Nominations Open for the 2026 AANP State Award for Outstanding Contributions
Media Contact: Bryan Black
Help recognize excellence in clinical practice and advocacy by making a nomination before the Oct. 1 deadline.
AUSTIN, TEXAS — The American Association of Nurse Practitioners® (AANP) has opened nominations for its prestigious State Award for Outstanding Contributions. Presented annually to one outstanding recipient per state, this award honors those who have demonstrated excellence in advancing the nurse practitioner (NP) role through practice, education, advocacy, research and leadership (PEARL).
“Nurse practitioners and their advocates are transforming health care in profound and enduring ways,” said AANP President Valerie J. Fuller, PhD, DNP. “The State Awards for Outstanding Contributions allow us to highlight the remarkable impact nurse practitioners and their champions have on health care; whether through advancing policy, mentoring the next generation, or delivering high-quality, patient-centered care. I encourage every member of our community to take a moment and nominate someone whose work is making a real difference. Let’s recognize and celebrate those who are shaping the future of our profession.”
Established in 1991, the State Award for Excellence was created to recognize nurse practitioners (NPs) who have demonstrated excellence in clinical practice and advanced the visibility of the NP role. In 1993, AANP introduced a separate Advocate State Award for Excellence to honor individuals who have made significant contributions to NP legislative efforts and public awareness. In 2024, these longstanding honors were unified and reimagined as the AANP State Awards for Outstanding Contributions, presented annually to one recipient per state whose work exemplifies excellence in advancing the NP role across key areas, including practice, education, advocacy, research and leadership.
AANP members are encouraged to nominate an individual before the Oct. 1 deadline, and self-nominations are welcomed. Membership is required to submit a nomination; however, nominees for these awards are not required to be AANP members, and nominees cannot be current AANP elected leaders.
Disclaimer: For elected officials, regulators, appointees, federal employees and military at both the state and federal levels (“government employee”), AANP cannot provide items of value. Individuals in these positions will receive public recognition and be presented with a certificate but will not receive additional items. If an awardee is a government employee and inadvertently receives an offer from AANP that includes additional benefits as part of an award, please alert staff immediately.
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The American Association of Nurse Practitioners® (AANP) is the largest professional membership organization for nurse practitioners (NPs) of all specialties. It represents the interests of the more than 431,000 licensed NPs in the U.S. AANP provides legislative leadership at the local, state and national levels, advancing health policy; promoting excellence in practice, education and research; and establishing standards that best serve NPs' patients and other health care consumers. As The Voice of the Nurse Practitioner®, AANP represents the interests of NPs as providers of high-quality, cost-effective, comprehensive, patient-centered health care. To locate an NP in your community, visit npfinder.com. For more information about NPs, visit aanp.org.