The Maxine Williams Scholarship in Honor of Crystal Coleman, CMA (AAMA)

Overview

Crystal Coleman, CMA (AAMA), was an American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) leader and supporter of education and credentialing for all medical assistants.

The program was established in 2024 for the purpose of providing educational assistance to deserving credentialed medical assistants who are interested in advancing their position within the health care system while maintaining their credential. Read about past winners' professional development goals to see how expansive submitters' options are.

The scholarship fund is supported entirely by private contributions. The AAMA Maxine Williams Scholarship Fund in Honor of Crystal Coleman, CMA (AAMA), assumes administrative costs of the fund as a service to the public and to the medical and medical assisting professions.

Who is eligible to apply?

An AAMA member who holds a current medical assisting credential with continuous AAMA membership for at least 5 years, pursuing education to advance within the medical assisting profession.

What is included in the scholarship?

This scholarship can be applied toward education for workplace advancement or workplace advancements, for example, CPR instructor or advancing into office management.

It can be applied toward AAMA projects like Assessment-Based Certificate programs or credential expansion products.

How many scholarships are awarded per year?

Scholarships will be based on the number of applications received and the funds that are available.

Deadline for Receipt of Applications: December 15, 2025

Please send the following documents.
Applications with incomplete information or missing attachments will not be considered. Please do not staple documents together.

Your completed application, which includes this checklist page and page 2 with signature.
Answers to application questions, listed on page 2, on separate sheet, typed or printed legibly.
Course title, objectives and accrediting body/organization.
Your education and employment history.
Minimum of two professional letters of reference, one from current supervisor.

Email completed application to:

Sharon Scarborough at SFlynn@aama-ntl.org

Mail completed application to:
AAMA
Attn: Sharon Scarborough (MWS)
20 N. Wacker Drive, Suite 3720
Chicago, Il 60606

Application results will be communicated approximately eight weeks after the deadline date. Scholarship awards are issued directly to the recipient.

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 member of American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) member who holds a current medical assisting credential with continuous AAMA membership for at least 5 years.
In pursuit of education to advance within the medical assisting health care profession, resulting in a credential, certificate or other measure of proficiency..
Complete The Maxine Williams Scholarship in Honor of Crystal Coleman, CMA (AAMA), Application (due December 15, 2025)

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 Scholarship Recipients

2025-2026

Natasha Geno, CMA (AAMA)

Professional Development Choice: Bachelor's Degree in Health Care Management

In Their Own Words: “I want [my students] to feel confident and prepared for the challenges they will face in the field. This scholarship will not only help me reach my goal but will also impact on every student I teach."

Jessica Hunter, CMA (AAMA)

Professional Development Choice: Bachelor's Degree in Education, Workplace Training, and Leadership from Idaho State University

In Their Own Words: “Ultimately, this education will allow me to contribute more effectively to the profession as a whole by supporting lifelong learning, leadership development, and professional advancement for medical assistants."

Kelsie Spetelunas, CMA (AAMA)

Professional Development Choice: Assessment-Based Certificate Program in Geriatrics (2022)

In Their Own Words: “A personal goal (and a goal for the grant) is to be able to provide a service that is so desperately needed in our community, as there are no outpatient palliative care teams in the Concord, New Hampshire, area. Meeting the needs of the patient population in my hometown only solidifies that I am gearing towards my professional goals of providing excellent care and meaningful care."

Nicole Waite, CMA (AAMA)

Professional Development Choices: Assessment, Evaluation, and Other Aspects of Allied Health Education; Effective Classroom Instruction; and The Principles of Adult Learning

In Their Own Words: “This scholarship will positively impact my current position as a medical assisting instructor by giving me access to specialized educator-focused CEUs that are not otherwise financially accessible. The training will help me develop stronger teaching, assessment, and curriculum design skills, which will directly benefit the medical assisting students I serve."