FOCUS ON FOUNDATION

At this year’s Florida Nurses Association (FNA) Membership Assembly, the Florida Nurses Foundation hosted a special luncheon honoring the 2025 scholarship and research grant recipients. The event, hosted by FNF Trustee Bill Pierce, celebrated Florida nurses and students whose academic and scientific contributions continue to advance the profession and enhance health outcomes in our communities.

Each year, the Foundation’s scholarships and grants represent an investment in nursing’s future by supporting students pursuing higher education and researchers generating evidence to guide practice and policy. As part of this year’s luncheon, attendees had the opportunity to celebrate both new and past recipients whose work exemplifies the Foundation’s mission of fostering innovation, leadership, and lifelong learning.

A highlight of the luncheon was a special presentation by Tina Mason, who received the Imogene King Research Grant from the Foundation in 2024. Mason provided an engaging update on her ongoing study, “Nurse Leader Well-Being: Optimizing Sleep and Energy Levels.” Her research underscores the vital connection between nurse leader wellness and sustainable organizational performance, which is an issue at the heart of professional well-being and patient care excellence.

We could not do the Foundation’s work without the extraordinary generosity of our donors. Nearly 100% of the Foundation’s funding comes from nurses’ donations. For each gift of $10,000 or more, a named fund is established, which allows the donor to create a legacy of ongoing impact. The Foundation now stewards more than 40 named funds, each dedicated to advancing nursing education, leadership, and research.

This generosity directly supports recipients like Christina Hersch, the 2025 Undine Sams and Friends Research Grant awardee, who shared:

“I am deeply honored to be a recipient of the Undine Sams and Friends Research Grant. This grant holds great significance to me. As an undergraduate nursing student, I found great joy in participating in the Florida Nurses Association. Now in my doctoral studies, receiving this grant is not only incredibly rewarding but also humbling as I continue to grow in my research career. I am deeply grateful for your generosity and support—it truly means more to me than words can fully express.”

Stories like Christina’s illustrate how the Foundation’s commitment and donors’ generosity create ripples of impact that extend far beyond a single award cycle.

Along with the Foundation Trustees, I sincerely congratulate all 2025 recipients and deeply thank every donor, trustee, and volunteer whose dedication drives our mission. With ongoing support, the Florida Nurses Foundation guarantees that nursing research, education, and leadership in Florida stay strong for years to come.

Congratulations to this year’s Foundation Scholarship and Research Grant recipients

Scholarship Recipients

Chandra Alexander, Jacksonville University 

Ciaera Ambroise, University of central florida

Lauren Bement, Santa Fe College

Collin Bogle, University of Central Florida

Kelly Bonkowski, Florida SOuthwestern

Aylena Carlson, Keiser University

Kayla Charles, Florida State College at Jacksonville 

Rylie Cochran, Florida State University

Sarah Dailey, Keiser University

Flavia De Aguilar, Florida International University

Taylor Egusquiza, Broward College

Shane Farouk, Florida International University

Kaci Flohre, Lake Sumter State College

Danielle Heller, State College of Florida

John Herzog, Lake Sumter State College

Devyn Hoff, University of North Florida

Corea Hollomon, Hillsborough Community College

Jennifer King, Rasmussen University

Sarah Lee, Nova Southeastern University

Ilana Logvinov, University of Central Florida

Nicasha Martin, keiser university

Jodii McElveen, University of West Florida

Bruceline Michel, University of South Florida

Pedro Miranda Rodriguez, Florida SouthWestern State College

Ciara Myers, Valencia College

Jennie Norton, University of South Florida

Aliza Paseiro, University of north Florida 

Mona Renna, Keiser University

Cindy Sanchez, Nova Southeastern University

Dejha Scott, Fortitis 

Natalie Simeus, Nova Southeastern University 

Samone Smith, Jacksonville University

Kailyn Spitzer, Florida State University

Nicole Jeneive Tan, University of St. Augustine

Candita Thompson, Rasmussen University

Skyla Wasden, florida gateway college

Abigail Williams, University of North Florida

Research Grant Recipients

Christina Hersh, A Mixed Methods Study Examining Patient Reported Outcomes and Health-Related Quality of Live Among Breast Cancer Survivors with Cardiotoxicity

Rebecca Koerner, Write On! The Effect of Gratitude Journaling on Psychological and Glycenic Outcomes in Adolescents with Type 1Diabetes

Narciso Quidley-Rodriguez, Companion Animals and LGBTQ+ Veterans: Exploring the Benefits and Risk of Furry Friends

Ashley Rivera, The Imagery of Fatherhood

Sabrina Ronco, Health Information Competence, Coping and Psychological Well-Being among Black Pregnant Women

Erin Stearns, A New Measure of Institutional Betrayal in Nurses