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Nursing Students Receive Scholarships, Job Offers at January Awards Luncheon

Nursing Students Receive Scholarships, Job Offers at January Awards Luncheon

Caption: B-CU Nursing and Health Science students (l to r) Ariana Lyles, Ja'kayla Cooper, Taliyah Jackson, Marla Cole pose with Dr. Sandra Tucker (center) at the awards luncheon held January 24.

On January 24, Bethune-Cookman University’s College of Nursing and Health Science and Halifax Health held a celebration luncheon and awards ceremony celebrating the accomplishments of four deserving B-CU College of Nursing and Health Sciences students.

Sophomore nursing students Taliyah Jackson, Marla Cole and Ariana Lyles and junior Ja’Kayla Cooper were each awarded $10,000 scholarships, which are renewable every year through graduation. 

“Marla, Ariana, Taliyah, and Ja’Kayla exemplify the qualities of professionalism, intellect, integrity, reliability, honesty and honor on which we strive to build our program,” said Dr. Sandra Tucker, dean of the College of Nursing and Health Sciences. “They are not only scholars, but scholar leaders whom I am sure will have an impact on the future of the profession of nursing.”

In addition to scholarships, students are guaranteed a nursing job at Halifax Health in the specialty of their choice upon graduation. 

Halifax Health Vice President of Human Resources, Kim Fulcher, said these awards are “just the start” of what everyone hopes will be a long and rewarding partnership with B-CU to train up the next generation of leaders in the nursing field. "We are here to partner with [Bethune-Cookman University] and provide support and a place to train and learn in your journey.  It's our honor to have supported you in any way we can,” she said.

B-CU’s College of Nursing and Health Sciences is ranked #2 among all HBCU nursing programs and #6 in the State of Florida. The college’s faith-based approach to nursing education seeks to cultivate leaders in the profession who serve, educate and empower patients and those around them to achieve optimal wellness. Under Tucker’s leadership, future leaders in nursing are taught to advocate for opportunities for all citizens to improve their quality of life through innovative nursing practice with the primary goal of eliminating health disparities within their immediate and global communities. 

“By providing clinical experiences for our students, Halifax Health has been instrumental in our nursing program’s success,” said Tucker. “Our goal at Bethune-Cookman is not only to provide an excellent education to our students but to open the doors to a profession that has been traditionally closed to the population that we serve, and that can only happen with the support of partners in the field.”