Physician assistant student overwhelmed to receive BeST Scholarship

Josephine Nyakundi was sitting in the audience during the College of Allied Health Sciences White Coat Ceremony for physician assistants when she got life-changing news.

Before she received her coat, Nyakundi was informed in front of her classmates that she had been awarded the 2026 BeST Scholarship, an endowment created by Ron Sanders Jr. He graduated from Augusta State University and received a Master of Science of Physician Assistant from the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University. 

Sanders created the BeST Scholarship in 2022 to support underrepresented students in the didactic phase of their PA education. The scholarship, which covers the full cost of tuition, is named in honor of his three mentors: Eugene Beverly, PA-C, who was his preceptor for his family medicine rotation; Judith Stallings, EDD, MHE, PA-C, who was his professor and adviser when he entered the program; and Ben Taylor, PA-C, who allowed Sanders to shadow him and gave him the opportunity to amass more than 300 hours.

“At first, I wasn’t sure who they were talking about. They mentioned some things that I was in and it started to hit me,” said Nyakundi, whose family was watching online back home in Kenya. “When I finally knew it was me, my heart skipped a beat. I could not believe it. I immediately started sobbing because it was surreal.”

Sanders believes exposure in any field is important and for the past few years, he has returned to AU and shared encouraging words with future physician assistant students at the beginning of the fall semester. He currently lives in Atlanta and is co-founder of Viral Solutions, which was created to help find a way to resolve the COVID-19 testing crisis in Georgia.

Alicia Elam, PHARMD, has been Nyakundi’s advisor and, according to Nyakundi, has been a significant source of guidance throughout her academic journey. Elam has mentored and navigated her through the rigors of the PA program, has helped her prioritize and manage the curriculum, offered her feedback on her professional development and has served as a sounding board while fostering an environment where she feels supported and empowered.

Elam said Nyakundi embodies the core values that the BeST Scholarship represents.

“Resilience, service, leadership and a commitment to underserved communities. Her academic performance is strong, but what truly sets her apart is how she applies her experiences to uplift others,” Elam said. “From founding initiatives that support student inclusion to serving as a representative for minority students, she consistently demonstrates leadership with purpose. She also carries a deep sense of responsibility, both to her family and to the communities she hopes to serve, which speaks to her character and integrity. She is not only an excellent student, but someone who will have a meaningful and lasting impact in healthcare.”

Nyakundi remembers when Sanders visited in August and mentioned the scholarship. She found him funny and engaging, and also thoughtful for coming back and encouraging the next batch of PA students.

“I enjoyed listening and hearing about his story and how he got to where he is, and then the scholarship on top of it… It’s so kind of him to give back to [a program] that meant a lot to him,” Nyakundi said.

Elam believes Nyakundi’s opportunity will be transformative. She believes removing the financial burden will allow her to redirect her full energy toward her academic and professional development without the competing stressors that many students face.

“Given her work ethic and drive, I have no doubt that she will use this opportunity to further excel, deepen her engagement and continue her leadership within the program,” Elam said. “More importantly, it will allow her to be fully present in her training, which ultimately benefits not only her, but the patients and communities she will go on to serve.

When Nyakundi was applying to PA programs, AU had what she was looking for: small class size, peer programs and a full cadaver lab. She agrees with Elam that this opportunity will relieve stress because she believes every student is always worrying about money and tuition in some form or another.

“Your whole life revolves around how much money you take out and how much money you’re going to get back, but this is just transformative money. I think this just frees me up in so many ways that I didn’t even realize until I started really thinking about how much money that was.”

Elam said when she first met Nyakundi, she thought she was incredibly poised, thoughtful and purposeful. Elam thought she carried herself with quiet confidence and a clear purpose, and she has seen her grow not only in her didactic knowledge and academic confidence, but also in her leadership.

“She has become more vocal in advocating for others, more assured in her decision-making and more intentional in how she contributes to her peers and the program. Her growth has been both professional and personal, and it has been impressive to witness.”

Nyakundi said in the beginning of her program she was always stressed out because “every single test mattered the most.” But as she learned from her experiences and a confidante like Elam in her corner, she has evolved and learned how to be a provider. She has also learned how to work under pressure and with others while improving her social skills and time management. The BeST Scholarship only affirms that others believe in her as much as she does in herself.

“Knowing that someone sees and understands your story and agrees that I deserve it… It’s an empowering thing when people believe in you and believe you can make a difference,” Nyakundi said. “This is going to make me work even harder because I don’t want to fail them and I don’t want to fail my family. I have to make it work and I have to make it worthwhile. The one thing that my mom taught me is, whenever you do get a chance, you always you have to put 100% into it because you never know if you know you’re going to get another chance.”