Designed to help prepare the next generation of academic nursing leaders, the Foundation for Academic Nursing is pleased to announce the creation of the Deborah E. Trautman Future Nurse Leader Scholarship. Funded by Liaison International, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing’s (AACN’s) partner in NursingCAS, this scholarship and leadership development program was created in honor of AACN’s President and CEO Deborah Trautman.

Administered by the Foundation for Academic Nursing, the philanthropic arm of AACN, this scholarship is open to students in master or doctoral nursing programs offered at AACN member schools affiliated with NursingCAS, the nation’s only centralized application service for nursing programs.

Two students will be awarded $3,500 each year through 2024, with $2,000 disbursed directly to the student for educational expenses and $1,500 used to cover expenses related to the leadership development program. Funded students must commit to participating in a one-on-one leadership experience with Trautman at AACN’s headquarters in Washington, D.C., during the summer after the award has been made.

Interested 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. They must 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.

Applications for the scholarship program are open now and will be accepted through October 30, 2020. Scholarships will be awarded on November 30, 2020, and those selected for funding will make individual arrangements to complete the leadership development experience during the summer of 2021. To apply for the scholarship, visit the AACN website.

For more information on this program and others available through the Foundation for Academic Nursing, please visit the website or contact Marta Okoniewski, AACN’s Director of Student Engagement, at mokoniewski@aacnnursing.org.