Caribbean nurses receive Vernese Weekes Memorial Scholarship
By Nelson A. King
Three aspiring Caribbean
registered nurses were awarded
US$1,000.00 scholarships
from the Bronx, Manhattan
and Westchester Chapter of the
Caribbean American Nurses’
Association, Inc. (CANA) during
the group’s 24th Annual
Vernese Weekes Scholarship
Luncheon, at Eastwood Manor,
on Eastchester Road, in the
Bronx on Saturday, Oct. 19.
The recipients were Guyanese
Ancella DeFreitas,
Jamaican Racquel Thompson
and Julissa Suah, of Jamaican
parentage.
The CANA chapter said the
Vernese Weekes Scholarship is
named after the late Barbadian
born Registered Nurse Vernese
Weekes, who died in 1994
and had “demonstrated a great
love and passion for the nursing
profession.”
“In remembrance of her dedication
and outstanding service
to mankind, this memorial
scholarship was established in
1995 by the members of the
Bronx, Manhattan, Westchester
Chapter of CANA, Inc.,” the
group said.
It said Weeks was an active
member of St. Luke’s Episcopal
Church in the Bronx.
The Bronx, Manhattan,
Westchester Chapter said funding
for the scholarship comes
from its annual fundraising
luncheon, and is awarded to
undergraduate nursing students
who meet certain criteria.
Pamela Roberts-Griffin,
Chapter president said, over
the past 23 years, the group
awarded a total of 55 scholarships
Caribbean L 8 ife, NOVEMBER 1-7, 2019
and issued numerous
awards to “our colleagues and
outstanding citizens for their
contributions to their community.”
“Scholarship recipients, we
are very proud to support your
dream to become a registered
nurse,” she said. “May God continue
to bless you in all your
endeavors.”
DeFreitas, a licensed practical
nurse (LPN), who is enrolled
in the Accelerated Baccalaureate
Program at Lehman College,
City University of New
York (CUNY), told Caribbean
Life that she felt “honored and
proud to be a recipient of this
award.
“I just try to be the best
nurse I can be,” she said.
Thompson, who is also a
Licensed Practical Nurse and
enrolled in the Accelerated Baccalaureate
Program at Lehman
College, said she was “excited”
to receive the scholarship.
“I’m so grateful!” she told
Caribbean Life. “This is a wonderful
experience.”
Suah, who comes from a
family of nurses, said she is
looking forward to completing
her studies as a registered
nurse.
“I feel very grateful and honored
and motivated to do my
best in nursing school, so I can
help others, especially young
girls,” she said.
DeFreitas said her first
encounter with the field of nursing
began when she enrolled in
a class to become a nursing
assistant, and developed a love
and passion for nursing.
She said the experience as a
nursing assistant “became the
catalyst” for her enrollment in
a program to become an LPN
after a year of “vigorous training.”
DeFreitas said her passion
for the nursing profession grew,
as did her knowledge and deeper
understanding, that “caring
was all about patients.”
She said her reward came
from “satisfying the simple
needs of patients, in addition to
providing nursing care.”
Ancilla DeFreitas (2nd from left) receives scholarship award fl anked by, L-R: Brenda Youmams,
Pamela Roberts-Griffi n and Alexandrine Sampson. Photo by Nelson A. King
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