NAHN Scholarship Programs

Each year, NAHN awards scholarships to active and eligible members who are enrolled in accredited LVN/LPN, associate, diploma, baccalaureate, and graduate nursing programs for the next academic year (2026-2027). Scholarship recipients are a select group of nurses who demonstrate promise of professional contributions to the nursing profession and who have the potential to act as role models for other aspiring nursing students.

The number and types of scholarships offered each year are dependent upon the amount of money in the scholarship fund. Members are encouraged to donate to support future scholarships. The selection of recipients is based on many factors, including financial need, academic merit, course of study, supporting documentation, and other factors specific to each scholarship. Grant opportunities and eligibility requirements are described below.

NAHN Scholarship applications are closed for 2026.

 Arizona College of Nursing (AZCN) - NAHN Scholarship

The Arizona College of Nursing - NAHN Scholarship Program was established to support funding for minority students who have been traditionally underrepresented in the field of Nursing. Students of Hispanic or Latino descent are strongly encouraged to apply. Arizona College of Nursing will award up to $200,000 in scholarships in the name of NAHN for students pursuing nursing degrees at the undergraduate level who are current students at Arizona College of Nursing. Awardees should exemplify a dedication to service within their community and a desire to expand that service by way of a career in nursing. 

One $10,000 tuition scholarship will be awarded per eligible campus location, for a total of up to $200,000 in scholarships. In the event that funds remain from a campus location without an eligible applicant, or if an applicant is not selected by the scholarship committee, those funds may be used to award a second eligible candidate at that same campus location.

Abbott Scholarship Fund

Improving representation from diverse populations in clinical trials is paramount to reducing health disparities and better understanding the impact of the next generation of health care therapies across all populations. Yet historically, barriers to access for minority patients, alongside a shortage of minority investigators and clinical research personnel, have limited some trials from truly representing the people who will ultimately benefit from a medication, product, or therapy.

To address these issues, Abbott is offering scholarships for future trial leaders to support the training and education for the future leaders of clinical trials. In addition to building training, education, and research infrastructure needed to support diversity enrollment in clinical trials, the new initiative also aims to overcome traditional barriers to expanding diversity in trials and ultimately improve health outcomes in more minority communities.

Abbott's scholarship program is designed to:

• Support the next generation of minority physicians who will go on to lead clinical trials
• Support minority nursing students who will go on to support the trials and process, or function as clinical research coordinators
• Expose more minority medical and nursing students to the research process
• Help develop the next generation of caregivers who can break down barriers to clinical trials in their communities.

The Abbott Scholarship Fund will provide awards of $10,000 each to 8 qualified applicants in 2026. Of the 8 awards, 4 of the scholarships will be awarded to nursing students; 1 scholarship will be awarded to a nurse practitioner path student (DNP or MSN); and 3 scholarships will be awarded to PhD path students.

Aguilar-Cuellar-Toben (ACT) Research Grant

The ACT Research Grant provides one $1,000 award to a Latino Ph.D. student who is a member of NAHN and who is conducting either quantitative or qualitative research to improve health care outcomes for the Latino population. Allocation of the funds will be based on the quality of the proposed research, the future promise of the applicant as a Latino researcher, approval of the dissertation chair, and the research budget. This grant was developed in honor of “Nena” and “Tia Pat” - mother and sister of Norma Cuellar (President of NAHN from 2018-2020).

Eligibility Criteria:

• NAHN members in good standing before the application deadline. 
  
• Provide the following:
• Research proposal - either quantitative or qualitative research to improve health care outcomes for the Latino Population
• Demonstrate future promise as a Latino researcher
• Proof of approval from your dissertation chair
• Research budget