KANSAS CITY, Mo., (Sept. 8, 2026) – The Research Foundation recently awarded $130,075 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 can obtain their BSN after an accelerated one-year or 16-month program.
Scholarship recipients from Research College of Nursing include Michale Ashberger, Ana Avitia, Chrislon Bolton, Alice Booth, Timothy Burke, Ivy Byrd, Chloe Carmen, Valerie Craft, Caroline Foster, Cameron Futch, Sanjana Gurung, Zachary Happel, Margaret Haug, Yurie Heard, Nathan Heibeck, Emma Hoover, Jackson Jennings, Mikayla Knipp, Seung Eun Lee, Fredrick Leonce, Mary Lewis, Kim Logston, Erin McVey, Logan Morales, Piath Mourwal, Heidi Mull, Jaimy Rockers, Nicole Schumaker, Jennifer Spangler, Dawt Sung, Sara Tamayo, Emilio Vallarino, Melissa Velasquez, Hyoyoung Wells, and Bailey Whithaus
Carmen, Heard, and Tamayo 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.
Byrd 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 Kendra Conard, Jalen Generally, Hlib Prochukhan, Kimber Schafer, Kentravious Smith, and Ashlyn Walker.
Scholarship recipients from William Jewell College include Richard Bowles, Solangie Brown, Julia Inzerillo, Melvis Wachira, and Sharon Williams.
The Research Foundation has awarded a total of $605,781 in scholarships to traditional and transfer as well as accelerated BSN students for the 2026 and 2027 academic years — the most in organization history. The foundation’s commitment to nursing is also reflected in its 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.
