ANA's Scholarship Program
Native Americans interested in becoming nurses face many challenges, including financial and educational barriers. Some students come from homes that have no running water or electricity. Many of them provide key financial support to their families, so attending school and not working is a hardship. The ultimate goal of Expanding Horizons in Nursing is to encourage these students to continue for advanced degrees and have a real impact on the health of Native Americans. ANA helps with scholarships and fees for the NCLEX exams.
Native Americans interested in becoming nurses face many challenges, including financial and educational barriers. Some students come from homes that have no running water or electricity. Many of them provide key financial support to their families, so attending school and not working is a hardship. The ultimate goal of Expanding Horizons in Nursing is to encourage these students to continue for advanced degrees and have a real impact on the health of Native Americans. ANA helps with scholarships and fees for the NCLEX exams.
Leah Gray
Sue Kutenplon Scholarship for Spring 2020 Announced
ANA is honored to have the Sue Kutenplon Nursing Scholarship for Native American nursing students at University of New Mexico-Gallup. The $2,500 scholarship is awarded each semester to a student showing academic and professional promise, with special priority given to single parents.
Sue Kutenplon was an RN who worked as a diabetes educator for most of her career. She believed in the inherent worth of every individual, and was genuinely interested in the life and experiences of everyone she met. Since diabetes is prevalent among Navajos, and the most effective prevention and treatment will come from Navajo nurses working within their own culture, Sue’s family has chosen to honor her memory by supporting Navajo nursing students as they study to become nurses. The ANA Board expresses its deepest gratitude to Sue’s family for this life-changing scholarship.
Leah Gray has been awarded the scholarship for both the Fall 2019 and Spring 2020 semesters. Congratulations, Leah!
ANA is honored to have the Sue Kutenplon Nursing Scholarship for Native American nursing students at University of New Mexico-Gallup. The $2,500 scholarship is awarded each semester to a student showing academic and professional promise, with special priority given to single parents.
Sue Kutenplon was an RN who worked as a diabetes educator for most of her career. She believed in the inherent worth of every individual, and was genuinely interested in the life and experiences of everyone she met. Since diabetes is prevalent among Navajos, and the most effective prevention and treatment will come from Navajo nurses working within their own culture, Sue’s family has chosen to honor her memory by supporting Navajo nursing students as they study to become nurses. The ANA Board expresses its deepest gratitude to Sue’s family for this life-changing scholarship.
Leah Gray has been awarded the scholarship for both the Fall 2019 and Spring 2020 semesters. Congratulations, Leah!
Spring 2020 Nursing Student Scholarship Recipients
ANA is delighted to present scholarships to 11 students for the Fall 2019 semester: Allison Begay, Jaquelyn Begay, Charliah Burbank, Zandra James, Jamie Livingston, Sabrina Lutse, Teneshia Nelson, Anthnette Spencer, Jessica Upshaw, Chantell Yazzie.
ANA is delighted to present scholarships to 11 students for the Fall 2019 semester: Allison Begay, Jaquelyn Begay, Charliah Burbank, Zandra James, Jamie Livingston, Sabrina Lutse, Teneshia Nelson, Anthnette Spencer, Jessica Upshaw, Chantell Yazzie.
Fall 2019 Nursing Student Scholarship Recipients
ANA is delighted to present scholarships to 11 students for the Fall 2019 semester: Allison Begay, Charliah Burbank, Lori Howard, Tonya James, Zandra James, Sabrina Lutse, Teneshia Nelson, Anthnette Spencer, Candyce Whitehair, Chantell Yazzie, and Nelsonia Yazzie. Bios for some of the recipients follow ...
Tonya James - "Thank you for your support in my academic endeavor. As a two time recipient, I am extremely grateful for the opportunities this scholarship has provided me. It will help me achieve my goal of becoming a nurse and lessen my financial burden. My clans are Tabaahi (Water’s Edge Clan) born for Naakai Dine’e (Mexican People Clan). My maternal clans are Tsenahbilnii (Sleep-Rock People Clan) and my paternal clans are Ashiihi (Salt Clan).
I chose nursing because I realize our native populations suffer disproportionately from various illnesses. My desire is to be a part of the solution that reduces these disparities by addressing health literacy among my Dine people by incorporating my native tongue to educate my patients and their family. This would be a priority for me in any clinical capacity I serve. The healthcare system routinely fails our aging population and I see this huge communication gap within my own family and community. Many healthcare providers assume patients understand, but do they really understand the materials presented to them? As an advocate for patients in my care, I want to empower my patients and equip them with the tools and knowledge necessary to help them make informed decisions about their care. I want to educate patients and their family in hopes of not only allaying the fear and anxiety they typically experience while in the hospital, but to reduce the mortality rate associated with these health disparities.
Upon completion of my degree I intend to pursue a career in emergency medicine. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to ANA for the consideration in their selection of choosing me. With great humility, I accept this award. A’heehee (thank you) ANA!"
I chose nursing because I realize our native populations suffer disproportionately from various illnesses. My desire is to be a part of the solution that reduces these disparities by addressing health literacy among my Dine people by incorporating my native tongue to educate my patients and their family. This would be a priority for me in any clinical capacity I serve. The healthcare system routinely fails our aging population and I see this huge communication gap within my own family and community. Many healthcare providers assume patients understand, but do they really understand the materials presented to them? As an advocate for patients in my care, I want to empower my patients and equip them with the tools and knowledge necessary to help them make informed decisions about their care. I want to educate patients and their family in hopes of not only allaying the fear and anxiety they typically experience while in the hospital, but to reduce the mortality rate associated with these health disparities.
Upon completion of my degree I intend to pursue a career in emergency medicine. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to ANA for the consideration in their selection of choosing me. With great humility, I accept this award. A’heehee (thank you) ANA!"
Chantelle Yazzie - "Thank you for your generous ANA scholarship. I was very ecstatic and appreciative to learn I was selected as a recipient. I am from the Navajo Tribe and reside in Saint Michaels, AZ, with my husband and our two children. They are the reason I am striving to become a phenomenal nurse. I want my educational and career goals to influence and inspire my children in all their endeavors. I also want to motivate the youth within my community that anything is possible as long as you set your mind to it.
I am currently in my third semester of the Nursing program. It's hard to believe I will graduate in May along with my spunky cohort who have become family. I am looking forward to being part of such a rewarding career. I decided to become a nurse at the age of 7 when I broke my arm and was rushed to the emergency room. The nurse who cared for me was very compassionate and stayed with me during my entire visit because my mother was still on her way. From that day forward, green scrub wearing nurses were heroes in my eyes and I knew I wanted to be that person for someone else. I plan to give back to my community and practice at Tséhootsooí Medical Center in Fort Defiance, AZ, where I hope to specialize in Labor and Delivery.
This scholarship has allowed me to focus on my education rather than the expenses associated with nursing school, which is quite costly ... Thank you again for your generosity and support."
I am currently in my third semester of the Nursing program. It's hard to believe I will graduate in May along with my spunky cohort who have become family. I am looking forward to being part of such a rewarding career. I decided to become a nurse at the age of 7 when I broke my arm and was rushed to the emergency room. The nurse who cared for me was very compassionate and stayed with me during my entire visit because my mother was still on her way. From that day forward, green scrub wearing nurses were heroes in my eyes and I knew I wanted to be that person for someone else. I plan to give back to my community and practice at Tséhootsooí Medical Center in Fort Defiance, AZ, where I hope to specialize in Labor and Delivery.
This scholarship has allowed me to focus on my education rather than the expenses associated with nursing school, which is quite costly ... Thank you again for your generosity and support."
Spring 2019 Nursing Student Scholarship Recipients Announced
ANA is delighted to raise the number of scholarship recipients to 13 for the Spring 2019 semester: Chantel Beck, Rodrick Begay, Muriah Brown, Gabriel Burson, Calvena Cowboy, Chambreigh Curley, Austin Curley, Lori Howard, Layla Ismail, Tonya James, Foaundra Jarvison, Tanisha King, Nelsonia Yazzie. Bios for some of the recipients follow ..
ANA is delighted to raise the number of scholarship recipients to 13 for the Spring 2019 semester: Chantel Beck, Rodrick Begay, Muriah Brown, Gabriel Burson, Calvena Cowboy, Chambreigh Curley, Austin Curley, Lori Howard, Layla Ismail, Tonya James, Foaundra Jarvison, Tanisha King, Nelsonia Yazzie. Bios for some of the recipients follow ..
Austin R. Curley, a fourth semester student, has received his second ANA scholarship. Austin says, “The resolve I have to pursue a degree in a health career stems from my mother, grandmother and aunties. I grew up fatherless so my mother being the strong woman she is, filled both roles. While I was little, my mother attended classes to become a registered nurse and after a couple years her goals became a reality. The time, dedication and work she put into what she had accomplished did not fully register in me at that age, but now being older I fully commend my mother for what she had to endure to give her family a better life with the support of my grandmother and aunties. Our family is matriarchal with hardly any male influence, but the ability to care, nurture and be empathetic to an individual has been engraved on my soul.
The ANA scholarship will assist in advancing my desire to become a level one trauma nurse while floating to the Intensive Care Unit as a means to solidify my base of critical care. A personal goal I would be to support the rural communities that surround Gallup, NM such as Window Rock, Crownpoint, Zuni, and Ramah. Living in Gallup my entire life has shown the dire need for health care workers to be part of the community. I hope to become a pillar of this rural community to not only care for its citizens that I have grown to know, but also implement informative preventative measures that’ll reduce the epidemic of co-morbidities such as Diabetes Mellitus or STI’s.
Through this arduous journey, there have been multiple ups and downs, but the desire to quit has never once crossed my mind. Climbing the educational ladder by completing years of pre-requisites, to passing an exam, to be granted entry into the nursing program with its complex levels to navigate through to try and be thwarted by the financial barrier that every student has to face across the United States. ... The ANA organization has also shown tremendous support to allow me to follow this path I have chosen in life.”
The ANA scholarship will assist in advancing my desire to become a level one trauma nurse while floating to the Intensive Care Unit as a means to solidify my base of critical care. A personal goal I would be to support the rural communities that surround Gallup, NM such as Window Rock, Crownpoint, Zuni, and Ramah. Living in Gallup my entire life has shown the dire need for health care workers to be part of the community. I hope to become a pillar of this rural community to not only care for its citizens that I have grown to know, but also implement informative preventative measures that’ll reduce the epidemic of co-morbidities such as Diabetes Mellitus or STI’s.
Through this arduous journey, there have been multiple ups and downs, but the desire to quit has never once crossed my mind. Climbing the educational ladder by completing years of pre-requisites, to passing an exam, to be granted entry into the nursing program with its complex levels to navigate through to try and be thwarted by the financial barrier that every student has to face across the United States. ... The ANA organization has also shown tremendous support to allow me to follow this path I have chosen in life.”
Nelsonia Rose Yazzie is Diné from Standing Rock, NM, on the Navajo Nation. Her clans are the Towering-House People born for the Tangle Clan, her maternal grandfather is the Meadow People and her paternal grandfather is the Apache Clan. A single mother to two daughters ages 13 and 12, Nel is in her 3rd semester of the UNM-Gallup Nursing Program. She travels 45 miles each way to attend classes.
Nel says, “I can honestly say this journey was not easy, both academically and financially; overcoming this obstacle displayed the dedication and passion I have in furthering my education. It has shaped me into becoming a role model for my daughters. Not only do I share my educational journey with my children, my mother has also been a big part of getting me to where I am now. My mother is a Certified Nursing Assistant and is employed with Indian Health Services. She is one person I look up to and has inspired me to pursue my dreams of becoming a Nurse ... She has also taken the step to come back to school to receive her RN. We have already had the pleasure of completing a couple of prerequisite classes together. This experience with my mother will be unforgettable.”
Nel has had the goal of becoming a Nurse for as long as she can remember. As a young girl, her mother took her to an informational session and at the front of the room was a display of bones. She remembers looking at the display with curiosity and amazement. She later discovered it was the vertebral column of the human body. By the age of 9, she could name all 206 bones of the body!
After receiving her degree, Nel plans to be employed with IHS, just like her mother. She plans to receive her Bachelor of Science in Nursing and then continue to an MSN program, with her main career goal of becoming a Certified Nurse Midwife.
Nel says, “I can honestly say this journey was not easy, both academically and financially; overcoming this obstacle displayed the dedication and passion I have in furthering my education. It has shaped me into becoming a role model for my daughters. Not only do I share my educational journey with my children, my mother has also been a big part of getting me to where I am now. My mother is a Certified Nursing Assistant and is employed with Indian Health Services. She is one person I look up to and has inspired me to pursue my dreams of becoming a Nurse ... She has also taken the step to come back to school to receive her RN. We have already had the pleasure of completing a couple of prerequisite classes together. This experience with my mother will be unforgettable.”
Nel has had the goal of becoming a Nurse for as long as she can remember. As a young girl, her mother took her to an informational session and at the front of the room was a display of bones. She remembers looking at the display with curiosity and amazement. She later discovered it was the vertebral column of the human body. By the age of 9, she could name all 206 bones of the body!
After receiving her degree, Nel plans to be employed with IHS, just like her mother. She plans to receive her Bachelor of Science in Nursing and then continue to an MSN program, with her main career goal of becoming a Certified Nurse Midwife.