Allan Mazurak, a DNP student with the School of Nursing, has been selected as a 2026 Pat Tillman Scholar by the Pat Tillman Foundation.
Mazurak, 39, was one of 48 who earned the honor out of over 1,500 applicants. The award is open to people who served in the military or their spouses.
“I feel humbled and grateful to be selected,” Mazurak said. “Not only will it help me with my education, but this will develop my leadership skills.”
Mazurak teaches at Northeast Lakeview College, part of the Alamo Colleges system in San Antonio. His project in the DNP program is disaster preparedness. He wants to use his leadership training to implement disaster preparedness training at Northeast Lakeview and UT Austin.
“I want to integrate disaster preparedness education into all schools of nursing,” he said. “In disaster situations, it’s better to be proactive than reactive.”
Mazurak served as a medic and a nurse in the Army and was deployed to Afghanistan in 2013. He medically retired from the service in 2018.
Mazurak has a wife, Stephanie, and three children – Melia, Marcos, and Mateo. He also volunteers with the American Red Cross as the Regional Nurse Lead.
Mazurak will attend a leadership summit from the foundation in mid-July.
The Pat Tillman Foundation selects exceptional military service members, veterans, and spouses and invests in them for life through scholarships, leadership development, career architecture, and community and events.
The foundation is named for the former NFL star who left pro football to become an Army ranger after September 11, 2001.
“These remarkable individuals were chosen based on their ability to carry on Pat Tillman’s legacy forward by their impact, their humble leadership, and their commitment to service beyond self,” the foundation stated.
Photo Credit: Pat Tillman Foundation