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Deborah E. Trautman Future Nurse Leader Scholarship Recipients

2025 Recipients

  • Catherine Harpst

    Catherine Harpst

    PhD Student
    University of Arizona

    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, info…

  • Sintya Sintya

    Sintya Sintya

    DNP Student
    Loma Linda University

    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-c…

2024 Recipients

  • Amit “Mickey” Dhir

    Amit “Mickey” Dhir

    PhD Student
    Johns Hopkins University

    Amit “Mickey” Dhir, MBA, MSN, NP-C, AAHIVS is an Infectious disease Nurse practitioner and a PhD student at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD. His clinical practice specializes in HIV/STI management and prevention, and primary care for LGBTQIA+ populations. As a leader and community advocate, he has partnered with local organizations like Baltimore City Health Department (BCHD) and U equals U (Undetectable…

  • Karla Kerkove

    Karla Kerkove

    PhD Student
    University of Nebraska Medical Center

    Karla Kerkove is a first-year Ph.D. student at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC). She received her master’s in nursing education and holds two national certifications as a Certified Nurse Educator (CNE) and Critical Care Nurse (CCRN). Karla has served as a change agent, introducing diverse teaching strategies to promote the growth of newly licensed registered nurses and enhanced collaboration amongst exper…

2023 Recipients

  • Nkemdilim "Kelly" Diaz

    Nkemdilim "Kelly" Diaz

    DNP Student
    Winona State University

    Nkemdilim “Kelly” Diaz is a DNP student at Winona State University with a focus in Family Practice. After graduating with honors from her baccalaureate program Kelly began serving as an instructor and preceptor for new graduates and student nurses. Her work focused on helping refugee and immigrant community members access affordable training toward certified nursing assistant licensure. In 2019, she served on an in…

  • Rita Win KempRika Win Kemp

    Rika Win Kemp

    DNP Student
    Medical University of South Carolina

    Rika Win Kemp is in the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Doctor of Nursing Practice Program at the Medical University of South Carolina. Rika's background is in labor and delivery, postpartum, and women's surgical nursing, and she is committed to providing holistic and integrative psychiatric care. Prior to attending nursing school at Emory University, she studied international health and Spanish at Clemson Univers…

2022 Recipients

  • Madalyn Baczkowski

    Madalyn Baczkowski

    DNP Student
    University of Michigan

    Madalyn Baczkowski is in the Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Doctor of Nursing Practice Program at the University of Michigan located in Ann Arbor, Michigan. She has worked as a registered nurse for five years primarily in cardiology with a focus on cardiothoracic surgery post-operative care. She worked for two years as a travel nurse and enjoyed working across the country, meeting different providers and hos…

  • Amy Hu

    Amy Hu

    DNP Student
    San Jose State University

    Amy Hu, MSN, RN, CCRN is a second-year DNP student at San Jose State University (SJSU). Amy’s evolution into nursing was not a traditional one. In 1999, Amy obtained her first degree in Business Administration from SJSU and started her career in Marketing. Realizing a deeper need to help others, she went back to school to obtain an Associate Degree in Nursing from Ohlone College. In 2012, while working full time and raising a…

2021 Recipients

  • Karina Strange

    Karina Strange

    BS to PhD Student
    University of Tennessee, Knoxville

    Karina Strange is a public health nurse and a second-year BSN-PhD student at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. Originally from Louisville, Kentucky, Karina earned her BA in Cultural Anthropology at Vassar College (2007). Karina has pursued her interests in cross-cultural teaching, learning, and community service by serving in AmeriCorps (2007) and the United States Peace Corps (Bulgaria, 2009 – 2012). During her Peace…

  • taylor Bell

    Taylor Bell

    BSN to DNP Student
    University of Florida

    Taylor J. Bell, BSN, RN is a second-year DNP-PMHNP student at the University of Florida. In 2016, Taylor obtained his first degree from the University of Florida in Spanish with a focus in Linguistics. After taking a gap year to volunteer at UF Health and work as a Language Assistant for the UF English Language Institute, Taylor applied and was accepted to the UF Accelerated BSN program, where he began his journey in nursing.…