The Maxine Williams Scholarship Fund

The Maxine Williams Scholarship Fund provides educational assistance to deserving medical assisting students.

Maxine Williams was a founder of the American Association of Medical Assistants and its first president. The fund was established in 1959, and is supported entirely by private contributions.

The AAMA, through the Maxine Williams Scholarship Fund, covers administrative costs of the fund as a service to the public and the medical assisting profession.

Apply

You are invited to apply for a scholarship award, which includes a one-year membership in the AAMA. Scholarships are granted based on academic ability and financial need.

To be eligible for the scholarship, meet these requirements:

Be currently enrolled in and have completed a minimum of one quarter or semester at a college-level medical assisting program accredited by CAAHEP or ABHES.
Have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher.
Complete the Maxine Williams Scholarship Application (due May 15)

Donate

Please consider donating to the Maxine Williams scholarship award, which is granted based on academic ability and financial need.

Donate online

Donate by mail: MWS Fund Donation Form

Celebrate the 2026 Scholarship Recipients

Bliaal Alvi

Name: Bliaal Alvi

Expected Graduation: September 2026

Institution: Hunter Business School

In Their Own Words: “[Medical assistants] are always the ones that left an impression. I want to be part of that. I want to help people feel better and more comfortable.”

Sandra Coker

Name: Sandra Coker

Expected Graduation: April 2026

Institution: Bryant & Stratton College

In Their Own Words: “More than anything, I want to be someone who makes a real difference in people’s lives. I know I cannot change everything, but if I can ease someone’s pain, support them through a difficult moment, or help them feel cared for, then I know I am fulfilling my purpose.”

Sharon Finco

Name: Sharon Finco

Expected Graduation: May 2026

Institution: College of Southern Idaho

In Their Own Words: “I want to be the kind of medical assistant that lights up the faces of providers and patients alike, building those long-term professional relationships [in which] patients feel seen and providers know they have a [medical assistant] they can trust and rely upon.”

Corey Finelli

Name: Corey Finelli

Expected Graduation: May 2026

Institution: Sussex County Community College

In Their Own Words: “I realized I am most fulfilled when I am helping others in meaningful, tangible ways. Health care provides that opportunity every day. … I am drawn to the hands-on nature of the profession and the ability to make patients feel comfortable, heard, and cared for during what can often be stressful experiences.”

Jordan Harris

Name: Jordan Harris

Expected Graduation: August 2026

Institution: Gaston College

In Their Own Words: “Early in life, I knew I wanted to work in the health care field! … In five years, I believe serving as a [CMA (AAMA)] in a local doctor’s office would be a great career for me and allow me to help others feel better in my local community!”

Shania Harrison

Name: Shania Harrison

Expected Graduation: August 2026

Institution: ECPI University

In Their Own Words: “I chose medical assisting because helping others has always been important to me, especially through my experience taking care of my relatives. Being there for them showed me how much of a difference it makes when someone is patient, understanding, and truly cares.”

Crystal Parsons

Name: Crystal Parsons

Expected Graduation: July 2026

Institution: College of the Albemarle

In Their Own Words: “Medical assisting is the perfect fit for me because it allows me to combine both clinical and administrative skills. I enjoy working directly with patients, but I also thrive in multitasking and handling front-office responsibilities. This career gives me the best of both worlds.”

Ashley Robles

Name: Ashley Robles

Expected Graduation: December 2026

Institution: Cape Fear Community College

In Their Own Words: “Wanting someone to live their best life comes naturally for me. Now, I am learning how to help them get there. Medical assisting is a heavily team-based career, and I look forward to growing my capability to work with others and problem solve as a team.”

Natalie Rodriguez Garcia

Name: Natalie Rodriguez

Expected Graduation: August 2026

Institution: Tarrant County College

In Their Own Words: “I’ve learned that everyone starts somewhere, and I chose to begin with the foundation or backbone of the medical field so I can continue opening doors to future opportunities.”

Briana White

Name: Briana White

Expected Graduation: May 2026

Institution: College of Western Idaho

In Their Own Words: “I thrive on helping people, because I know what it is to need help, and this career graciously gives me the tools I need to do just that.”

2025 Scholarship Recipients: How Are They Doing One Year Later?

Jennifer Kelly, CMA (AAMA)

Jennifer Kelly, CMA (AAMA), graduated in August 2025 from Tennessee College of Applied Technology at Chattanooga State Community College with a 4.0 GPA. Since then, she has started a medical assistant position with One to One Health. “My position is in the TextCare department. We offer concierge care designed for everyone,” she explains. “My primary role is to … prepare [patients] to be cared for by a provider through text messages. Our care model removes barriers to care across all demographics.”

Kelly has found this career remarkably rewarding and appreciates the benefits of her role, including the ability to work from home some days. “The care team of medical assistants and providers I work with are absolutely some of the best, most caring people I have ever encountered,” she says.

She reflects on how the Maxine Williams Scholarship made an impact on her: “Receiving the Maxine Williams scholarship helped me to achieve these goals of finding a most rewarding career in health care.”

Mallorie Quiring, CMA (AAMA)

Mallorie Quiring, CMA (AAMA), graduated from the medical assisting program at Clark College in Vancouver, Washington, and passed the CMA (AAMA) Certification Exam in August 2025.

She then got hired at a busy nearby community health clinic that sees patients for family medicine, pediatrics, and urgent care: “I love getting to serve patients of all ages and backgrounds, and some who may be uninsured or underinsured. It makes me proud to be part of a care team that wants to take the best care of people, no matter what their circumstances are.”

While Quiring says the work can be challenging because of the wide variety of tasks, it is also incredibly rewarding. “I learn something new each week from my coworkers and patients,” she says. Quiring hopes to keep growing and improving at what she does so that she can help give each patient a positive experience.

She expresses her gratitude for the Maxine Williams Scholarship: “The Maxine Williams Scholarship went a long way in paying off what remained of tuition as I finished my final term of school. It helped take some of the financial load off while I prepared for my exams and helped set me up for success. I’m incredibly grateful for the resources that the AAMA has given me as I start in this new career.”

Dorie Sue Walker, CMA (AAMA)

Dorie Sue Walker, CMA (AAMA), received the first 4.0 GPA in her institute’s medical assisting program, which she attributes to receiving the Maxine Williams Scholarship. “Receiving the Maxine Williams Scholarship helped by taking a weight off my shoulders,” she reflects. “It freed headspace for me to focus on my education.”

Since graduating, she has worked in two practices. “The first gave me a great foundation as the team I worked with was willing to teach me hands-on things I hadn’t had the opportunity to practice extensively in a classroom setting,” explains Walker. “While there, I moved up from medical assistant to medical assistant senior.”

She has since moved into another practice, where she performs a variety of administrative and clinical tasks. “I love working with the patients. It isn’t just doing vitals, getting histories, giving injections, and performing phlebotomy; it’s getting to connect with people [and] knowing that not only am I a part of their health care, but I might also be a spot of light in their day,” she says.

Walker expresses her gratitude for the profession. “I couldn’t be happier with my decision to become a medical assistant, as I feel this is my calling,” she explains. “I believe the scholarship helped me reach this goal. I am very thankful for the scholarship itself, but I also have found the [membership] to the AAMA helpful as well.”