PA Student Wins Full-Tuition Scholarship at White Coat Event

Josephine Nyakundi thought she was just getting her white coat. Instead, she got life-changing news in front of her entire class at Augusta University.

The physician assistant student was sitting in the audience during the College of Allied Health Sciences ceremony when organizers announced she'd won the 2026 BeST Scholarship. The award covers her full tuition.

"At first, I wasn't sure who they were talking about," Nyakundi said. "When I finally knew it was me, my heart skipped a beat. I immediately started sobbing because it was surreal."

Her family watched the moment unfold online from their home in Kenya. They saw her collapse into tears as the reality hit: no more worrying about how much debt she'd carry after graduation.

Alumnus Ron Sanders Jr. created the scholarship in 2022 to support underrepresented students in the physician assistant program. He named it BeST after three mentors who shaped his career: Eugene Beverly, Judith Stallings, and Ben Taylor.

Sanders, who now co-founded Viral Solutions to address COVID-19 testing in Georgia, returns to campus each fall to encourage incoming students. Nyakundi heard him speak in August and found him funny and engaging, never imagining she'd become his next scholarship recipient.

Her advisor, Alicia Elam, said Nyakundi earned it. "What truly sets her apart is how she applies her experiences to uplift others," Elam explained. "She consistently demonstrates leadership with purpose."

Nyakundi founded initiatives supporting student inclusion and serves as a representative for minority students. But she also admits the PA program tested her limits at first.

"Every single test mattered the most," she said about her early stress. With Elam's mentorship, she learned to work under pressure, manage her time, and develop the skills she needs to become an excellent provider.

The Ripple Effect

The scholarship transforms more than just Nyakundi's bank account. Without financial stress consuming her mental energy, she can pour everything into her training and patient care skills.

"Your whole life revolves around how much money you take out and how much money you're going to get back," she said. "This just frees me up in so many ways that I didn't even realize."

Elam believes that freedom will ripple outward to future patients. When students can focus fully on learning instead of juggling financial anxiety, they become better healthcare providers for underserved communities.

Nyakundi chose Augusta University for its small classes, peer support programs, and full cadaver lab. Now she's getting something else she didn't expect: confirmation that others believe in her potential as much as she does.