Samantha Herrera-Moreno, a sophomore nursing student at the University of Northern Iowa, is driven by a passion to help others. Raised by her grandmother and aunt, she was inspired to become a nurse as a young child, after attending doctors’ appointments and helping her grandmother with cancer and diabetes treatments.

Though she’s already working part time to pay for living expenses and coursework, she feels even closer to her goal, thanks to the Stitchman Education Scholarship. The scholarship has not only provided financial assistance, but also a sense of validation for Samantha. "I was really happy and relieved that somebody was seeing potential in me," she says. With aspirations of working in a hospital or nursing home, Samantha is grateful for the generosity of the donors who are helping her turn her vision into a reality.

CFNEIA's scholarship application process opens January 10, 2026. Go to cfneia.org/scholarships for more information.