PirateQ 
Five nursing students from Pensacola State College have been chosen to participate in the prestigious Florida Area Health Education Center (AHEC) Scholars Program. The students — Sara Barvoza Charupe, Gretchen Connelly, Elliot Knieper, Shana Nicholas and Kailee Sharp — were selected from a competitive pool of 150 candidates statewide.
Dr. Corey Lofton, Director of Nursing, is proud of our students for earning their place in such a competitive program. “This achievement highlights Pensacola State College’s excellence in nursing education and its dedication to preparing students for impactful healthcare careers,” he said. “By addressing critical shortages in underserved areas, the program helps strengthen the local healthcare workforce and improve access to quality care in the community.”
Students selected for this program must be enrolled in a health professions degree, be two years from program or degree completion, and commit to two years in the program and a one-time program follow-up, according to flahecnetwork.org. Applicable majors include but are not limited to, medicine, physician assistant, public health, dentistry, occupational therapy, physical therapy, psychology, nursing, and pharmacy.
The Florida AHEC Scholars Program spans two years or four academic semesters, providing participants with an enriching blend of online learning and practical experience. Students complete 40 hours of online modules and 40 hours of community-based experiential learning each year. The program focuses on essential healthcare topics such as behavioral health, social determinants of health, practice transformation, cultural competency, interprofessional education, and emerging healthcare issues.
Participants engage in experiential learning by serving medically under-served and at-risk populations, gaining valuable real-world experience. The program also emphasizes teamwork, as students collaborate in interdisciplinary care settings while benefiting from mentoring, networking opportunities, and professional development initiatives.
The AHEC Scholars Program is open to students in disciplines that support primary health care services delivery in both clinical and non-clinical roles and is part of a national initiative designed to prepare students for leadership roles in primary care and beyond. The free, interdisciplinary program equips health professional students with the skills and knowledge to effectively serve under-served and at-risk populations. Each student will receive a $500 stipend per year and a certificate of recognition upon completing the program.
This opportunity aligns with PSC’s commitment to fostering excellence in healthcare education and preparing graduates to make meaningful community contributions. These nursing students exemplify the College’s mission of creating impactful, compassionate healthcare leaders.