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“Empowering and guiding the next generation of nurse leaders is essential to advancing the future of nursing, education, research, and practice,” said Dr. Deborah Trautman, AACN President and Chief Executive Officer. “Congratulations to this year’s scholarship recipients for their commitment to innovation, patient safety, academic-practice partnerships, and global health.”
In 2021, Liaison International initiated this program in honor of Dr. Trautman to provide financial support and structured mentorship to outstanding graduate nursing students who aspire to leadership roles. Funded students commit to participating in an AACN conference and a professional enrichment experience with Dr. Trautman and other nurse leaders during the summer months.
Meet the 2025 Scholarship Winners
Selected from a competitive pool of scholarship applicants, here are this year’s recipients:
Catherine Harpst, MSN, RN, ACNS-BC, CCNS, is a third-year PhD student in the Nursing-Data and Systems Science program at the University of Arizona. She also works full-time as an Assistant Clinical Professor at Northern Arizona University. Her clinical and academic career as a Clinical Nurse Specialist, nurse leader, and professor focuses on adult acute and critical care, quality improvement, evidence-based practice, informatics, and patient safety. Her dissertation aims to develop measurement standards for inhaler technique in adult asthma and COPD patients. As an emerging nurse leader in academia, Catherine desires to focus her efforts on developing academic-practice partnerships, inquiry-based pre-licensure learning opportunities, and transition to practice programs. Catherine is excited to develop skills and connections to advocate for change in academic nursing to facilitate effective academic-practice partnerships and student involvement in translational research.
Sintya Sintya, BSN, RN, PHN, DNP-s, is a DNP student specializing in Family Nurse Practitioner studies at Loma Linda University, with an anticipated graduation in June 2025. She has extensive clinical experience in cardiovascular and cardiothoracic care and has received numerous scholarships, including the Sigma Gamma Alpha Graduate Student Scholarship and the Deloras Jones RN Award. Her DNP project focuses on improving self-care for heart failure patients to reduce hospital readmissions through enhanced discharge education. A passionate advocate for global health, Sintya has participated in mission trips to underserved communities worldwide. As a first-generation college graduate, she aims to inspire future nurse leaders through mentorship, cultural competence, and patient-centered care, with aspirations to advance nursing education and practice.
About the Future Nurse Leaders Scholarship
Administered by the Foundation for Academic Nursing, this scholarship is open to students in master’s or doctoral nursing programs offered at AACN member schools affiliated with NursingCAS, the nation’s only centralized application service for nursing programs offered at all levels. Students must show high academic achievement and list past experiences that illustrate a commitment to academic nursing. Applicants must be currently enrolled and in good standing at their school of nursing and also be members of AACN’s Graduate Nursing Student Academy (membership is free). A complete list of eligibility requirements and expectations are posted on the AACN web site. Stay tuned to the Foundation’s website for future updates on the 2026 application cycle.
Partnering to Support Nursing Students
AACN actively seeks opportunities to partner with corporate sponsors and other stakeholders to offer scholarship programs for nursing students in baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs. The association currently administers scholarship programs in conjunction with Scrubin Uniforms, NurseThink®, Liaison International, Hurst Review Services, QGenda, and Uniform Advantage. Those interested in establishing a scholarship program and/or partnering with AACN are encouraged to contact Foundation Director, Dr. Katie Fioravanti, at [email protected].
For more details on programs available through the Foundation for Academic Nursing, visit the Foundation’s website.
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The Foundation for Academic Nursing is the philanthropic arm of AACN that raises funds to support new innovations in nursing education and practice. The Foundation serves as a focal point for AACN’s fundraising efforts while elevating the importance of academic nursing and our member schools in the philanthropic community.
The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) is the national voice for academic nursing representing more than 875 schools of nursing nationwide. AACN establishes quality standards for nursing education, influences the nursing profession to improve health care, and promotes public support of baccalaureate and graduate nursing education, research and practice.
