Two Vincentian college students in Brooklyn on Sunday, Oct. 26, received the inaugural Brooklyn-based Council of St. Vincent and the Grenadines Organizations, USA, Inc. (COSAGO) Independence Scholarship Awards in honor of two of COSAGO’s “esteemed” late, founding members, Dr. Errol G. King and Dollis Forbes.
Laniya Simmons, currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science in clinical and translational sciences, and Sarai McIntosh, who hopes to major in legal studies, received the awards during St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ 46th Independence Anniversary Gala Luncheon, organized by COSAGO, the umbrella Vincentian group in the US, in conjunction with the US Consulate General, at Russo’s on the Bay in Howard Beach, Queens.
“I acknowledge the recipients of the late Dr. E. G. King and the late Mr. Dollis Forbes Scholarships Awards,” said COSAGO President Crispin Friday.
“COSAGO is making a valiant effort to encourage academic development of youth in the community by presenting these awards,” he added.
Celia Bramble, chairperson of COSAGO’s Scholarship Committee, said that, although Dr. King, a former COSAGO president, and Forbes have passed on, their legacies continue to inspire COSAGO’s “mission, vision, values, and sense of community.
“The scholarship is designed to financially assist qualified applicants in obtaining a degree from an accredited academic institution of higher learning,” Bramble, also a retired Registered Nurse and colonel in the US Army Reserve, told Caribbean Life.
The former director of training and education at the sprawling Kings County Hospital in Brooklyn said the scholarships were awarded to outstanding college-bound students of Vincentian heritage, “who exemplify academic dedication, leadership, community involvement, and a strong sense of cultural identity.”
Bramble said the scholarships “serve not only as a tribute to the visionary leadership and selfless service of our late founders, but also as an investment in the future of young students of Vincentian heritage, who are striving to make a meaningful difference through education.
“Through this award, COSAGO reaffirms its commitment to uplifting the next generation and preserving the values on which the organization was built,” she added, disclosing that the scholarship award is US$1,500.00.
Simmons said she is pursuing studies in clinical and translational sciences because of her “strong desire to contribute meaningfully to the healthcare industry.
“My long-term goal is to be on the pre-med track, where I am considering two career paths: becoming a physician or becoming a nurse,” she said. “Both roles hold great significance for me because they allow me to combine my interest in science and research with my passion for providing care and service to others.”
Simmons said that if she pursues the path of becoming a physician, she aspires to engage in clinical trials and translational research that “create opportunities to improve patient safety, treatment outcomes, and overall healthcare practices.
“This area of study excites me because it serves as a bridge between laboratory research and real-world application, ensuring that discoveries made in science directly benefit patients,” she said.
“I hope to be part of the advancement of medical knowledge that not only treats illnesses but also develops preventative strategies to improve quality of life on a larger scale,” she added.
On the other hand, Simmons said that if she pursues nursing, her contribution to society would be “grounded in the direct, patient-centered care that nurses uniquely provide.
“I would aim to deliver high-quality healthcare services while supporting patients and their families through some of the most challenging moments of their lives,” said Simmons. “Nurses often serve as the backbone of the healthcare system. And being able to positively impact patients one at a time would be just as meaningful to me as contributing through research,” she said.
Ultimately, through either path, Simmons said her studies in clinical and translational sciences will allow her to contribute to society by “advancing healthcare practices, improving patient outcomes, and dedicating myself to the well-being of others.”
McIntosh said that, since she was a little girl, she has “always found joy and purpose in helping others.
“Whether it was helping the teacher rearrange the desks after class, helping my father feed the dogs, or lending a helping hand to a friend in need, I have always longed for the feeling of success when it came to helping someone else’s day move along just a bit more smoothly,” she said.
“That sense of fulfillment, knowing that I’ve made a difference in someone else’s day, no matter how small, that feeling has always stuck with me, thereby further growing into a true passion for service,” she added.
