Washington ENA gives away two Education Assistance Awards annually: Two winners for the Student Nurse Education Assistance Award and two winners for the Emergency Nurse Education Assistance Award. The application deadline is March 15th, 2025 by 11:59 p.m. Winners will be announced at the May State Council meeting.
The Student Nurse Education Assistance Award is $1000 for a student nurse in Washington State who is not yet licensed and interested in emergency nursing. Criteria for consideration:
- Be currently enrolled in an accredited degree or certificate nursing program.
- Complete the online application form and submit required documents. The complete application must be received by email by March 15, 2025, 11:59 p.m.
- Access online application here STUDENT NURSE Education Assistance Award
The Emergency Nurse Education Assistance Award is $1000 for an emergency nurse in Washington State working to further their education by obtaining a higher degree (e.g. BSN, MSN, DNP, or PhD). Criteria for consideration:
- Current ENA Member
- Currently practicing in Washington State as a Registered Nurse with an unrestricted license
- Currently enrolled in an accredited degree or certificate program
- Complete the online application form and submit required documents The completed application must be received by email by March 15, 2025, 11:59 p.m.
- Access online application here EMERGENCY NURSE Education Assistance Award
For any questions, please email the Education Committee at debra.rossie@ena-wa.org
2025 Education Assistance Award Recipients
WA-ENA Education Assistance 2025 Winners
Each year the Emergency Nurses Association – Washington State Council (WA-ENA) awards emergency nurses and student nurses currently in an academic program with an education assistance of $1000 each. Applicants must meet eligibility criteria set forth by WA-ENA board. Applications go through a blinded review by board members. Winners were announced in the May 2nd, 2025 State Council Meeting in Bellevue, WA.
Emergency Nurse Winner:
Sara Crauer RN, is working on her DNP at Seattle University. She currently works as an ED nurse at Overlake Hospital. Her goal is to work in primary care in order to help fill gaps in the lack of accessibility and eventually return to the ED as a DNP.
Emergency Nurse Winner:
Cecily Stone RN, is working on her DNP at Pacific Lutheran University and works as an ED nurse. Her goal is to become a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner in order to provide holistic, immediate, and sustained care to individuals in their most critical moments and address long-term mental health needs of underserved populations.
Student Nurse Winner:
Joshua Bolton is a student at Peninsula College. He currently works as an EMT for Olympic Ambulance in Clallam County. Joshua has a desire and commitment to continue to serve rural and medically underserved communities after graduating.
Student Nurse Winner:
Lacey Westman is a student at University of Washington. She works as an ED tech at Swedish Medical Center. Lacey has a desire to provide compassionate, high-quality care and make a meaningful impact on those in critical need.
2024 Education Assistance Award Recipients
WA-ENA Education Assistance 2024 Winners
Each year the Emergency Nurses Association – Washington State Council (WA-ENA) awards emergency nurses and student nurses currently in an academic program with an education assistance of $1000 each. Applicants must meet eligibility criteria set forth by WA-ENA board. Applications go through a blinded review by board members. Winners were announced in the May 3rd, 2024 State Council Meeting in Silverdale, WA.
| Emergency Nurse Winner Betty Bowman, RN is currently working in the Emergency Department at Providence Holy Family Hospital. She is also pursuing a Master’s in Education at Western Governors University, with an expected graduation date of August 2025. Betty is actively involved in the American Heart Association’s Heart Walk, teaches the Stop the Bleed course, and participates in the Every 15 Minutes program. Additionally, she is a member of the AACN Clinical Scene Investigation team at her workplace. Betty also volunteers as a nurse mentor, providing phone support to her mentee. |
| Emergency Nurse Winner Kianni Demmert, RN is currently employed at Seattle Children’s Hospital and is pursuing a BSN to DNP program at the University of Washington, with an expected graduation date of March 2026. She is an active member of the Mary Mahoney Foundation and is passionate about reducing healthcare disparities in the emergency medicine triage process. |
| Student Nurse Winner Ryan Lybarger is currently attending Olympic College in the ATA-RN Program, with an expected graduation date of June 2024. A former EMT, Ryan has been working in the Emergency Department at St. Anthony Hospital in Gig Harbor, WA. His interest in emergency medicine was sparked when his father passed away from a sudden myocardial infarction at the age of 52, inspiring him to help people during their most critical moments. |
| Student Nurse Winner Tiffani Frandsen is currently attending Olympic College in the AND program, with an expected graduation date of June 2024. She volunteers and teaches at a church youth group and works as an ED Technician at St. Michael’s Medical Center. Tiffani has a keen interest in palliative care and enjoys outdoor activities. |
2023 Education Assistance Award Recipients
WA-ENA Education Assistance 2023 Winners
Each year the Emergency Nurses Association – Washington State Council (WA-ENA) awards emergency nurses and student nurses currently in an academic program with an education assistance of $1000 each. Applicants must meet eligibility criteria set forth by WA-ENA board. Applications go through a blinded review by board members. Winners were announced in the April 14, 2023 State Council Meeting in Wenatchee, WA.
2022 Education Assistance Award Recipients
Each year the Emergency Nurses Association – Washington State Council (WA-ENA) awards emergency nurses and student nurses currently in an academic program with an education assistance of $1000 each. Applicants must meet eligibility criteria set forth by WA-ENA board. Applications go through a blinded review by board members. Winners were announced in the April 29, 2022 State Council Meeting in Olympia, WA.
| Student Nurse Winner Dessi Nikolova, Student Nurse, works as an ED Tech at Overlake Hospital in Bellevue. She has also been an active volunteer for covid clinics and public schools. She is graduating with her ADN this June with the plan to continuing on and getting her BSN. | |
| Emergency Nurse Winner Dede Utley, RN, with 24 years of emergency medicine experience is currently working at Kittitas Valley Healthcare. She also works towards providing information on mental health and substance use disorders to her community and is on the local Board of Health. Anticipated graduation this December 2022 with her Masters degree. | |
| Student Nurse Winner Cindy Dilg, Student Nurse, currently works as a tech in the Emergency Department at Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center and very active in her community church. Cindy is pursuing her ADN from Spokane Community College with anticipated graduation date in August 2023. | |
| Emergency Nurse Winner Ryan Willis, RN, from St. Joseph Medical Center. He is an active member of the Staffing Committee and with the shared governance council. Anticipated graduation December 2022 with Master’s degree. |
2021 Educational Assistance Award Recipients
Student Nurse Winner
- Lyndsy Vasquez, Student Nurse, works as an ED Tech at Providence Medical Center – Everett was awarded the 2021 Washington State Emergency Nurses Association’s Student Nurse Education Assistance. Lyndsy is pursuing BSN at University of Washington with anticipated graduation date in June 2022.
Membership Co-Chair Annie Lin (left) with Lyndsy Vasquez (right)
Emergency Nurse Winner
- Haley Nolan, RN, is an emergency nurse from Mason General Hospital and Administrative Supervisor from Providence St Peter Hospital pursuing MSN degree at Western Governors University, anticipated graduation in January 2022.
Haley Nolan (left) with Education Chair Marie Yabut
2020 Educational Assistance Award Recipients
- Sara Crauer, Student Nurse, working as an ED Tech at Overlake Hospital Medical Center was awarded the 2020 Washington State Emergency Nurses Association’s Student Nurse Education Assistance. Photo taken on April 2020 at Overlake ED.
- Kai Folke, RN, emergency nurse from Central Washington Hospital pursuing RN to BSN degree, anticipated graduation in June 2020.
- Aidan Ottley, RN, emergency nurse from Central Washington Hospital pursuing RN to BSN degree, anticipated graduation in August 2021.
2019 Educational Assistance Award Recipients
- Jaedon Farley, student nurse, working as an ED tech at Overlake Hospital Medical Center was awarded the 2019 Washington State Emergency Nurses Association Anna Mae Ericksen Educational Assistance Award.
- Jessica Serrano, an emergency nurse from Highline Medical Center, who is pursuing a Doctorate in Nursing Practice with an anticipated graduation date of May 2020, received a 2019 Washington State Emergency Nurses Association Educational Assistance Award.
- Francis Prince, an emergency nurse from MultiCare Health System pursuing a degree to become a Family Nurse Practitioner was a recipient of a 2019 Washington State Emergency Nurses Association Educational Assistance Award.