KANSAS CITY, Mo., (Sept. 11, 2025) – The Research Foundation recently awarded $79,770 in scholarships to students accepted into the accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) programs at Research College of Nursing, Avila University, and William Jewell College. ABSN students hold a bachelor's degree in another field and can obtain their BSN after an accelerated one-year or 16-month program.
Scholarships were provided to 35 students in the three nursing programs. Research College of Nursing students were awarded $41,520, Avila University nursing students were awarded $22,500, and William Jewell College nursing students were awarded $15,750 in scholarship support. Of the 35 students awarded, 18 attend Research College of Nursing, 10 attend Avila University, and 7 attend William Jewell College.
Scholarship recipients from Research College of Nursing include Carley Baker, Joseph Camacho, Paxton Donaldson, Andrew Dudasko, Elizabeth Elliott, Jaden Gragg, Ryan Harness, Johana Infante Magana, Summer Johnson, Adrienne Looker, Michael Lopez, Brenda McDonald, Anna Parry, Josephine Rinella, Landon Roseberry, Millie Talavera, Grace Tepondjou Nandong, and Uma Uma.
Gragg, Harness, and Infante Magana were awarded the Dr. Kay Sullivan Memorial Scholarship. The Dr. Kay Sullivan Nursing Scholarship Endowment Fund was created in 1999 by Dr. Sullivan’s family to celebrate her commitment to the nursing profession and her retirement from Research College of Nursing. At the college, Sullivan served as an advisor to the students in the accelerated BSN program from 1990 to her retirement in 1999. She passed away on May 15, 2020. The fund provides multiple scholarships for accelerated BSN students annually.
McDonald was awarded the Cheri Burchett Memorial Scholarship. Burchett served as a faculty member at Research College of Nursing and was voted Teacher of the Year by the student body several times during her tenure. When she passed away in November of 2001, family, friends, students, and former students created the Cheri Burchett Memorial Scholarship Fund. The fund is used to provide an annual scholarship to an accelerated BSN student who exemplifies the qualities and compassion of the nursing profession that Burchett represented as a teacher, a nurse, and a person. In addition to clinical excellence, the recipients are selected based on a comforting presence defined by a calm, supportive influence, a positive attitude and a gentle, unhurried approach.
Scholarship recipients from Avila University include Bethany Cooper, Samantha Fazio, Patera Hawkins-Steele, Brooke Johnson, Riley Sherron, Emma Smith, Dara Watkins, Kayla Wilde, Jamila Williams, and Titus Wong.
Scholarship recipients from William Jewell College include Fayleyny Bellabre, Rebecca Brackney, Inessa Hood, Jasmine McDonald, Allison McIntyre, Molly Page, and Hannah Reese.
The foundation’s commitment to nursing is also reflected in its scholarships for traditional and transfer BSN as well as License in Practical Nursing (LPN) students, financial assistance for nursing students in emergency situations, funding of white coat and commitment jackets, and nursing faculty development. Visit theresearchfoundationkc.org/scholarships for more information about eligibility. To contribute to undergraduate nursing scholarships, go to theresearchfoundationkc.org/givetonursing.
