Meet Sharmone Walker: Our 2026 Education Award Winner
By Erica Bettencourt

There are people who stumble into their calling, and then there are people like Sharmone Walker — who let compassion lead the way. A current MSN Nursing Pathway student at Emory University School of Nursing, Sharmone is about to begin her final semester, and the journey that brought her here is as inspiring as the career she’s building.

From the Bay Area to the Bedside

Sharmone grew up in Fairfield, California, rooted in a family that has always modeled service and dedication. Her father is a retired lieutenant with the Oakland Police Department, and her mother, one of her biggest supporters throughout her educational journey, works at Costco. She also has a close relationship with her older brother, and she lights up when she talks about her niece and three nephews, with a fourth on the way this September.

Before nursing, Sharmone earned her bachelor’s degree in biology at California State University, Northridge. After graduating, she worked as both a caregiver and a patient coordinator in the radiology department for Acumen, and it was there that her path truly came into focus.

“A lot of the times, my patients would recommend nursing to me because of how compassionate I was and how I had empathy for them,” she recalls. “That fueled my way of directing into nursing.”

Working alongside patients from all walks of life deepened her conviction that communication, advocacy, and compassion are not just nice-to-haves in healthcare, they are everything.

A Leader Long Before Nursing School

What stands out about Sharmone isn’t just her academic drive, it’s the fact that she has been building community and lifting others up for years. While still an undergraduate at Cal State Northridge, she served as president of the Black Student Union and founded a mentoring program called WISDOM — Women Inspired to Discover Opportunities Through Mentorship.

The program paired incoming freshman and transfer students with upperclassmen or faculty members to help them navigate college life, both academically and personally. It’s a model of support that clearly still shapes how Sharmone moves through the world: find the people who need a hand, and offer yours.

What’s Ahead: The ER, Public Health, and Beyond

As she heads into her final semester, Sharmone is looking forward to two clinical experiences that reflect exactly the kind of nurse she is becoming. Her practicum will take place in the emergency room, fitting for someone who thrives under pressure and leads with empathy, and she’ll also complete a public health clinical at Georgia Harm Reduction, working with underserved populations through harm reduction, community outreach, and health education.

“I feel like health education is a big barrier,” she says. “And it’s one we really need to address.”

Her long-term goal is to become a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), and given everything she’s already accomplished, it’s hard to doubt her.

What This Award Means

Receiving this Education Award comes at a meaningful time for Sharmone. Like many nursing students, she’s navigating an increasingly difficult financial landscape, particularly as changes to federal student aid have pushed more students toward private loans.

“Nursing school is already extremely demanding, emotionally and financially,” she says. “Financial support like this helps reduce barriers that could otherwise make it more difficult for me to pursue my goals.”

But beyond the financial relief, Sharmone says the recognition itself has been encouraging.

“I know all the work I’ve put into my nursing degree — the leadership, the service — and it’s nice to know that I’m being awarded for something I’m genuinely doing. It’s encouraging.”

Staying Grounded Through the Hard Days

Ask Sharmone how she gets through the tough moments in nursing school, and she doesn’t hesitate: community.

“I just depend on my support system,” she says. “It’s very important to have people you can lean on.”

She describes her first semester as particularly challenging, adjusting to life far from her Bay Area family while tackling a rigorous program. Her approach? Lean in, ask for help, and don’t try to go it alone. She set up weekly office hours with a professor she was struggling with, turned to her faith, and built a circle of fellow students she now calls her “nursing sisters.”

When she does get a break, she recharges at the gym (a devoted SolidCore member), at her favorite coffee shops, at the movies, and most of all — at home with her family.

Advice for Aspiring Nurses

When asked what she’d tell future nurses just starting out, Sharmone’s message is steady and clear:

“Keep going. Try to always be a better you. Inspire others. Treat others how you would want to be treated — and how you would want your family to be treated when they walk into that hospital. Take your time if you need to. Slow down. But never let the stress overcome you, because it’s going to be worth it in the long run.”

Sharmone Walker is the recipient of our 18th Education Award. We are proud to support her final semester and her journey toward becoming a Family Nurse Practitioner. Follow along as she continues to lead, serve, and inspire.