Meet the 2026-2027 Foundation Scholarship Recipients

Alpha Phi Foundation is proud to announce its scholarship recipients for the 2026–2027 academic year, awarding vital tuition support to outstanding undergraduate and graduate scholars across North America.

Investing in the academic, personal, and professional pursuits of Alpha Phi women, these merit- and need-based scholarships advance the Foundation’s core mission of empowering women to lead, learn, and make a lasting impact in their communities.

This year’s cohort of 85 exceptional scholars represents a remarkably diverse span of disciplines, including medicine, law, biomedical engineering, business administration, educational leadership, and public health. From undergraduate leaders pioneering clinical research and campus governance to graduate scholars pursuing advanced degrees, these recipients embody the highest standards of academic excellence and lifelong sisterhood.

“Our scholarship recipients exemplify the strength, ambition, and commitment to service that have defined Alpha Phi for more than 150 years,” said Janis Coughlin-Piester (Theta Kappa-Rochester), Alpha Phi Foundation Board Chair. “Thanks to the extraordinary generosity of our donors, alumnae, and chapters, we are thrilled to invest in these impressive women as they prepare to lead and innovate across every sector of society.”

Advancing Cardiac Care & Health Care Innovation

Alpha Phi Foundation’s long-standing dedication to women’s heart health and cardiovascular research is reflected in many of this year’s recipients, whose academic pursuits align directly with the Foundation’s philanthropic mission.

Pioneering Pediatric & Adult Cardiology: Scholars Emily Trapp (Beta Delta-UCLA) and Katelyn Jackson (Kappa Theta-Baylor) are utilizing their awards to pursue medical degrees with specific goals of becoming pediatric and adult cardiologists dedicated to supporting women’s and children’s heart health.

Data-Driven Advances in Cardiac Care: Biomedical engineering scholar Lindsay Best (Beta Pi-USC) is specializing in biomedical data analytics to bridge the gap between clinical practice and the data-driven innovations shaping the future of women’s cardiac care.

Transformative Medical & Nursing Research: Recipients including Lauren Brown (Iota Zeta-Colorado School of Mines) and Bryn Erickson (Iota Chi-Yale) are conducting advanced biomedical engineering research to design next-generation medical devices, while nursing scholars such as Emmersyn Hyrup (Delta Gamma-Colorado), Katherine Hughes (Omicron-Missouri), and Natalie Padgett (Iota Psi-North Florida) prepare for high-impact careers in patient care and clinical advocacy.

Translating Alpha Phi Leadership into Lifelong Impact

For many recipients, the leadership skills, service values, and mentorship cultivated within their collegiate Alpha Phi chapters have directly inspired their academic and professional ambitions:

Leading in Executive & Corporate Sectors: Alumnae like Kate Monson (Delta-Cornell) credit Alpha Phi with giving them the confidence to manage organizations, drive financial strategy, and lead dynamic teams. In business and quantitative analytics, scholars like Aaliyah Buck (Epsilon-Minnesota) and Julia McHugh (Theta-Michigan) are leveraging chapter executive experience to mentor the next generation of women in sales, trading, and marketing.

Advocating Through Law & Educational Leadership: Law scholars including Bella Randle (West Virginia-Beta Iota) and Sophia Cirillo (Phi- Oklahoma) highlight how their chapter leadership roles prepared them to excel in legal advocacy and courtroom representation. In education, doctoral scholars Kristen Cheng-Bosson (Eta Chi-Bishop’s) are applying foundational leadership principles to research and enhance academic success across school systems and higher education.to research and build more equitable educational environments.

Impact in Their Own Words

The direct connection between Alpha Phi’s support and professional achievement is best expressed by the recipients themselves:

“Alpha Phi has taught me the importance of service and leadership, and I hope to carry these values with me through my career in healthcare as I work toward medical school.”
– Payton Kawahara (Gamma Tau-Willamette)

“My personal mission, one that began to form in my early days with Alpha Phi, has been to create meaningful and equitable educational experiences for students. This scholarship helps me engage in research that brings me closer to living up to that mission every day.”
– Lian Boos (Lambda-UC Berkeley)

“I hope to honor this scholarship by carrying forward the lessons of leadership and service I learned through Alpha Phi into every community and patient I serve as a physician. I am so proud to be part of a sisterhood that continues to empower women to pursue their dreams.”
– Tanvi Pendurthi (Epsilon Rho-UC Davis)

To view the full list of 2026–2027 Alpha Phi Foundation scholarship recipients, please click here.

Supporting Women’s Futures

Alpha Phi Foundation scholarships are made possible through permanent endowments established by generous alumnae, family foundations, chapters, and friends of Alpha Phi, as well as annual gifts to the Foundation’s scholarship fund. By removing financial barriers, the Foundation ensures that financial constraints never stand in the way of a sister’s academic potential or professional vision.

To make a gift to support future scholars, please click here.