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How to Submit
1. Login
If not already logged into the site, please log in with your AANP Member credentials.
2. Create
From your Dashboard, select the AANP program for which you are submitting an application or an award nomination.
3. Save
During the Call for Application or Nomination period, your entry can be saved as DRAFT until all the required information is completed and attachments uploaded. As each section is complete, you will see a 
appear in the tab when the Application or Nomination is saved.
4. Submit
On completion, Submit as FINAL to submit your application or nomination. Download and print a copy of your submission for your records by clicking on the 
icon in the Application Summary section in the right column. Incomplete application or nominations will not be considered. All submissions must be completed with all required information by the submission deadline.
If you require assistance or need additional information, please check the AANP Program site for contact information.
AANP Call for Standing Committee Appointments
Ready to get more involved in AANP? AANP is seeking volunteers to serve on Standing Committees reporting to the Board of Directors.
Volunteering is a great way to expand your network, give back to the association, use your knowledge and experience, and develop leadership skills. To ensure these committees are a success, we need expert and enthusiastic volunteers.
Information collected on this form will be used for the sole purpose of filling vacancies on AANP Standing Committees. From time to time, other volunteer opportunities may arise throughout the year, and your information may be shared with AANP leadership if you meet the criteria and are interested. AANP leadership is committed to ensuring committees include members with a variety of experience, expertise, and interests.
For more information about AANP Standing Committees, visit AANP Councils and Committees.
Sharp Cutting Edge Award
History
The Sharp Cutting Edge Award was initiated in February 1996 in honor of Nancy J. Sharp, MSN, RN, FAAN, an exemplar in the world of nursing organizational leadership for more than two decades. Nancy demonstrated a decisive positive influence for NPs, both professionally and politically. Not an NP herself, Nancy nevertheless left a legacy of early and steadfast service for NPs. Through her vision, foresight and service to the NP profession, Nancy focused on public policy issues clarifying the legislative and regulatory processes. She also utilized innovative strategies to meet major milestones as an office staff member and a volunteer leader in national nursing organizations. Examples of her many accomplishments are National President, American Nephrology Nurses Association (1981-1983); Director, Practice and Legislation, Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric, Neonatal Nurses (1982-1990); Founding Director, Nurse in Washington Internship (1985-1992); Editor-Publisher, The Nurse’s Directory of Capitol Connections: A Directory of Positions and Opportunities for Nurse Participation in Health Policy Development (1991-2000); Nurse Representative, U.S. Joint Working Group on Telehealth (1993-1997).
Sharp Cutting Edge Award Eligibility Criteria
The Sharp Cutting Edge award is given to individuals who have demonstrated extraordinary service activities on behalf of NPs. This award is for achievements that have impacted the NP profession on a national or international level and incorporated the AANP mission into the initiative(s). Additionally, recipients have demonstrated and promoted diversity, equity and inclusivity within health care through social justice initiatives that have increased access to quality health care for all.
Recipients may be an NP, nurse or non-nurse who has demonstrated exceptional belief and confidence in NPs and has shown efforts to advance the image, profile and visibility of NPs at the national or international level in three or more of the following areas:
- Demonstrated leadership experience in an organization at the national or international level that supports and promotes the NP profession.
- Impacted public policy issues clarifying the legislative and regulatory processes to the successful advancement of the NP profession.
- Succeeded in building strategic partnerships, coalitions or alliances that have increased public awareness of the NP profession.
- Utilized or leveraged technology, such as social media, to promote the value and advancement of the NP profession.
- Provided mentorship or guidance to meet the strategic priorities for a successful organization.
- Mentored others in the processes and techniques for successful use of technologyt o meet strategic priorities.
- Utilized innovative strategies to meet goals in national nursing organizations.
Who May Nominate
Any current AANP member may nominate a colleague.
Nomination Process
- Nominations are submitted online through the AANP website.
- Nominations must include a description detailing the reasons for nominating an individual for either award (250 words maximum).
- Nominations must include two letters of support from individuals other than the nominator. (Letters exceeding the allowed maximum will not be considered).
- Consideration will only be given to nominations complete with all required information submitted by the published deadline.
- Nominations received after the deadline date will not be accepted.
Who is Ineligible
- AANP elected leaders and staff (e.g. Board of Directors, Fellows Executive Committee, State Liaisons, Nomination Council and Awards Committee) cannot be nominated for the award.
- Nominations that include groups and organizations cannot be submitted.
- Selection Committee
- The AANP Awards Committee.
Notification
Award recipients will be notified in March of each award cycle.
Award Package
The recipient will receive round-trip airfare to attend the respective AANP National Conference and one-night accommodation at an AANP conference hotel.
Award Recognition
The award recipient will be recognized during the Opening General Session at the AANP National Conference and should plan to attend the respective AANP National Conference to accept their award in person.
Questions
For questions, contact governance@aanp.org.
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 you are a government employee and inadvertently receive an offer from AANP that includes additional benefits as part of an award, please alert staff since AANP is not always aware — or informed — that an awardee holds such a position.
Towers Pinnacle Award
History
The Towers Pinnacle Award was launched in 2013 by the AANP Board of Directors in honor of Jan Towers, Ph.D., NP-C, CRNP, FAAN, FAANP, an accomplished and much-admired leader in the NP movement. Dr. Towers has been at the forefront of legislative and regulatory issues, guiding health policy initiatives to ensure that NPs and their patients are represented wherever health care is being discussed. She has informed and educated numerous NPs on issues related to health policy through presentations at regional and national conferences. Her steadfast commitment, keen insight and vigilance have served to guide and direct NPs toward their current recognition as reimbursable providers of high-quality health care nationwide. The result of her life’s work is increased awareness by legislators and the general public of NPs’ contributions to health care, as well as advancement in expanding the scope of practice for NPs, advocating for equity in pay for services and expanding the commitment of NP professional organizations to provide leadership on health policy issues.
Towers Pinnacle Award Eligibility Criteria
The Towers Pinnacle award is given to individuals who have exemplified Dr. Towers’ advocacy, passion and dedication to the advancement of the NP role through policy, practice and education. Additionally, these individuals have demonstrated and promoted diversity, equity and inclusivity within health care through social justice initiatives that have increased access to quality health care for all.
The Towers Pinnacle award is for achievements that have impacted the NP profession on a national or international level and incorporated the AANP mission into the success of the initiative(s).
Nominees are preferably NPs; however, consideration is given to other individuals who have made outstanding contributions resulting in increased recognition of NPs and increased opportunities for NPs to provide care to patients through ongoing work in policy, practice and education at the national or international level in three of the five following areas:
- Influencing health policy legislation by advocating for the removal of practice barriers, which led to the advancement of the NP profession.
- Conducting advocacy work that is dedicated to the recognition and promotion of the high-quality, reimbursable health care services, with parity, provided by NPs.
- Achieving recognition as a visionary leader for NPs in health policy, practice or education.
- Providing mentorship and developing leadership in health policy, practice or education for NPs.
- Being instrumental in articulating NP practice and the profession to stakeholders and legislators in the health policy arena.
Who May Nominate?
Any current AANP member may nominate a colleague.
Nomination Process
- Nominations are submitted online through the AANP website.
- Nominations must include a description detailing the reasons for nominating an individual for either award (250 words maximum).
- Nominations must include two letters of support from individuals other than the nominator. (Letters exceeding the allowed maximum will not be considered).
- Consideration will only be given to nominations complete with all required information submitted by the published deadline.
- Nominations received after the deadline date will not be accepted.
Who is Ineligible
- AANP elected leaders and staff (e.g. Board of Directors, Fellows Executive Committee, State Liaisons, Nomination Council and Awards Committee) cannot be nominated for the award.
- Nominations that include groups and organizations cannot be submitted.
- Selection Committee.
- The AANP Awards Committee.
Notification
Award recipients will be notified in March of each award cycle.
Award Package
The recipient will receive round-trip airfare to attend the respective AANP National Conference and one-night accommodation at an AANP conference hotel.
Award Recognition
The award recipient will be recognized during the Opening General Session at the AANP National Conference and should plan to attend the respective AANP National Conference to accept their award in person.
Questions
For questions, contact governance@aanp.org.
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 you are a government employee and inadvertently receive an offer from AANP that includes additional benefits as part of an award, please alert staff since AANP is not always aware — or informed — that an awardee holds such a position.
The Fellows of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (FAANP) are proud to connect nurse practitioners (NPs) with Fellows who are leaders in their field and are willing to share their expertise to promote the career development of others. Whether you’re interested in becoming a mentor or mentee, the American Association of Nurse Practitioners® (AANP) invites you to discover the mutually rewarding benefits of the AANP Mentorship Program-led by the Fellows of AANP.
The Mentor Match period will be open July 1, 2026, and will close July 31, 2026 at 5 pm Central Time.
Register early for the best opportunity for matching! Space is limited in the 2026 pilot.
The focus areas of this program are:
- Practice
- Education
- Advocacy
- Research
- Leadership
- Mentees are current AANP members seeking guidance, professional growth and opportunities to expand their leadership skills.
- Mentees must be an AANP member in good standing with at least six months of continuous AANP membership as of July 1
- Potential entees must be a part of one of the following AANP member categories: NP member, Student member, Career Starter member and Licensed NP Student member.
- Mentees receive the benefit of personalized support, feedback and access to the insights and networks of experienced NP leaders.
- Mentors are current FAANP members with strong experience in leadership, policy, academia, research or entrepreneurship
- Mentors are seeking engagement and meaningful ways to give back to the profession
July: Intake form for Mentors and Mentees opens and closes
August: Matches are notified by email and set up their initial meeting. Virtual orientation session for both mentors and mentees.
Sept–Oct: Initial meeting + goal setting
Nov–Dec: Mid-cycle review + adjustments
Jan–April: Ongoing work and reflection
May: Matches complete the End-of-Cycle Evaluation Survey
- Log in to the platform with your MyAANP email and password. Select the mentorship program from the dashboard.
- Complete the enrollment form before the July 31 deadline.
- Match Mentors will use the search pool to find a mentee that aligns with their goals.
- Connect Once you've found a potential match, click on their profile to learn more. If you're interested in connecting, look for the plus sign under their profile image and request a connection.
- Matching is mentor driven. Mentees may receive connection requests from mentors, but will not be seeking out mentors.
- Engage Collaborate with your connection in a shared engagement workspace. Here, you can send messages, book meetings, share resources and work together to complete goals and tasks.
Members provide demographic and professional criteria to guide matching. Matching is mentor driven.
- An enrolled Mentor will visit the “Search and Connect” page to browse for possible Mentees. The Mentor will click the names of the potential Mentees to view their profiles. Once the Mentor has decided on a Mentee, they will click on the plus sign (appearing seen below the registered Mentee's profile picture) to request that person as their Mentee. An e-mail will be sent to the Mentee alerting them that they have been requested to be a Mentee.
- The Mentee will be able to accept or decline the connection.
- Connections are established through the platform
- The program is not a pathway to AANP Fellowship
- This program may not be used to support academic coursework or any program leading to a degree or certificate.
- Mentors may not serve as an advisor or preceptor for any part of degree completion (e.g., PhD or EdD, DNSc, DNS and DNP dissertations; clinical projects; and classroom assignments).
- Participants must commit to maintaining clear and regular communication with their mentor/mentee.
- The methods of communication (e.g., RQ platform, phone, email, video chat) should be mutually agreed upon by both the mentee and mentor.
- The frequency and duration of meetings (e.g., monthly, with interim tasks for the mentee) must be mutually determined and agreed upon.
- The annual program cycle allows for 10 months of formal mentoring activity.
- Mentees are responsible for negotiating mentoring goals, establishing any deliverables and setting a reasonable time frame for achieving goals.
- Mentoring services must be provided without any form of remuneration.
- Enrolled Mentees are not guaranteed a match
Key Dates
Mentoring Program
Nominations Open: July 1, 2026Nominations Close: July 31, 2026
Contact: faanp@aanp.org
Contact Us
Refer to the corresponding email contact listed for each program above.Inquiries will be responded to during AANP office hours Monday - Friday, 9:00a.m. to 5:00p.m. Central Time.