The scholarships will help recipients from Fall River and New Bedford pay for their education
Local nursing students from Signature Healthcare’s Brockton Hospital School of Nursing (SH/BHSON) in Brockton awarded $10,000 scholarships each from BayCoast Bank (left to right): Sarah Cortijo, Selena Boleates, Laurel Perez, Ashley Del Rio, Marissa Burgos, Christine Farland, and Raylyn Gant
Imagine you are a student, asked to attend an important meeting, only to discover that meeting offered a surprise so unexpected, it would dramatically change your life.
That’s exactly what happened at Signature Healthcare’s Brockton Hospital School of Nursing (SH/BHSON) in Brockton, MA. During an emotional presentation, BayCoast Bank awarded seven nursing students from Fall River and New Bedford each with a $10,000 scholarship, which will help pay for their education at the prestigious nursing school.
“We had no idea this was happening,” said Raylyn Gant of Fall River. “We received an email saying we had to go to a mandatory meeting. This was a big surprise.”
Students selected for the generous awards have experienced unique challenges in their pursuit of a quality education. Dean of SH/BHSON Jean Gouveia states, “The majority of our students come to us with significant financial need. Many are parents and single parents looking for a career pathway to achieve financial security for themselves and their families.”
There wasn’t a dry eye in the room when each recipient came forward to share their personal stories, along with their heartfelt gratitude.
“I’m the first one to go to college from my household,” said Ashley Del Rio of New Bedford. “College means a lot to me. I work to pay everything on my own. This scholarship means so much. I truly thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
For Sarah Cortijo, mother of three from Fall River, this has been an extremely difficult year. “I lost my dad to COVID-19 last February, so it has been very tough,” said Cortijo. “For me to get this scholarship, I am so emotional. I can’t tell you how grateful I am.”
Gant has a very personal reason for aspiring to become a nurse. “My older brother was born with special needs and the doctor told my mother he wouldn’t survive past three months. He’s now 31, and he inspires me every day.” The scholarship, Gant says, will help her pursue her dream of becoming a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) nurse. “This means the world to me. I have been so stressed out about paying for school. This is amazing.”
The scholarship opportunity evolved after SH/BHSON reached out to BayCoast Bank, asking if they could assist talented students who were experiencing financial difficulties. After hearing their moving stories, the Bank was delighted to step in and offer generous support.
“BayCoast Bank has a strong history of supporting education on the South Coast, and we pride ourselves in giving back to the communities we serve,” said Nicholas M. Christ, President and CEO of BayCoast Bank.
“This gift highlights two key areas where we endeavor to make a difference – education and healthcare. Achieving a nursing degree will not only help these students support themselves and their families, but it will also benefit our healthcare system and the local residents it serves.”
Additional members of BayCoast Bank attending the presentation expressed their best wishes to the scholarship recipients, offering words of inspiration.
“You have experienced struggles, but I want you to know, you are not alone,” said Evelyn Ranone, Vice President of Community Development and DEI. “I am so honored to work at BayCoast Bank because it is in moments like this where we can help make an impact on people’s lives. We are so proud of you.”
“We are excited to see what you will do in your future,” said Julie Gagliardi, First Vice President of Corporate Giving and Community Relations at BayCoast Bank. “We are thrilled to help you achieve your goals because we know your nursing degrees will not only help your families, but also help the people in your communities.”
Brockton Hospital School of Nursing is an integral part of Signature Healthcare Brockton Hospital. Originally established in 1897, the school has been at the forefront of nursing education and has graduated over 2,700 nurses, mainly from southeastern Massachusetts. It is the only hospital-based nursing school of its kind in Massachusetts.
“We congratulate these very deserving students,” said Christ. “There are very few professions in life that are more noble. We are honored to help you and we wish you the best of luck.”
About BayCoast Bank
BayCoast Bank is a long-standing community bank providing financial products and services to the people and businesses of Southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island through 24 branches and loan production offices, with more coming soon. The Bank offers a family of complete financial services through its subsidiaries: BayCoast Mortgage Company, LLC, BayCoast Financial Services, Plimoth Investment Advisors, Partners Insurance Group, LLC, and Priority Funding, LLC. For more information, visit Baycoast.bank or call 508-678-7641.
