Scholars

2020s Cycles

Derek Nickerson 2013-2014 Winner | Master’s Degree
NEF Scholarship winner, Derek Nickerson, is enrolled in the University of South Florida Nurse Anesthesia Program in Tampa, Florida. He practiced as a registered nurse at Tampa General Hospital in the cardiothoracic intensive care unit for three years... read more.

Cheryl Petersen 2013-2014 Winner | Doctoral Degree
The Barbara Tate Scholarship was awarded to Cheryl Petersen who is pursuing her doctoral degree at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, while working as an oncology research nurse at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin. With twenty years of nur... read more.

Leslie Rhodes 2013-2014 Winner | Doctoral Degree
The Margaret Tyson Award went to Leslie Rhodes who is pursuing her doctorate at St. Louis University in St. Louis, Missouri, while working as a pediatric nurse practitioner at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. She is involved in b... read more.

Sarah Rozychi Giron 2013-2014 Winner | Doctoral Degree
Sarah Giron was awarded the Columbia University Presbyterian Hospital School of Nursing Alumni Association/ J. M. Ida Mutch Scholarship. She will use her award to pursue her doctoral degree at the University of San Diego’s Hahn School of Nursing and... read more.

Jade Spencer 2013-2014 Winner | Master’s Degree
The Estelle Massey Osborne Scholarship was awarded to Jade Spencer who’s interest in nursing began when she saw a visiting nurse care for her father during his illness. She began her nursing education at Pace University in New York and her nursing ca... read more.

Anina Terry 2013-2014 Winner | Master’s Degree
Anina Terry, recipient of the Edith Pritchard Scholarship is pursuing her master’s in nursing at the John Hopkins University Primary Care Family Nurse Practitioner Program. She completed her undergraduate studies at New York University and worked in... read more.

Donna Westmoreland 2013-2014 Winner | Master’s Degree
A student at Frontier Nursing University, in Hyden, Kentucky, Donna Westmoreland, was awarded the Lucy Perry Scholarship. Ms. Westmoreland’s goal is to become a family nurse practitioner. She began her nursing career in critical care but moved on to... read more.

Nancy Wise 2013-2014 Winner | Doctoral Degree
Nancy Wise, a doctoral student at Villanova University in Radnor Township, a suburb of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is the first student to be awarded the Cynthia Davis Sculco Scholarship. Nancy’s primary area of interest is the number of pregnant ado... read more.

Angela Alston 2012-2013 Winner | Doctoral Degree
Angela Alston, Columbia University-Presbyterian Hospital School of Nursing Alumni Association, Inc./Ada Mutch/NEF scholarship winner, is a North Carolina native currently pursuing her Doctoral degree at Ohio State University, where she also earned bo... read more.

Priscilla Hall 2012-2013 Winner | Doctoral Degree
Priscilla Hall, winner of the Judith Whittaker scholarship, is pursuing her doctorate at Emery University where her area of interest is the stress response of women during labor, especially as it relates to the experiences of coping. As a nurse-midwi... read more.

Katharine Haxall 2012-2013 Winner | Master’s Degree
Katharine Haxall is using her Columbia University-Presbyterian Hospital School of Nursing Alumni Association, Inc./Ada Mutch/NEF scholarship to pursue a BS/MS degree at Columbia University. Prior to pursuing the role of Pediatric Nurse Practitioner,... read more.

Amity Heinbuck 2012-2013 Winner | Master’s Degree
Amity Heinbuck, NEF awardee, started her nursing career in 2007 after working as a medical Laboratory Technician for 8 years. After receiving her Associate Degree of Nursing she worked as a labor and delivery nurse, a career she loves. She is continu... read more.

Tristen Hensen 2012-2013 Winner | Master’s Degree
Tristen Hensen is using her NEF scholarship to pursue a Master’s in Nursing Administration and Management from Norwich University. During the past 3 years she has worked on an Orthopedic/Trauma/Plastics medical-surgical floor and for 2 of those years... read more.

Sirena Hughes 2012-2013 Winner | Master’s Degree
Sirena Hughes, NSNA winner, is currently enrolled in the Nurse Anesthesia program at Villanova University. After getting her BSN she worked in a Pediatrics Intensive Care unit at Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. It was here that she was inspired to... read more.

Sheryl Leary 2012-2013 Winner | Doctoral Degree
Sheryl Leary, Isabel Hampton Robb scholarship winner, is pursuing her doctoral degree at the University of San Diego while working as a clinical nurse specialist at the Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System. As a military spouse she has moved... read more.

Helen Masters 2012-2013 Winner | Master’s Degree
Helen Masters, LILLIAN HIEMENZ award winner, worked as a Med/Surg nurse at Crittenden Regional Hospital but came to realize that her passion is oncology and the reason she became a nurse in the first place. She now works weekends providing direct pat... read more.

Mark McGraw 2012-2013 Winner | Master’s Degree
Mark McGraw, winner of the MIRIAM POWELL scholarship, has been interested in pursuing a career as a nurse anesthetist since he got his BSN from the University of Delaware. After college he entered the critical care nurse internship program at Christi... read more.

Laura Mood 2012-2013 Winner | Doctoral Degree
Laura Mood who won the Margaret Tyson scholarship, has been a registered nurse for 17 years working in a peri-operative setting in multiple capacities. After earning her MSN from the University of Michigan she went on to teach as a full time instruct... read more.

Shaini Moonjeli 2012-2013 Winner | Master’s Degree
Shaini Moonjeli, winner of the A.J.N. SCHOLARSHIP, began her career as a staff nurse in 1994 in a rural hospital in India. Currently she is working as an Advanced Nurse Clinician in the Coronary Care Unit at Emory University Hospital and studying in... read more.

Njoki Ng'Anga 2012-2013 Winner | Doctoral Degree
Njoki Ng’anga is using her Elizabeth Carnegie scholarship towards a PhD degree at Columbia University. She is also a pre-doctoral fellow at the School of Nursing’s Center for Children and Families. She obtained her MSc in Health Systems from the Lond... read more.

FEATURED SCHOLAR

Marie Toupou

(2025-2026 Winner)

Marie Toupou, BSN, RN is the proud recipient of the Liesel M. Hiemenz Scholarship. Receiving this scholarship affirms Marie’s commitment to advancing her education to improve community and global health through... read more.

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NEF’s only purpose is to provide nursing scholarship assistance to make graduate level nursing education possible. NEF is one of the largest, national, private, professionally endorsed source of funds for advanced nursing study with over one hundred years of service to and for professional nursing.

NEF’s Board of Directors is comprised of leaders from nursing, education, technology, and business communities. Members donate their time and talent to the advancement of the nursing profession. NEF operates with exceptionally low overhead. NEF employs only one individual who serves in several capacities. NEF is a non-profit organization with 501(c) status; thus, your contributions are fully tax-deductible.