2024 Award Recipients

Gretchen Schodde Lifetime Achievement Award

Nikki Behner, DNP, MPH, ARNP

During the pandemic, Nikki may have been the only provider in Skagit County who was accepting new patients on Medicaid. She was likely the only provider still offering patients the opportunity to be seen in person.

“Nikki has spent decades promoting mental health and well-being to all peoples,” wrote the AAPPN member who nominated her, “but she is especially passionate—and compassionate—about those who have not been well-served: people who require government assistance, unhoused people, native or tribal peoples, incarcerated people, people of diverse or under-privileged communities, and people who may not be eligible for state or federal aid due to their status.”

Nikki has dedicated herself to mental health care since she became a psychiatric nurse in 1987.

“Her example has inspired countless others to do better for people who need our help, for people that no one else is taking care of, and for people who have difficult conditions to treat.”

Preceptor of the Year

Angela Kokinakos, ARNP, PMHNP-BC

Angela has taken on multiple psychiatric ARNP students at Gonzaga University and the University of Washington as a preceptor. She also mentors new graduate FNPs who may have otherwise had minimal psychiatric training.

“She is engaging, and pushes students to be independent,” wrote the AAPPN member who nominated her. “She has established patients participate in full evaluations to give students extra learning practice and grow their skills, which also allows patients to be more involved and give back to the student experience.”

“Sharing knowledge and teaching is something which has been important to me throughout my career,” Angela wrote. “Being recognized by AAPPN for excellence in precepting is incredibly validating to me, and I am deeply grateful for being recognized for my commitment to promoting and improving nursing education.”

New Practitioner of the Year

Isabel Zaragoza-Sanchez, ARNP, MSN, PMHNP-BC

Isabel dreamed of becoming a nurse when growing up in Mexico.

Her work as a cardio-thoracic nurse and later as a school nurse motivated her to pursue a Master’s degree.

Isabel helped develop and implement a program targeted to migrant students and their families in Skagit County. As a PMHNP with Sea Mar Community Mental Health Care Centers, Isabel works with underserved populations in Snohomish and Skagit counties.

“By fostering open conversations and reducing stigma, I aim to make mental health care more accessible and accepted,” Isabel wrote.

“As a Mexican-American, Isabel is sensitive to needs of other Latinos in her community and Washington state,” wrote the AAPPN member who nominated her. “She is an excellent example of someone who saw a need and dedicates herself to working on addressing it, jumping in and working on solutions.”