Two aspiring Caribbean-American registered nurses on Saturday, Oct. 4, were awarded scholarships from the Bronx, Manhattan and Westchester Chapter of the Caribbean American Nurses’ Association, Inc. (CANA) during the group’s 28th Annual Vernese Weekes Scholarship Luncheon, at Eastwood Manor, on Eastchester Road, in the Bronx.
The recipients were Veronica Weekes, the daughter of the late Barbadian-born registered nurse Vernese Weekes after whom the Scholarship Award is named, and Dominican Republic-American Rosemary Guzman.
The CANA chapter said 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.
In a memorial tribute to a “gallant soldier,” Cathy Bovell, Claudette Gordon, Maureen Moore and Majorie Rose write in Saturday’s souvenir journal that Vernese Weekes “departed this life leaving us with a legacy of love, hope, bravery and service to mankind.
“For those who were close to her and experienced her zest for life and unselfish dedication, we are encouraged to pass the torch and touch the lives of those she did not reach,” they add.
Veronica Weekes said she was “a young girl” when her mother died from breast cancer.
“I am truly honored to stand before you today as a recipient of this nursing scholarship,” she said after receiving the scholarship award.
“First, I want to sincerely thank the donors, faculty, and everyone who made this award possible. Your generosity is more than financial support—it is a gift of encouragement, belief, and opportunity,” she added.
Veronica Weekes said her journey towards nursing has always been “deeply personal.:
“I grew up watching my mother work as a nurse, and, through her, I learned what it truly means to serve others with compassion, strength, and patience,” she said. “I saw the long hours she worked, but also the pride she carried in knowing she was making a difference in people’s lives. Her dedication inspired me to follow in her footsteps and pursue this calling myself.
“This scholarship helps lift a great burden, allowing me to focus fully on my studies and clinical training,” Weekes added. “More importantly, it reminds me that others believe in me and in the kind of nurse I can become.
“Nursing is not just a career for me — it is a way to honor my mother’s legacy and to continue the cycle of care and compassion she lived every day,” she continued. “I know this path will not always be easy, but, with your support, I am more determined than ever to succeed.
“One day, I hope to give back — to patients, families, and future nursing students — just as you have given to me,” Weekes said. “To my mentors, my peers, and most importantly to the donors, thank you for believing in my dream. I will carry this honor with pride and strive to make a difference in every life I touch, just as my mom did, and just as you have done for me.”
Guzman said she was “truly grateful and humbled to be one of the chosen recipient of 2025 scholarships.
“This blessing means so much to me than I can express,” she said. “It will help with tuition, but it also gives the opportunity to continue with my nursing career, which I am every passionate about,” she said.
“This support will help me move forward with my purpose,” Guzman added. “I hope one day, in the future, I could do the same for a fellow nursing student.”
