This scholarship was developed in honor of the late Sandy Schafer. Sandy served as director of credentialing for the Hospice and Palliative Credentialing Center (HPCC) and worked with the organization for 14 years. Sandy was instrumental in the credentialing of tens of thousands of nurses and other members of the interdisciplinary team. She displayed great passion for professional certification and worked tirelessly to promote its value.
In 2025, HPNF will provide 25 scholarships to nurses and other members of the interdisciplinary team nationwide to cover the cost of certification fees for those earning or renewing the following Hospice and Palliative Credentialing Center (HPCC) certifications: ACHPN®, APHSW-C, CHPCA®, CHPLN®, CHPN®, CHPNA®, CHPPN®, or CPLC® since January 1, 2025, or plan to before December 31, 2025. Individuals can apply for a scholarship before or after taking the exam.
Eligibility:
If you earned or recertified, or plan to earn or recertify, your ACHPN®, APHSW-C, CHPLN®, CHPN®, CHPNA®, or CHPPN® credential in the 2025 calendar year.
If you recertified or plan to recertify your CHPCA® or CPLC® credential in the 2025 calendar year. (Please note that these two credentials are only available for recertification and not initial certification)
Personally pay for the exam or HPAR fee
Individuals who have been reimbursed for their certification/recertification fees by any other institution or organization are not eligible for this scholarship
To Apply:
Submit a completed certification scholarship application including all required attachments:
One professional letter of reference from a supervisor or manager.
Provide a 250-word maximum essay and address each of the following points for the Awards Selection Committee:
Why is certification important to you?
How will you use your certification to improve your practice, contribute to your place of employment, and promote your profession?
Sandy had been with HPCC since 2004 and helped to develop and lead the organization’s seven certification programs. She was instrumental in the credentialing of tens of thousands of nurses and other members of the interdisciplinary team in those 14 years. Sandy was dedicated to HPCC, always displayed great passion in professional certification, and worked tirelessly to promote the value of certification.
Sandy was passionate about nursing, certification, and professional development, especially palliative and oncology nursing. She would talk to nurses to encourage and mentor them toward hospice and palliative certification. Her professional background was as an Oncology Clinical Nurse Specialist, spending 25 years at UPMC Shadyside in Pittsburgh, PA. Her work focused on palliative care/oncology and pain and symptom management. She earned both her BSN and MSN degrees at the University of Pittsburgh.
“Due to her passion and enthusiasm, Sandy had developed one of the most extensive networks of professional colleagues that I have ever seen,” said Sally Welsh, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, Chief Executive Officer of HPCC. “No matter what city we were in for a meeting or event, Sandy was always reaching out to ‘catch up’ with her colleagues there.”
“Sandy touched many lives, and we will all cherish the memories of this smart, kind, and passionate colleague,” said Ms. Welsh.
Sandy was a member of the Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) and served as the organization’s President in 1993-1994. She was the founding president for the Greater Pittsburgh Chapter of ONS and was a co-founder of Camp Raising Spirit, which provides a weekend retreat for individuals with cancer and their guests. She held leadership positions on the local and national levels with the American Cancer Society, Pennsylvania State Cancer Pain Initiative, and the Pennsylvania Society of Oncology and Hematology.
Sandy was an active member of both the American Board of Nursing Specialties and the Institute for Credentialing Excellence, and a member of the American Pain Society, American Society of Pain Management Nurses, and Sigma Theta Tau. She was a contributing author on three cancer nursing books, and gave numerous presentations locally and nationally on credentialing, pain management, and cancer care. She was also an active member of Our Lady of Grace Church in Scott Township, PA, where she served as a Eucharistic Minister.
The beloved daughter of the late Joseph and Rita (Weishaar) Schafer, Jr., Sandy is survived by her sister Carol (the late Lt. Col. Daniel) Conn, her sister Joan (Don) Schrenker, and her brother Joe Schafer III. She was a devoted aunt to Colleen (Mark) Yarian, Sean (Angela) Conn, Kelly (Steve) Irvine, Scott (Erika) Schrenker, and Shannon (Eric) Kumor, and great aunt to Legion and Gabriel Yarian, Taylor and Molly Irvine, and James Kumor. She is also survived by many loving friends and neighbors, Memorial donations may be made to Camp Raising Spirits, 810 Irwin Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15236.
William Rosa, MS, AGPCNP-BC, ACHPN®, AHN-BC, CCRN-CMC
Penny Lynn Smith, BSN, RN, CHPN®
Charonne Sutherland, RN, CHPN®
Lisa Wild, RN, CHPN®
2017
Susan Irene Alexander, BSN, RN, CHPN®
Erica C. Bolar, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, CHPN®
Lauren Crandall, BSN, RN, CHPPN®
Kristin Fox, ANP-BC, ACHPN®
Susan Grasse, BSN, RN, CHPNA®
Jennifer Jolly Grinage, BSN, RN, CHPN®
Melinda Marie Hansen, RN, MS, ACNS, ACHPN®
Vicki T. Haye, BSN, RN, CHPN®
Rebecca Hoh, BSN, RN, OCN, CHPN®
Daniek Mackenzie, BSN, RN, CHPCA®, CHPN®
Suzanne Markham, LPN, CHPLN®
Carol J. Nichols, BSN, RN, CHPN®
Julia Janelle Rivera, BSN, RN, CHPN®
William Rosa, MS, AGPCNP-BC, ACHPN®, AHN-BC, CCRN-CMC
2016
Jerene Renee Aldinger, RN, BSN, OCN, CHPN®
Patricia Ringos Beach, MSN, RN, ACHPN®, AOCN
Sharon Benson, CBCN, MS, FNPC, ACHPN®
Sheila Brandonburg, RN, CHPN®
Cindy Capen, MSN, RN, CHPN®
Tracy Cain English, ARNP, DNP
Carrie Gardner, BSN, RN, MHR, CHPN®
James R. Huff, LPN, CHPLN®
Marilyn Jira, RN, CHPN®
Tara Lauria, RN, ANP-BC, ACHPN®
Eleanor Melton, RN, MSN, AGACNP-BC, ACHPN®
2015
Amiee Blumenchein, RN, CHPN®
Holly Clanton, RN, BSN, CCRN, CHPN®
Ann Coyle, RNC, BS,-P, CPLC®
J. Nicholas Dionne-Odom, PhD, RN, ACHPN®
Brian Fikes, APN-BC, ACHPN®
Sally Flores, RN-BC, BSN, CHPN®, PCN, MA, PMin
Jennifer Fournier, MSN, APRN, CNS, ACNS-BC, AOCN, CHPN®
Ellen Henahan, RN, CHPN®
Verna Hendricks-Ferguson, RN, PhD, CHPPN®
Sandra Monk, MSN, RN, CHPN®
Tamara Scott, RN, MSN, CPNP, CPON, CHPPN®
Mary Schueller, MSN, RN, AOCNS, CHPN®
Paula Turpening, NM, ANP-BC, ACHPN®
Mercedia White, RN, CHPN®
Rhiana Wiggins, BSN, RN, CHPN®
2014
Lori Ann Browne, CHPN®
Dawn Marie Gebhart, RN, CHPN®
Rebecca Vreeman Hoden, RN, CHPN®
Heidi C. Lee, RN, CHPN®
Celeste Noone MacArthur, CHPN®
Akiko Morimoto, CHPN®
John Nkata, CHPNA®
Theresaann Marie Pietras, RN, BSN, CCRN, CHPN®
William James Saalfeld, RN, CCRN, CHPN®
Lisa Wild, CHPN®
2013
Deborah Brunelle, CHPN®
JoAnne Chitwood, CHPN®
Carol Jean Cullinan, CHPN®
Linda Figura, CHPLN®
Betty I. Hunter, CHPN®
Carma Erickson-Hurt, ACHPN®
Denise Marie Kassal, CHPNA®
Megan Feeney King, CHPN®
Patricia A. Lee, CHPN®
Lisa Ann Levy, CHPN®
Deanna R. Tansey, CHPN®
Heron Faith Warren, ACHPN®
Brenda Wilkerson, CHPN®
2012
Sandra L. Aligarbes, CHPN®
Renee Baird, CHPN®
David Christopher Free, CHPN®
Michelle Marie Goffinet, CHPLN®
Rosa W. Goldberg, CHPN®
Susan Ellen Frost Morin, CHPN®
Quinten Robertson, CHPN®
Roxanne Lee Rowe, CHPN®
Julie Ann Rudolph, CHPN®
Sharon Seabolt, CHPN®
Pamela Woo, ACHPN®
Diane Yorke, CHPPN®
I couldn’t be more honored. I’ve been a hospice nurse for 10 years now, and this is definitely a certification that I’ve always kept my eye on. This will benefit me as not only a hospice nurse, but as a professional who is spreading knowledge about hospice and really focusing on making sure that everybody knows what a great benefit it is.
As a NP Clinical Educator for my organization, illustrating excellence is vital to my role. With this certification, I will solidify my position as a subject matter expert in palliative and hospice care. Furthermore, I can motivate other colleagues to strive to achieve the same.
— Rosa Terrance, DNP, APRN, GNP-BC
— Sandra Lee Schafer Certification Scholarship Recipient,
2022
I feel honored to be a recipient of this prestigious scholarship. It will allow me to share the most up-to-date, vital palliative care and hospice information among colleagues, patients and their families. I feel incredibly fortunate to work in such an important specialty and this scholarship will enhance my practice to continue to provide exceptional care to patients.
I am so grateful to be able to maintain my CHPN and to be awarded a scholarship for renewing it. Pursuing excellence in hospice and palliative care is extremely important and invaluable to our profession and our patients. Being given this scholarship makes it even more exciting and rewarding.
I am so grateful and honored to be selected as a 2022 Sandra Lee Schafer Certification Scholarship recipient. This scholarship is a financial blessing. It is an investment to my future and growth with hospice and palliative care services.
I was thrilled to find out that I was a recipient of the Sandra Lee Schafer Scholarship. This scholarship enabled me to renew my ACHPN certification with ease during a difficult time. In life, Sandy was one of my first mentors in palliative care and encouraged me to pursue leadership opportunities. Even after she is gone, she is still paving the way for me to continue my work in this specialty. Many thanks to the HPNF committee.
The Sandra Lee Schafer Certification Scholarship allowed me to advance my practice of hospice nursing care. I have a better understanding of symptom management, which I share with my patients and colleagues. The scholarship made certification more attainable. I look forward to maintaining my certification with continued education through the Hospice and Palliative Nurses Foundation.
— Courtney A. Celotti, BNS, RN
— Sandra Lee Schafer Certification Scholarship Recipient,
2022
The Sandra Lee Schafer Certification Scholarship means so much to me as a Palliative Care and Hospice nurse practitioner serving our Veterans. Achieving a more solid foundation of knowledge through certification will allow me to provide exceptional Veteran centered care. I am most excited about sharing my knowledge and passion for Palliative Care with my facility and community partners.
This scholarship means a lot to me because it recognizes my passion for palliative care and helping others strive for certification. I want to serve my patients, other healthcare members, and my community through palliative care. This scholarship provided me with a certification that shows my dedication and value in palliative care.
