After spending innumerable hours in various hospitals around the country searching for a diagnosis for his son, he decided to pursue a BSN. Nevada State College's program allows him the flexibility to pursue his goal. After his graduation in August of 2019, he hopes to work in intensive care where he feels he will be best suited to help patients and their families in their times of need.

Jennifer Lewis, CNA

2018 NNF Scholarship Recipient

Jen has resided in Winnemucca, Nevada, for the last 11 years, and currently attends Great Basin College. She also holds an associates degree in Business Management, which she plans to use with her nursing degree in the future. She has 17 years of experience in the medical field as a CNA, Phlebotomist, Cardiac Monitor Technician, and Unit Secretary, including two years at her current position as CNA at Humboldt General Hospital-Harmony Manor. Jen plans to focus her career on critical care nursing after graduation, and eventually to earn her APRN and work as a Family Care Nurse Practitioner. Jen's own experiences with health problems and the amazing nurses who took care of her who were kind and caring inspired her to become like them, and the nurses who weren't as caring inspired her to do better for her own patients. Jen has 4 children (Kylie, Cody, Dakota, and Nyah) with her husband Doug. Kylie is also pursuing a degree in nursing.

Vimal Patel

2018 NNF Scholarship Recipient

Vimal lives in Henderson, Nevada, and attends Nevada State College's School of Nursing pursuing his BSN degree. He is employed as a Mental Health Technician at Desert Parkway Healthcare Hospital. His anticipated graduation date is August, 2019. After graduating, Vimal intends to pursue his interest in critical care and work in an Intensive Care Unit. Ultimately he would like to become a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist and become certified as a flight nurse. His long-term vision includes traveling throughout the United States and overseas providing care to those in need, especially in third world countries.

Katylynn Hymas, RN

2018 NNF Scholarship Recipient

Katy is a student at UNR obtaining her MSN as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner with anticipated graduation in spring, 2020. She lives in Elko County and works full time for the Elko County School District. Katy has a passion for helping others and advocating for youth, especially those with psychiatric disorders, medical organic brain disorders, and substance abuse problems. Katy is the mother to five children, three of whom are special needs due to in-utero substance abuse and adopted through foster care. She has a love for rural Nevada, where she has practiced as a registered nurse for the past several years. She was recently nominated to serve on the Governor's Behavioral Health Planning & Advisory Council. Katy volunteers as a crisis counselor with the Crisis Text Line.

Felicia Nazareno, CNA, BA

2018 NNF Scholarship Recipient

Felicia graduated from college with her B.A. in Kinesiology at University of Hawaii-Hilo. She moved to Las Vegas in 2013 to pursue her studies in physical therapy. What shifted her gear towards nursing was volunteering at UMC. Her love for direct patient care and passion for helping others led her into becoming a nurse. She is now a part-time student at Nevada State College and a Certified Nursing Assistant. Her expected graduation is in May, 2020. Her plans after graduation include working as a pediatric nurse and obtaining her DNP so that she can one day teach others to become successful nurses.

Monique Chouquer, RN

2018 Praus & Choe Scholarship Recipient

Monique was born and raised in Pennsylvania and moved to Nevada in 2001. She graduated from CSN's ADN program in 2011 and is currently working in Las Vegas as a Circulating Nurse in the Operating Room. She is enrolled in the RN-BSN program at Nevada State College with an anticipated graduation date of May, 2019. After graduation, Monique plans to continue her education to pursue a MSN in Nursing Education. She is dedicated to her profession and the importance of building a solid foundation based on Jean Watson's Theory of Human Caring.

Sarah Thompson

2018 NNF Scholarship Recipient

Sarah graduated from UNR with a BS in secondary education. While working as a high school teacher in the area, she recognized how substance abuse, illness, lack of insurance, and lower socioeconomic status all factored into why many of her students missed school. Because she felt powerless as an educator, she decided to pursue a career in healthcare. During this transition, Sarah served as a volunteer at the NNHOPES Change Point clinic in Reno, which provided good experience and an intimate look into the mind and life of those battling addiction. She continues to volunteer at Change Point, and she plans to pursue a career as a community health nurse after gaining much more experience in the acute care setting. She will graduate from the Orvis School of Nursing at UNR in December, 2018.

Kristin Karmann, RN

2018 Maude Arnold & Ethel Ann Lewis Scholarship Recipient

Kristin lives in Lake Tahoe, Nevada, and works as the Infection Control Officer for South Lyon Medical Center. She is attending the University of Nevada, Reno - Orvis School of Nursing in the BSN-to-DNP Family Nurse Practitioner program.

Jennifer Brown, RN

2018 Jessie J. Valentine Scholarship Recipient

Jennifer has been a resident of Carson City for the last 20 years. She is currently employed with Carson Tahoe Health and has had the pleasure of working for this wonderful company for the past 14 years. She is the charge nurse for the Carson City Urgent Care, and she is attending Nevada State College for her Bachelor's degree in nursing. Jennifer will be graduating in May of 2019. Her goal is to complete her Master's of Nurse Practitioner in family medicine in order to help our community with its need for primary care.

Marcy Matys, LPN

2018 NNF Scholarship Recipient

Marcy graduated from College of Southern Nevada as an LPN in 2010. She currently works at Highland Manor in Elko in the Rehab, LTC, and Memory Care units. She attends Great Basin College, finishing her pre-reqs for the RN program. Marcy hopes to graduate from the RN program in 2021. After graduation, she would like to eventually work in the ER.

Sherry Stofko, RN

2018 NNF Scholarship Recipient

Sherry graduated from Penn State University with distinction in 1996. After gaining experience as a telemetry and critical care float pool nurse, she worked as a traveling nurse for nearly ten years in step-down units and emergency departments, eventually settling in the Reno-Tahoe area. She began her journey in clinical education as a preceptor and quickly realized her strong inclination and passion for nursing education. Becoming an interim emergency department educator in 2008, she currently works as a clinical educator in Reno, where she manages nursing orientation, a med-surg fellowship, and a clinical ladder program. Sherry plans to graduate with a Master's of Science in Nursing, Education from Western Governors University in February. She plans to continue working in professional development, including becoming a leader in clinical education and increasing employee engagement through interactive, innovative educational offerings. Sherry would like to help underserved populations by means of nursing education.

Maria Poggio D'Errico MSN, APRN, FNP-BC

2018 NNF Scholarship Recipient

Maria lives in Las Vegas, where she is a family nurse practitioner at the UNLV Student Health Center and nursing faculty at the College of Southern Nevada. She has also volunteered as both a nurse practitioner and registered nurse in caring for medically underserved patients in Nevada. She is obtaining her Doctor of Nursing Practice from the University of Nevada, Reno, with an expected graduation date of December 2019. Her study of interest is increasing HPV catch-up immunization in the college health setting. After graduation, Maria would like to expand upon her passions of educating nursing students and providing care to Nevadans in need.

Brian Dankowski, BSN, RN

2018 Walt and Inez Russell Scholarship Recipient

Brian is a charge nurse for Golden Health Family Medical Center in rural Elko, NV. He has experience in pediatrics, acute care, geriatrics, mental health, and occupational health. He is enrolled as a graduate student at the University of Nevada, Reno in the Master of Science in Nursing, Nursing Educator track (MSN), with an expected graduation date of May, 2020. Brian is passionate about education and culturally competent care. His thesis topic deals with providing culturally competent and congruent care to LGBTQ populations in rural areas. After completing his MSN, he plans to pursue a PhD in nursing education with an emphasis in nursing research. His desire is to inspire and motivate future nurses and to advance the nursing profession with evidence-based practice. Brian is a member of the training faculty for the American Heart Association, teaching providers to become instructors and individuals in the community to intervene in the event of an emergency.

JoAnne McCready, RN, ADN

2018 NNF Scholarship Recipient

JoAnne has been a resident of the Las Vegas community for over 40 years. She received her ADN at the College of Southern Nevada, and she is currently working towards her BSN at Nevada State College. She expects to graduate in May of 2019 and plans to continue her education, although her path for her master's degree is currently undecided. JoAnne currently works at Desert Springs Hospital in Las Vegas. Her first official day as a nurse on her own without preceptors by her side was October 1, 2017. The tragedy that struck that night and the aftermath made her realize that her hospital was not prepared for disasters of that magnitude. JoAnne wants to help educate her hospital and sister hospitals in the area how to be better prepared for any disaster on any level, and she recently attended FEMA training in Alabama with her co-workers. In addition, JoAnne is part of the newly developed Unit Base Council at Desert Springs Hospital to prepare for any future tragedies that may hit her VEGAS STRONG community.

Jocelyn Allen, RN

2018 NNF Scholarship Recipient

Jocelyn Allen currently lives in Reno and works as an RN at Saint Mary's Regional Medical Center. She is enrolled in the BSN to DNP program at UNLV and is studying to be a family nurse practitioner. Upon graduation in the spring of 2020, she hopes to continue serving the northern Nevada community. Jocelyn is excited to help fill the need for quality primary care providers, improve accessibility to healthcare services, and promote health and wellness in the area.

Darlene Bujold, RN, BSN, MSHI

2018 Elizabeth & John Fildes Scholarship Recipient

A "non-traditional student" and lifelong learner, Darlene came to the professional arena after having seen 6 children safely to adolescence. She graduated with honors from UNR's Orvis School of Nursing, and later had the privilege of educating and mentoring nursing students for the same university. Seeing the direction that healthcare was moving, Darlene received a MS in Health Informatics from Walden University. She is currently employed at Carson Tahoe Health as a behavioral health nurse. Darlene has volunteered her experience as a professional entertainer to direct and perform in several fundraiser events for the NNF, including the popular "Big Hat High Tea" held at the Nevada Governor's Mansion. She has served as Vice President and is the current President of District 1 NNA. As chairwoman of the Nurses Day at the Legislature (NDAL) planning committee, Darlene received the Elizabeth and John Fildes Scholarship to attend the American Nursing Associations Advocacy Institute in Washington, D.C. This new educational journey will include a year-long mentorship program in legislative advocacy.

Dawn Taylor
MSN Ed, RN, CNN, COI

2017 NNF Scholarship Recipient

Dawn Taylor is a resident of Las Vegas currently employed as a lecturer at Nevada State College. She is enrolled at University of Colorado, Denver as a PhD student, with a focus in Caring Science. Her dissertation focus will be exploring what meaning of sacred space looks like to sexual minority females with experience of intimate partner violence. Her anticipated date of graduation is May 2020. She is an active participant in Sigma Theta Tau International (Zeta Kappa-at-large), Vice President 2015 - 2017; American Nephrology Nurses Association, 2001 - present; and a member of NNA and ANA. Her community volunteerism extends to local domestic violence shelters teaching yoga and meditation, and at The Center with QVolution program. After graduation she plans to continue in academia and pursue a tenure track position with research options. She continues to work on highlighting inclusion of gender diverse communities in the undergraduate nursing and RN-BSN programs at Nevada State College.

Annette Clark, RN

2017 Rural & Frontier Nurse Scholarship Recipient

Annette (Malotte) Clark was born and raised in Elko, Nevada. She currently works as a school nurse for the Elko County School District in Owyhee, Nevada, which is on the Duck Valley Shoshone Paiute Reservation. The school serves approximately 300 students K-12. She became an RN in 1986, graduating from Northern Nevada Community College (now known as Great Basin College) in Elko. Annette has worked in a number of different fields during her nursing career: respiratory therapy, ICU, surgical services, correctional nursing, behavioral health, and dialysis. She was enrolled in the pilot BSN program at GBC many years ago but didn't complete the degree. She resumed her academics this year and plans to graduate in June, 2018, from GBC. She plans to continue working as school nurse in Owyhee, hopefully into retirement. Her hope is that the students she serves will view her as a positive role model and know that they too can accomplish anything.

Vimal Patel

2017 NNF Scholarship Recipient

Vimal Patel lives in Henderson, Nevada, and attends Nevada State College's School of Nursing pursuing his BSN degree. He is employed as a Mental Health Technician at Desert Parkway Healthcare Hospital. His anticipated graduation date is August, 2019. After graduating, Vimal intends to pursue his interest in critical care and work in an Intensive Care Unit. Ultimately he would like to become a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist and become certified as a flight nurse. His long-term vision includes traveling throughout the United States and overseas providing care to those in need, especially in third world countries.

Amber Federizo, RN-BC, MSNEd, APRN, FNP-BC

2017 NAPNA Scholarship Recipient

Amber Federizo lives in Las Vegas, although she says she travels to care for patients so frequently in northern Nevada that she prefers to just say she lives in Nevada. She currently works in Hemophilia as a family nurse practitioner. She is attending the University of Nevada, Reno for the fourth time, this time pursuing a DNP degree. Amber anticipates graduating in May, 2019, and hopes to someday teach with the knowledge obtained from her DNP.

Kristi Enos, RN, ASN

2017 Jessie J. Valentine Scholarship Recipient

Kristi currently resides in Silver Springs, Nevada, and works as a Registered Nurse in the Pediatric unit at Carson Tahoe Hospital. She graduated with her ASN in 2016 after serving two years as her school's National Student Nurses Association secretary. Kristi is currently attending Grand Canyon University, where she is a straight A student and will be graduating with her BSN in December, 2017. Her reasons for pursuing this degree include becoming a more educated and well-rounded nurse, as well as bragging rights as the only one in her family to ever attended college. She is looking forward to future opportunities that might come her way.

Mary Jessica Jauregui, MS, BS

2017 Chris Watson Scholarship Recipient

Mary Jessica, who prefers to go by Jessica, is from Las Vegas, NV, and is currently pursuing a BSN degree at University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) with an expected graduation date of December, 2018. She also holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Master of Science in Medical Health Sciences. She works part-time as an ER scribe at Mountain View Hospital and enjoys the vast ER exposure she's experiencing right now. After graduation, Jessica plans to work in the ER or ICU, then pursue a BSN-DNP in the future to become a Family Nurse Practitioner. She was a volunteer for Volunteers in Medicine of Southern Nevada (VMSN), a clinic for the uninsured, where she saw the need for medical attention for the underserved population, increasing her desire to give back to her community as a medical provider.

Evelin Hernandez Zepeda, RN

2017 NNF Scholarship Recipient

Evelin was born and raised in Mexico and moved to Reno, Nevada, in 2010. She recently graduated from TMCC's nursing program and is working as a Registered Nurse at Saint Mary's Regional Medical Center. She is currently enrolled in the RN-BSN program at the University of Nevada, Reno, and plans to graduate in May, 2018. After graduation, Evelin plans to continue her education and her work as an RN. Her goal is to become a leader who develops resources and pipeline programs for ESL and low-income aspiring nurses.

Kristina Spitale-Efstratis, BSN, RN

2017 NNA District 1 Scholarship Recipient

Kristina is a native Nevadan living in Reno. She currently works as a critical care nurse in the Roseview Intensive care at Renown Regional Medical Center and as a pre-op/PACU nurse at the Reno Orthopaedic Surgery Center. She is working towards her Masters in Nursing from Chamberlain University in the Family Nurse Practitioner track, with expected graduation in February, 2018. Kristina is passionate about ensuring access to care for all Nevadans, and she has a particular interest in serving rural communities.

Cassius Rowland, CNA

2017 NNF Scholarship Recipient

Jo Ann DelaLlana, LPN

2017 NNF Scholarship Recipient

Jo Ann has been practicing as an LPN/LVN since she graduated in 1997 in North Hollywood, California. Her experiences include Rehab CNA in Los Angeles from 1994-1996, Home Health LVN in Los Angeles from 1997-2000, and School Nurse in Las Vegas from 2012-2015. However, the position she is most proud of is working as an LPN at Sunrise Children's Hospital Las Vegas on the General Pediatric Unit from 2000-2016. She has had the honor and privilege to work alongside and learn from amazing nurses, managers, and physicians who have inspired her to pursue the LPN to RN Bridge Program. She expects to graduate with her Associates Degree in December, 2018, and she plans to quickly continue by pursuing her BSN online. Jo Ann would like to thank everyone who has supported her throughout her long journey and the Nevada Nurse's Foundation for its generous scholarship. Her reasons for pursuing higher education include inspiring her children to be life-long-educated learners and to serve mankind with sincerity and generosity.

Christy Apple-Johnson, RN

2017 NNF Scholarship Recipient

Lowen Patigayon

2017 Arthur L. Davis Publishing Scholarship Recipient

Originally from the islands of Hawaii, Lowen lives in Las Vegas where he is pursuing a BSN, a BA in Psychology, and a minor in Deaf Studies at Nevada State College. Prior to becoming a student nurse, Lowen interned at Mojave Mental Health Adult Daycare Clinic. As a Deaf Studies minor learning about deaf culture through deaf socials as well as learning how to sign in ASL, Lowen has come to experience a community grateful for connection and communication because these aren't common experiences for these individuals in the hearing world. His experiences fuel his nursing practice and bedside manners, always working hard to connect, communicate, and understand his patients. He is also the President of the Student Nurses Association at Nevada State College. During his term, SNA has launched its first mentorship program, participated in countless community service events, and is holding an annual mixer with healthcare professionals, new grads, and current nursing students. His hope is that SNA positively impacts the Las Vegas community for years to come.

Taylor Hagar

2017 NNF Scholarship Recipient

Taylor Hagar is a Nevada resident currently employed at Saint Mary's Regional Medical Center. He has been working as a CNA for the past 3 years while attending the Orvis school of Nursing - University of Nevada Reno, with an anticipated graduation date of December, 2017. He intends to apply to the ICU upon graduation, spend 2-3 years developing his skills as a RN, and then apply to graduate school. In the long term, he plans to pursue his dream of becoming a Nurse Practitioner. Although Taylor is unsure what specialty he will pursue, he states, "I feel that over the next few years I have enough time to dedicate myself both to a field of interest and compassion for people. I look forward to the challenges ahead."

Destane Smith, LPN

2017 NNF Scholarship Recipient

Destane is a Nevada resident currently employed at the Lake Mead Health and Rehabilitation Center in Henderson, Nevada, as a wound care nurse. She is attending Arizona College in Las Vegas, with an anticipated graduation date of December, 2018, with a BSN degree. She is also pursuing her RN license. She is an active volunteer first aid responder at youth track and field events, caring for both young competitors and occasionally their parents. Her long-term plans include becoming a community health nurse.

Jennifer McCarthy, BSN, RN

2017 Kat Cylke Scholarship Recipient

Jennifer McCarthy is a resident of Las Vegas where she works as a psychiatric nurse at Montevista Behavioral Health Hospital. She is enrolled in the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) DNP program at the University of Nevada, Reno, with an anticipated graduation date of May, 2019. Jennifer is a member of the APNA, ANA, and NNF, and she volunteers as a Crisis Counselor with Crisis Text Line. As a graduate student and future DNP, she hopes to expand appreciation of psychiatric nursing and increase the number of new nurse graduates who choose to pursue careers in the mental health field.

Shonda Williams, RN

2017 NNF Scholarship Recipient

Shonda is a 27-year resident of Nevada. She has worked for Summit Surgery Center at Saint Mary’s Galena for the past 5 years and is currently the PreOp/PACU Supervisor. She graduated with her Associates Degree in Nursing from TMCC 20 years ago and is now pursuing her BSN degree at the University of Nevada, Reno. She plans to graduate in December of 2017. With her BSN Shonda plans to remain a nursing supervisor and continue to gain experience in this arena, eventually moving onto other administrative opportunities and possibly pursuing a Masters in Nursing Administration.

Valerie Jakubos, RN

2017 Tiffany Urresti Memorial Flight Nurse Scholarship Recipient

Valerie currently works in the adult intensive care unit at Renown Regional Medical Center in Reno, NV. She is attending University of Nevada, Reno, and will graduate with her BSN in December, 2017. She has worked as a flight nurse with a fixed wing company per diem and is working towards her CCRN. Valerie is a mentor for new graduate nurses, and she serves on two committees (donor committee and the quality committee), to help bring change and awareness to all employees to improve patient experience and overall care. She is a member of the ANA and AACN. She also volunteers for career days at local schools to educate students about nursing and what educational requirements are involved.

Brandee Shipman, RN, BS, ASN

2017 Debra Scott Scholarship Recipient

Brandee Shipman lives in Reno and works at Saint Mary's Regional Medical Center. She received a $500 scholarship toward the RN to BSN program at the University of Nevada, Reno, where she intends to graduate in December, 2017. She plans to continue to advance her nursing degree by becoming a Nurse Practitioner (NP) in Psychiatric/Mental Health, Family NP, and/or Acute NP. Brandee enjoys and hopes to contribute to the scholarship of neuroscience. As she pursues her education, her goal is to become an expert clinican and advocate for persons affected by mental health concerns, emphasizing the importance of mental health in caring for the whole person.

Amy Woods, RN, BSN

with donor Betty Razor, left

2017 Betty Razor Wound Ostomy Care Scholarship Recipient

Amy is a native Nevadan and graduated from TMCC in 2012 and from UNR in 2013. She will be graduating from the Wound Care Education Institute in June, 2017, with a WOCN certification. She aspires to improve wound care treatment outcomes within the home environment by educating patients and families, collaborating with physicians, and understanding best treatment options for each patient. Amy is a member of the NNA and the Northern Nevada/Tahoe WOCN Support Group.

Amie Ruckman, MSN, RN, CLNC, Paralegal

2017 Elizabeth and John Fildes Scholarship Fund Recipient

Amie was born and raised in Reno, Nevada. Her mother's and father's families have resided in Reno for four generations. Amie is married to Jason Ruckman and is the proud mother of their son Royce. She has 22 years of nursing experience, including medical-surgical, orthopedic, antepartum, labor and delivery, obstetric operating room, postpartum, and newborn nursing, and she is the unit supervisor of the float pool. She is currently the Policy Coordinator, chairperson of the Policy Committee, and a co-chairperson of the Staffing Committee and subcommittee on Acuities at Saint Mary's Regional Medical Center. She serves as the secretary of the Nevada Nurses Association Legislative Committee, and she is an active member of the Nevada Safe Staffing Task Force. Amie enjoys traveling, cooking, scuba diving, reading, and scrapbooking.

Rochelle Walsh, MSN, RN, PCCN

2017 NNF Scholarship Recipient

Rochelle is currently an Assistant Professor at the University of Nevada, Reno. She received her Bachelors of Science in Nursing at UNR in 1984. She worked at the former Washoe Medical Center and Renown Regional Medical Center as a staff nurse, supervisor, and nurse educator over 31 years. Professor Walsh obtained her Master's in Nursing Education from the University of Nevada, Reno in 2009. She has just finished her Doctorate in Nursing Practice from Touro University of Nevada, with a graduate date of November 5th, 2017. She is known for engaging students and using interactive methods to stimulate students in learning. Before becoming an educator for pre-licensure nurses, Professor Walsh taught nurses in the hospital. A clinical nursing educator, instructing nurses is her passion. When not doing nursing-related activities, she can be found working in her craft room, stamping, sewing, and doing counted-cross-stitch or out raking leaves.

Jezamay Arevalo, CNA

2017 NNF Scholarship Recipient

Adaugo Guinness

2017 Mary Lucell Johnson Scholarship Recipient

Cassidy Jost, RN, ASN

2016 Jessie J. Valentine Scholarship Recipient

Cassidy Jost is a native Nevadan who lives in Carson City and has an Associate’s Degree in Nursing from Western Nevada College. Cassidy is currently pursuing a Bachelor's Degree in Nursing from Nevada State College, and is expected to graduate in the Spring of 2018. She will ultimately pursue her Masters Degree in Nursing, with the hopes of becoming a Nursing Administrator, as well as a Nursing Professor. She enjoys mentoring and teaching new graduate nurses on her units. Cassidy currently works as a Nursing Supervisor at Carson Tahoe Regional Medical Center for the Surgical/Orthopedic unit.

Kristina Spitale Estratis, BSN, RN

2016 NNF Scholarship Recipient

Kristina lives in Washoe County and has a Bachelor's degree in Biology and Nursing. She received the NNF MSN $1,000 scholarship to help pay for her education as she pursues a MSN as a Family Nurse Practitioner through Chamberlain College of Nursing. She is slated to graduate in February, 2018. Kristina holds many memberships in professional organizations, including NAPNA, NNA, and ANA. She works at Renown Regional Medical Center in the ICU department.

Rhone D'Errico, MSN, APRN, BSN

2016 Debra Scott Scholarship Recipient
Rosemary Witt Scholarship by NNA District 3 Recipient

Rhone is a family nurse practitioner and holds a position as Advanced Practice Clincian (APC) Associate manager at MountainView Hospital in Las Vegas, Nevada. He obtained his BSN and MSN from UNLV. He is currently completing a post-master's certificate as a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP) through the University of Arizona, and he has just begun his Doctor of Nursing Practice program at UNR, which he expects to complete in Spring of 2018. He is the recipient of the $1,000 Debra Scott Scholarship and one of the $500 Rosemary Witt Scholarships.

Jennifer McCarthy, BSN, RN

2016 NNF Scholarship Recipient
Rosemary Witt Scholarship by NNA District 3 Recipient
Arthur L. Davis Publishing Scholarship Recipient

Jennifer McCarthy is enrolled in the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) DNP program at the University of Nevada, Reno with an anticipated graduation date of May 2019. She received three scholarships totaling $2,500. She plans to provide mental health services to populations in disadvantaged and underserved/remote areas. She is presently employed as a psychiatric nurse at MonteVista Behavioral Health Hospital in Las Vegas.

Allyson Waldron, RN

2016 Rural & Frontier Nurse Scholarship Recipient

Allyson is attending the BSN program at Great Basin College and looks forward to graduating in May 2017. She was awarded $1,000 from the Rural & Frontier Nurse Scholarship, which was funded by a number of donors. She works in Elko for Northeastern Nevada Regional Hospital, Lincare, and the Elko County School District. Allyson is a member of the NNA and the ANA and enjoys serving various nonprofit organizations within her community.

Michele Wood, LPN

2016 Southwest Medical On-Demand Scholarship Recipient

Michele Wood is the recipient of the $500 Southwest On-Demand Scholarship sponsored by Dr. Somphone. She has been a LPN at Southwest Medical Associates for eleven years and is enrolled in the RN program at the College of Southern Nevada. She is a single mother of three boys, works and attends school full-time, and anticipates graduating in 2018. She believes as an RN she will be able to expand her skills and responsibility as a nurse and help those challenged with access to healthcare.

Kerriann Lahey, LPN

2016 NNF Scholarship Recipient

Kerriann Lahey resides in Las Vegas, Nevada, where she is a full-time LPN in the Urgent Care with SouthWest Medical Associates. She received a $1,000 scholarship toward the LPN to RN nursing program at the College of Southern Nevada, with an expected December, 2017, graduation. She plans to pursue her BSN while working in a Urgent Care/free-standing ER setting. She entered the medical field in 2003 as a phlebotomist, and as her passion for patient care grew. She asserts after acheiving her LPN, "My desire to be a patient advocate increased and my calling for nursing became evident."

Rachel Moore, CNA

2016 NNF Scholarship Recipient

Rachel is a CNA working for Perspective Home Health, Inc. She is enrolled at Great Basin College in Pahrump, Nevada, and will be graduating in May, 2017. She is the recipient of a $1,000 scholarship toward her full-time schooling there. Upon graduation, she is planning to work as a RN in home health and pursue her BSN. She enjoys working and living in a small community.

Rachel Sherman

2016 NNF Scholarship Recipient

Rachel Sherman, recipient of the NNF Pre-licensure Nursing Scholarship in the amount of $1,000, is a native Nevadan and graduated from Galena High School in 2010. She will be graduating from UNR Orvis School of Nursing in December, 2016, with a BSN. She aspires to be a nurse on a pediatric oncology unit and pursue an advanced degree to teach at the university level.

Erik Nunez

2016 Elizabeth Fildes Scholarship Recipient

Erik Nunez, a Las Vegas resident, attends the Nevada State College with expected graduation in spring of 2017 with a BSN. Erik is the recipient of the Elizabeth Fildes Scholarship in the amount of $1,000. He works at Sunrise Children’s Hospital as a Nurse Apprentice in Pediatrics, Pediatric Oncology, and PICU. He hopes to become a nurse leader, continue actively participating in professional nursing organizations, and invest back in the community.

Tanya Liscio, MSN, BSN, RN, ADN

2016 Maude Arnold & Ethel Ann Lewis Scholarship Recipient

Tanya Liscio lives in Minden, Nevada, and works as a RN at the Washoe Tribal Health Center in Garderville, Nevada. She is the recipient of a $1,000 scholarship donated by Martha Drohobyczer. She attends the University of Nevada, Reno in the Family Nurse Practitioner program and is seeking a dual degree of Doctorate of Nursing Practice. Upon completion of her FNP in May, 2017, she plans to stay in rural Nevada and work toward providing access to care for rural communities and promoting the nursing profession through leadership, advocacy and education.

Tamara Mette, MSN, BSN, RN

2016 NANE Scholarship Recipient

Tamara Mette is the recipient of the $1,000 Nevada Alliance for Nursing Excellence (NANE) Scholarship. She resides in Elko, Nevada, where she is a Great Basin College Nursing Professor. Tamara is scheduled to graduate from Touro University Nevada as a Doctor of Nursing Practice scholar in the spring of 2017. She is motivated to educate others, nurses as well as other health care professionals, as to the value and role of the Doctorate of Nursing Practice graduate. She writes, "I have experienced confusion and uncertainty as to the place and abilities of a DNP nurse, and I hope to bring recognition to the abilities of DNP nurses in all scopes of practice."

Areli Galvan

2016 Emma Marrujo Redmon Scholarship Recipient

Areli Galvan, a resident of Winnemucca, Nevada, is the recipient of a $1,000 scholarship sponsored by Dr. Sandy Olguin. Areli works at at Humboldt General as a Nurse Apprentice and attends the Great Basin College with a May, 2017, graduation date. She plans to continue her education and eventually become a Nurse Practitioner. As she continues her nursing journey, she hopes to inspire others to pursue a rewarding career in nursing.

Sarah Shaw, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC, BSN

2016 NAPNA Scholarship Recipient

Sarah is the recipient of the $1,000 Nevada Advanced Practice Nurses Association (NAPNA) scholarship. As a Las Vegas, Nevada, resident, she works for the Nevada Critical Care Consultants and pursuing a Post-Master's DNP at the University of Nevada, Reno Orvis School of Nursing with an anticipated graduation in the spring of 2018. Sarah's areas of interest are preventive care, increased access to care, and patient education. She hopes to accomplish increased access to healthcare and improved health outcomes for Nevada communities.

Jennifer Stevens, RN, BA

2016 Jami-Sue Coleman Scholarship Recipient

Jen Stevens works at Renown Regional Medical Center as the Clinical Nurse Educator for the Institute for Cancer. She received a $1,000 scholarship as she pursues her MSN in the Nursing Educator track at the University of Nevada, Reno Orvis School of Nursing. She believes research and education are the most effective means for her to give back to the nursing profession. Jen enjoys investing in others and helping them grow to achieve their goals and aspirations. After graduating, she intends to obtain a Ph.D. in Nursing and continue to teach.

Melissa Washabaugh, RN

2016 NNF Scholarship Recipient

Melissa is the recipient of $1,000 towards her BSN. She is a student at the Great Basin College in Elko, Nevada. She works as a nurse in the Emergency Department and is developing a grant program aimed at improving behavioral health services in rural Nevada.

Erika Ceballos, LPN

2016 Southwest Medical On-Demand Scholarship Recipient

Erika Ceballos is the recipient of the NNF Southwest Medical On-Demand Scholarship for $500.00 sponsored by Dr. Eugene Somphone. When she is not working as a LPN at Southwest Medical, she attends classes at the College of Southern Nevada to graduate and become a RN in 2019. One of her goals as a RN is to become a pillar in her community and help the underserved population.

David Alvarez

2016 Katherine "Kat" Cylke Scholarship Recipient

David Alvarez received $1,000 towards his schooling expenses. He has served families through The Department of Family Services for over 8 years and will be graduating from the College of Southern Nevada with an ADN in May of 2017. His dream is to become a Nurse Practitioner and continue to make a positive impact on his community. He states, "But until then, I will continue to keep my head in the books and my heart set on the future."

Tania Anderson, RN, LPN, AA

2016 Praus & Choe Scholarship Recipient

Tania Anderson lives in Las Vegas, Nevada, and works at Southwest Medical Urgent Care, United Health Care/Optum. Tania received one of two $500 Praus & Choe Scholarships. She attends the College of Southern Nevada to complete her prerequisites, and then she will begin the BSN program at the Nevada State College in spring of 2017. Her BSN will provide her the opportunity to pursue specialization, management, and potential for increased compensation.

Brandee Shipman, RN, BS, ASN

2016 Christine Watson Scholarship Recipient

Brandee Shipman lives in Reno and works at Saint Mary's Regional Medical Center. She received a $500 scholarship toward the RN to BSN program at the University of Nevada, Reno, where she intends to graduate in December, 2017. She plans to continue to advance her nursing degree by becoming a Nurse Practitioner (NP) in Psychiatric/Mental Health, Family NP, and/or Acute NP. Brandee enjoys and hopes to contribute to the scholarship of neuroscience. As she pursues her education, her goal is to become an expert clinican and advocate for persons affected by mental health concerns, emphasizing the importance of mental health in caring for the whole person.

Cynthia "Cindy" Bonca, BS, AS, AA

2016 Hurst Review Scholarship Recipient

Cindy received a $1,000 scholarship toward her BSN degree at the University of Nevada, Reno. She works at the Department of Veterans Affairs as a Health System Specialist/Lead Medical Staff Coordinator. She is interested in critical care and emergency nursing, and she plans to continue her employment and passion for providing world class care to our veterans. Cindy's long-term plans include returning to school to pursue an APN or doctorate degree.

Sheryl Giordano, APRN-C

2016 Praus & Choe APRN Scholarship Recipient

Sheryl works at Johns Hopkins Medicine as a Program Coordinator/Nurse Practitioner. She attends the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, School of Nursing and received $1,000 as a Doctor of Nursing Practice student. Upon completion of her degree, she hopes her education and knowledge will help others in their successes and to further her role in the community by serving her patient population and advocating for her colleagues in the political arena. Sheryl believes "nurse practitioners are a vital resource to the health of our nation" and a resource that is "under-utilized".

Katie Bruels, MSN, RN

2016 NNF Scholarship Recipient

Katie received $1,000 as she pursues her DNP at Graceland University. She is Chief Nursing Officer at Mountain View Hospital. She is actively involved in professional nursing organizations, including NANE, NNA, ANA, and NONL. Her graduate studies involve evaluating preceptor frame-works to enhance graduate nurses experiences in their first year of nursing.

Hannah Kapczynski, SN

2016 NNF Scholarship Recipient

Hannah is a Nevada Air National Guard commissioned officer in charge (NCOIC) of Aerospace Medicine and a flight medic. She attends Orvis School of Nursing at University of Nevada, Reno. She received $1,000 as she pursues a Bachelor's of Science in Nursing.

Patricia LoGuidiu, BSN, RN

2016 NNF Scholarship Recipient

Patricia received $1,000 towards her Master's Degree in Nursing. She lives in Las Vegas and attends Western Governors University. She is a Nurse Clinical Educator at United Healthcare. As a leader in healthcare, she has directed the drive-through clinic in her community and utilized a team model approach in clinics to help with patient access and improve patient outcomes and satisfaction.

Melissa Washabaugh, RN

2016 NNF Scholarship Recipient

Melissa is the recipient of $1,000 towards her BSN. She is a student at the Great Basin College in Elko, Nevada. She works as a nurse in the Emergency Department and is developing a grant program aimed at improving behavioral health services in rural Nevada.

Antoinette "Annie" Carlos, SN

2015 NNF Vroman & Wildes Scholarship Recipient

Antoinette received $1,000 toward her BSN. She graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno in December, 2015.

Delene Volkert, MSN, RN

2015 NNA Scholarship Recipient

Delene received the Nevada Nurses Association legacy scholarship in the amount of $1,046. She teaches nurses at Great Basin College as she pursues her PHD at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Amalia "Amy" Edelman

2015 Arthur L. Davis Scholarship Recipient

Amy is the winner of the Arthur L. Davis $1,000 scholarship. Her exemplary article "Que Mas" is highlighted in the Spring 2016 edition of the RNFormation newsletter. She attends Roseman College in Henderson, Nevada, as she pursues her BSN.

Doreen Begley, RN

2015 NNF Scholarship Recipient

Doreen was awarded $1,000 from the Foundation to offset the cost of attending St. Francis University, where she is pursuing her BSN.

Linda Cirillo, SN

2015 NNF Scholarship Recipient

Linda received a $1,000 scholarship to help offset the cost of pursuing her BSN at the Nevada State College.

Michael York, SN

2015 NNF Scholarship Recipient

Michael received $500 in July, 2015, while attending Carrington College in Reno, Nevada. Michael graduated from Carrington and is now pursing his RN to BSN.

Richard Young, SN

2015 NNF Scholarship Recipient

Richard received $500 in July, 2015, and attends the University of Nevada, Las Vegas pursuing his BSN.

Heidi Johnston, MSN, RN

2015 NNF Scholarship Recipient

In July, 2015, Heidi received a $2,500 Nevada Nurses Foundation scholarship to offset the costs of her education. She is enrolled in the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program at Boise State University. Heidi is a Nevada Nurses Association Director-At-Large and the chair of the Rural Nurse Advisory Committee. She is a member of the Environmental Health Committee and serves as an Advisor at Great Basin College (GBC).

Maria Poggio, RN

2015 NNF Scholarship Recipient

Maria, currently enrolled at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, is pursuing a Master’s of Science in Nursing. She was awarded a NNF Scholarship in the amount of $2,500. Ms. Poggio serves her community by being a volunteer RN with Volunteers in Medicine of Southern Nevada. She is the UNLV School of Nursing Alumni Chapter Vice President where she raises funds and promotes the University.

Robin Hollen, RN

2015 NNF Vroman & Wildes Scholarship Recipient

Robin is enrolled in a RN to BSN program at the Aspen University in Denver, Colorado. She received $1,000 towards her expenses there.