Scholarships/Awards

We would love to reward you for your accomplishments, so please carefully read the requirements for each submission before submitting your application.

We encourage you to review the grading rubric prior to submitting your applications. CLICK HERE to see the 2025 Grading Rubric.

Don't miss the chance to be recognized for your achievements and hard work!

We know many of you have impacted the community or each other through individual efforts and with your school chapter. Please email [email protected] with any questions you may have.

We have a number of awards and scholarships to give and we would love to celebrate your success! Before submitting your application, please look over the criteria for each submission. We encourage all CNSA Members to apply.

*You must be a member to be eligible to apply for any CNSA Awards or Scholarships..

CNSA DAISY AWARD

*The recipient of the CNSA Daisy Award must be registered for the in-person Convention AND if selected, MUST be present at the Award Ceremony to receive the award.

The Daisy Award for Advancing Health Equity

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI): Promoting a welcoming and inclusive environment for all.
Health Equity: Reducing disparities in healthcare access and outcomes for underserved communities.
Social Determinants of Health: Recognizing the impact of factors like income, housing, and education on health.
Compassionate Care: Providing exceptional care that addresses both the physical and emotional needs of patients in the community.

Please tell us what sets this nursing student apart from other caring nursing students. Nursing student should demonstrate ALL of things listed below:

How has the nominee shown commitment to the community served, in a way that is significantly above the norm?
Describe how the nominee made a difference by addressing one or more social determinants of health
How has the nominee gone "beyond the call”, or demonstrated excellence above what is normally expected?

Eligibility Criteria:

Current member of NSNA/CNSA
Role model and/or mentor for other nursing students
MUST CURRENTLY be enrolled at nursing school
MUST be registered for convention

Required Documentation:

Proof of enrollment in nursing school
Proof of membership (ID)
Pictures

Submit Your Nomination Here!

OUTSTANDING NEWSLETTER AWARD

The time has come for you to receive recognition for all the long, arduous hours bringing your fellow students news that is fit to print.

ELIGIBILITY

Newsletters must have been published between October 2024-September 2025.
Application must be submitted by Friday, October 17, 2025 at 11:59pm.

SELECTION CRITERIA

All entries will be considered on the basis of:

Apply Here!

OUTSTANDING CHAPTER SOCIAL MEDIA AWARD

We want to recognize your arduous work brining your fellow students' news and online information.

ELIGIBILITY

Application must be submitted by Friday, October 17, 2025 at 11:59pm.

SELECTION CRITERIA

All entries will be considered on the basis of:

Up-to-date content
Clean, organized, and eye-catching material
Updated contact information for School Chapter
Resources for chapter members: tool kits, chapter newsletters, community health, etc.

Apply Here!

COMMUNITY HEALTH PROJECT AWARD

It is no secret that CNSA chapters perform excellent community service, and as a result, the CNSA Board of Directors presents three Population and Global Health Awards to CNSA Chapters each year. These awards are Community, Population and Global Levels.

We strongly encourage every chapter to apply for this award. We look forward to seeing what your chapter has identified as a community, population or global need and what actions you took. Show us how you support your community.

Examples for each individual award could include:

Community Health Project Award - Mental Health of Nursing Students
Population Health Project Award - Awareness of Health Disparities in the Black Community
Global Health Project Award - Education Targeting COVID-19

For each award, a certificate will be awarded to the winning Chapter at the Awards Ceremony on November 16th during the 2025 Annual Convention. Additionally, there will be honorable mentions to chapters, as we want to thank and recognize those who are maintaining their commitment to their communities.

ELIGIBILITY

Projects must have been designed and implemented by the chapter.
Projects must have taken place during the 2024-2025 Academic Year (7/1/24-8/31/25).
Award application must be completed by Friday, October 17, 2025 at 11:59pm.

SELECTION CRITERIA

All entries will be considered on the basis of:

Project impact
Number of students involved
Creativity of project design
Successful communication in the application of project objectives and completion details

Apply Here!

BREAKTHROUGH TO NURSING PROJECT AWARD

One of the main ways that nursing students can act cooperatively and ultimately improve the way that nursing care is provided to diverse groups of people is by working on a Breakthrough to Nursing project.

This award is given to the CNSA school chapter whose endeavor most effectively exemplifies their dedication to helping non-traditional nursing students finish their education.

By assisting and supporting non-traditional nursing students, the Breakthrough to Nursing (BTN) branch of the California Nursing Students' Association (CNSA) strives to broaden the diversity of nursing in California.

For this reason, BTN has developed this award to encourage the design and implementation of creative projects that work to embolden nontraditional students and help them to successfully complete their nursing programs. These projects provide participants with leadership opportunities ultimately helping them to develop their skills as they pursue a career in nursing. Working on a Breakthrough to Nursing project is one of the major avenues by which nursing students can act in a unified way to ultimately improve the way that nursing care is catered to diverse groups of people.

ELIGIBILITY

Projects must have been designed and implemented by the chapter.
Projects must have taken place during the 2024-2025 Academic Year (7/1/24-8/31/25).
Award application must be completed by Friday, October 17, 2025 at 11:59pm.

SELECTION CRITERIA

All entries will be considered on the basis of:

Creativity in project design
Successful communication in the application of project objectives and completion details
Impact on target population

Apply Here

MEMBER OF THE YEAR AWARD

Do you know an outstanding CNSA member?

The CNSA Member of the Year Award, which honors students who have demonstrated exceptional dedication to CNSA, is now accepting applications. A certificate will be presented to this year's winner at the Awards Ceremony during the CNSA 2025 Annual Convention.

ELIGIBILITY

The nominated student must be:

An active NSNA/CNSA member in good standing within their chapter (CNSA (State) Board of Directors are not eligible to receive this award).
Strongly involved in CNSA at the local, regional or state levels.

NOMINATION AND SELECTION PROCESS

The nominator must complete the following award nomination form (self-nominations are not accepted).
A nomination must include a letter of recommendation written by the nominator detailing the efforts of the nominated student in CNSA activities.
Submit completed nomination form by Friday, October 17, 2025 at 11:59pm.

Apply Here!

FACULTY OF THE YEAR AWARD

CNSA would like to assist you in recognizing outstanding professors who exhibit leadership abilities and consistently encourage student participation in CNSA.

The winner will be announced at the Awards Ceremony and will receive a certificate from CNSA. Nominating students will also be invited to attend. All nominated Faculty will be informed of their nomination and invited to the CNSA Awards Ceremony to be held during the CNSA 2025 Annual Convention.

AWARD REQUIREMENTS

Each school may nominate one faculty member. Nominations can come from chapters or from individual CNSA members.
Please upload a letter of recommendation written by the nominator that explains in detail why this person deserves this award and how they support CNSA student activities at your school.
Completion of the Award Nomination Form by Friday, October 17, 2025 at 11:59pm.

SELECTION CRITERIA

All nominations will be considered on the basis of:

Chapter involvement
Student empowerment
Accuracy of information
Quality of writing within the letter of recommendation

Apply Here!

STAR CHAPTER AWARD

The Star Chapter Award recognizes CNSA constituent chapters for their ongoing involvement in CNSA and National Student Nurses’ Association (NSNA) and their commitment to shared governance, community service, leadership, and professional development.

The California Nursing Students’ Association (CNSA) invites constituent chapters to apply for the Star Chapter Award. The Star Chapter Award recognizes CNSA constituent chapters for their ongoing involvement in CNSA and National Student Nurses’ Association (NSNA) and their commitment to shared governance, community service, leadership, and professional development.

The chapters that obtain this award will be announced at the Awards Ceremony, be recognized as a Star Chapter Award recipient at the following two conventions and receive a certificate from CNSA. Star Chapter Award status is recognized for three years. Star Chapter Award recipients may reapply when three new years of data are available. All others may apply annually.

Eligibility

Must be a CNSA Chapter with constituency status. Each CNSA constituent chapter may submit an application.
Complete the award application, and provide supporting documentation (.doc or PDF file).
Submit completed application by Friday, October 17, 2025 at 11:59pm.

Selection Criteria

Please refer to the rubric above. Not all local chapters will meet all of the criteria, and some will show greater strength in certain categories over others. A point system with a range of points will be utilized to determine how well applicants meet the specific criteria in the categories below.

Indicate applicable category number and corresponding criteria letter in all supporting documentation, and submit in order. Complete this official application form for the CNSA Star Chapter Award, and attach all supporting documentation to demonstrate how your program satisfies each categories requirements.

Apply Here!

Best Nurse Brain Award

We encourage you to submit your Nurse Brains, on which we know you worked so hard on in nursing school. Submissions will be graded on thoroughness, organization, usability, design, and relevance to the unit it would be used for. Winners' nurse brains will be uploaded to the CNSA website as a resource to all CNSA members.

Submit completed application by Friday, October 17, 2025 at 11:59pm.

Apply Here!

2025 CNSA SCHOLARSHIPS

CNSA will offer three Scholarships for the 2025 Convention! CNSA Members will have the opportunity to apply for one of the following Scholarships: 1 $500 Scholarship or one of 2 $250 Scholarships. Submit completed applications by Friday October 17, 2025, at 11:59pm. Scholarship recipients will be recognized at the CNSA Annual Awards Ceremony during the 2025 CNSA Annual Convention.

$500- LeadWithCare: Nursing Takes the Lead in Mental Health Leadership

Mental health leadership is crucial in transforming healthcare environments and improving outcomes for both patients and nurses. Explain an innovative, leadership-based approach for addressing mental health issues within the nursing profession or healthcare settings. How can nurses lead initiatives that promote mental well-being, reduce stigma, and create supportive environments for either patients and/or healthcare workers? Describe how your leadership proposal would inspire change, enhance patient mental healthcare, or foster resilience and well-being among nursing professionals. What leadership qualities and strategies would be key to implementing your idea successfully?

Requirements: Letter of Recommendation, Proof of enrollment in nursing school, Unofficial Transcript, Active NSNA/CNSA membership, and MINIMUM 1000 - MAXIMUM 1100 words. Must follow APA guidelines

$250- Code Blue: Rising Under Pressure

In critical moments, nurses are often calm in the chaos. Whether during a Code Blue, a high-stress clinical scenario, or a moment when everything felt like it was on the line, tell a story where you had to think quickly, work as a team, or manage a high-pressure situation.

How did you respond, what did you learn, and how has this shaped your confidence or approach to patient care? What qualities do you think are essential for nurses in high-stakes moments?

Requirements: Letter of Recommendation, Proof of enrollment in nursing school, Unofficial Transcript, Active NSNA/CNSA membership, and MINIMUM 500 - MAXIMUM 700 words. Must follow APA guidelines

$250- LeadWithCare: Future of Nursing Technology

The integration of emerging technologies in healthcare is transforming the future of nursing. Propose a forward-thinking technological innovation that could revolutionize the nursing profession over the next 5 - 10 years. This can involve artificial intelligence, robotics, virtual reality, data analytics, and other advanced tools.

Explain how your idea could address current or anticipated challenges in healthcare-such as staffing shortages, clinical decision-making, burnout, or patient safety. Discuss the feasibility of your innovation, how it could be implemented, and its long-term impact on both nurses and patient care.

Requirements: Letter of Recommendation, Proof of enrollment in nursing school, Unofficial Transcript, Active NSNA/CNSA membership, and MINIMUM 500 - MAXIMUM 700 words. Must follow APA guidelines

Please read all of the information on the form prior to submitting your application.

Apply Here!