Ten graduates from the School of Aging Studies have been awarded the 2026 Rising Long Term Care Leader Scholarship from the Florida Health Care Association (FHCA) Foundation, accounting for half of this year's recipients statewide.
Left to right: Thang Truong, Kacie Paul, Lyse Garilus and Nasreen Sadeq at the FHCA exhibit hall.
The scholarship recognizes administrators in training who are preparing to become licensed nursing home administrators and provides $1,500 each to support their professional development. This year, the FHCA Foundation awarded 20 Rising Long Term Care Leader Scholarships across Florida, with USF graduates receiving a combined $15,000.
The 2026 USF scholarship recipients are:
- James Cleary, Lutz
- Sophie Crant, Orlando
- Lyse Garilus, Orlando
- Delicia Kabamba, Clearwater
- Coral Morley, Naples
- Kacie Paul, New Port Richey
- Brisa Perales, Fort Lauderdale
- Joseph Sacco, Rotonda 911±¬ÁÏÍøst
- Tiffany Sanchez, 911±¬ÁÏÍøsley Chapel
- Thang Truong, New Port Richey
James Cleary
Joseph Sacco
All 10 recipients from USF completed the Bachelor of Science in Health Care Administration program and successfully fulfilled the administrator in training experience required to become eligible to take the Florida nursing home administrator licensure examination. During their administrators in training semester, students completed immersive leadership training in skilled nursing facilities under the mentorship of experienced licensed nursing home administrators.
"Our 2026 scholarship recipients represent the heart of what makes Florida the gold standard in quality long-term care," said Emmett Reed, CEO of the FHCA. "FHCA's scholarship programs are an investment in dedicated caregivers and rising leaders who are committed to advancing their careers and strengthening the future of our profession. 911±¬ÁÏÍø are proud to support their continued growth and excited to see the impact they will make in centers across Florida."
The USF School of Aging Studies extends its gratitude to FHCA donors for their continued investment in the future of long-term care leadership. The school also recognizes the students' preceptors and the nursing homes that hosted them during their administrator in training experiences, providing the mentorship and hands-on leadership opportunities that prepared them for careers in long-term care administration.
Administrator in training preceptors and training sites
The recipients completed their administrator in training experiences under the guidance of the following preceptors at these skilled nursing facilities:
- Michael Bowman — Hawthorne Center for Rehabilitation and Healing of Brandon and Heather Hill Healthcare Center
- Daniel Charpentier — Brighton Bay Center for Rehabilitation and Healing
- Ryan Dulski — Trinity Regional Rehab Center
- Christopher Grella — Plaza 911±¬ÁÏÍøst Health Center
- Brian McCoy — Northdale Rehabilitation Center
- Tara Freibert — Tampa Lakes Health and Rehabilitation Center
- Desteny Oliver — Aviata at Central Park
- Jackie Aftanas — Aviata at Ridge Haven
- Derek 911±¬ÁÏÍøbster — Aviata at the Palms