Supporting Future Latino Nurses Through Arizona College of Nursing’s National Association of Hispanic Nurses Scholarships

A diverse healthcare workforce is essential to delivering high-quality care. Arizona College of Nursing (AZCN) is proud to partner with the National Association of Hispanic Nurses (NAHN) to support student connections to community, mentorship, and scholarships. Since 1975, NAHN has been the leading organization advocating for Latino nurses in communities nationwide.

Through its partnership with NAHN, AZCN covers the cost of national and local chapter membership dues for interested Core Nursing students across all nursing campuses. AZCN has also joined NAHN as a corporate member and serves on its Council of Business Advisors where it collaborates alongside healthcare leaders to advance educational and professional opportunities for Latino nurses.

Additionally, in partnership with NAHN, AZCN established an annual scholarship for pre-licensure students awarded at the national NAHN conference. The $10,000 scholarships are available to active, full-time Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) students who are members of NAHN. The scholarships are funded by AZCN and are administered by NAHN.

With the 2026 scholarship recipients recently announced, we spoke with four of the winners, Anjelica Shines, Alena Jaramillo, Gina Guzman Paulino, and Amaryllis Rodriguez, to share their reactions to receiving the scholarship, experiences with NAHN, and their career goals for the future.

What the NAHN Scholarship Means to Recipients

Nursing school is demanding and full of late nights studying and prepping for exams. But the financial realities of full-time nursing students are often added stressors. When these four students found out they had received the NAHN scholarship, they recalled feeling a variety of emotions, from pure joy to relief.

Gina Guzman Paulino, a semester 8 student at AZCN’s Hartford campus, earned this scholarship for a second consecutive year. She explained that with this recognition, she has found a renewed sense of purpose. “Receiving this scholarship for a second year reminded me that my hard work, dedication, and passion for serving underserved communities are being recognized. It gave me more motivation to continue pursuing my nursing career.”

And for Amaryllis Rodriguez, a semester 7 student at AZCN’s Sarasota campus, the news arrived while she was sitting in her parked car. “At first, I was in the initial shock phase and in denial that I had received this scholarship. I sat in my car for a few minutes soaking in this feeling and then [ran] into my home to announce to my family that I had received this scholarship.”

Beyond the immediate excitement, the practical impact of the funding helps these students to focus on their skills and clinical preparation.

“This scholarship came at a time when I truly needed it,” recalled Anjelica. “Throughout nursing school, I have faced significant financial hardships while balancing work, school, and everyday life. There were times when I wasn’t sure how I was going to make it to graduation. This scholarship didn’t just provide financial support; it gave me hope, relieved a tremendous amount of stress, and allowed me to focus on becoming the best nurse I can be. It reminded me that others believe in me and my future.”

Gina echoed that sentiment, stating, “[t]his scholarship…has taken a big weight off my shoulders and allows me to focus more on my education and experience while reducing stress of thinking about my debt. Also, it represents an investment in my future and in the communities I hope to serve as a bilingual nurse.”

For Amaryllis, the scholarship represents more than just personal success. She explained that it represents an open door as a Hispanic nurse. “To me, this scholarship means inclusion, success, resilience, and determination. It is a privilege to be Hispanic and have resources like this scholarship. Many Hispanics do not have the privilege to receive a higher education. With this scholarship, I am able to pursue a higher-level degree and chase my dreams,” Amaryllis said.

The NAHN Network

Finding an organization that honors cultural identity while providing career guidance is a game-changer for student nurses. Discovering NAHN through AZCN gave these students access to networking, support, and seasoned mentors.

“As someone who is half Black and half Puerto Rican, I’ve always appreciated organizations that celebrate diversity and work to improve health equity,” said Anjelica. “I first learned about NAHN through Arizona College of Nursing and was inspired by its mission to support Hispanic nurses and nursing students. It immediately felt like an organization whose values aligned with my own.”

Alena felt an instant sense of belonging, sharing, “I first became involved because I got an email that there was an association for Hispanic nurses and I knew that it was important to me to be a part of something like this.”

“My NAHN membership has helped me receive more opportunities in my nursing student career and has allowed me to expand my resume,” added Amaryllis.

Where Our Recipients Are Headed

From neonatal care to oncology wards, these four future nurses are channeling their education into specialized fields where culturally competent and compassionate care will make all the difference.

Anjelica plans to master surgical techniques before specializing in reconstructive care: “My immediate goal is to begin my career as an Operating Room nurse, where I can continue learning and developing my surgical skills. Long-term, I hope to specialize in reconstructive surgery, helping patients regain not only their physical health but also their confidence and quality of life. I am especially passionate about serving diverse and underserved communities by improving access to reconstructive care and advocating for patients who may not otherwise have those opportunities. As my career grows, I also hope to mentor future nursing students and give back to the communities that have supported me throughout my journey.”

Alena is focusing her passion on neonatal health and advanced nursing practice: “My long-term nursing goal is to become a NICU nurse. I truly enjoy education and learning as much as I can, so I am very excited to extend my knowledge in a specialty. In the far future, I would love to become a nurse practitioner. I also intend to continue to participate with NAHN and attend meetings to meet more nurses that have similar goals to me!”

Gina aims to break down communication barriers for Spanish-speaking patients: “My long-term goals are to work with underserved Hispanic populations, helping to reduce healthcare disparities through culturally competent care, patient education, and advocacy. Also, I would provide encouragement and advocacy to other nursing students and emotional support to bridge communication gaps, promote disease prevention, and empower patients to take an active role in their health.”

Amaryllis plans to pursue oncology specialties and hopes to teach the next generation of nurses in the future: “My long-term nursing goals are to become an Oncology/Hematology nurse. I plan to receive my certifications in CBCN (Certified Breast Care Nurse) and TCTCN (Transplantation and Cellular Therapy Certified Nurse). Down the road, I also plan to pursue my Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) to become a nurse educator. I want to combine my bedside experience with teaching so I can mentor, empower, and prepare the next generation of compassionate nurses.”

Activate Your NAHN Membership

If you are an active Core Nursing student at AZCN on any campus, your national and local membership dues are 100% covered by the College. Use the AZCN link to apply for your membership and explore upcoming scholarship opportunities.

Information in this post is accurate as of October 12, 2026.

*The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree program at Arizona College of Nursing is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (https://www.aacnnursing.org/). All Arizona College of Nursing and Arizona College campuses are institutionally accredited by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (https://www.abhes.org/), a U.S. Department of Education-recognized accrediting agency.