Skip to content

Barbados Nurses Association of America

Scholarships

The Eunice Coppin Scholarship Award is granted to students pursuing careers in nursing, aiming to inspire and support the next generation of healthcare providers.

Scholarships, Awards & Grants

The organization provides scholarships, conducts health fairs, and offers educational support and charitable aid to numerous organizations and individuals. From our first Scholarship Luncheon in 1970 to the present, we have consistently honored our past while shaping the future. Our contributions span.

PDF icon | Major file format vector icon illustration  ( color version )

Scholarship Award Criteria and Application

Scholarship Luncheon

1969  Tyrone Caddle, student at Presentation College, St. John, received the first BNAA Scholarship Award which was presented at the First Scholarship Luncheon on Sunday, May 24.

1970  Ethinia Straker, a student at Codrington High School in Barbados, was the second award winner.

1992  Debra Phillips , a student at Brooklyn College, New York (major Psychology)

1997 Paula M. Maxwell, student at Long Island University, was awarded the Dame Nita Barrow Scholarship Award (major Nursing).

The 1969 and 1970 Scholarship Winners

Tyrone-Caddle
Ethinia-Straker

Eunice Coppin Scholarship Award (ECSA

The Eunice Coppin Scholarship Award (ECSA) was established in 1982 and is presented in memory of Eunice Coppin, a member of the Barbados Nurses Association of America, Inc. The purpose of this scholarship award is to provide educational assistance to a student who is pursuing a career in Nursing.  BNAA has awarded 16 Eunice Coppin Scholarships Awards to date.     

Eunice Coppin Award winners 1982 – 2024:

1982 – Renee Whittaker – New York
1987 – Ronald Robinson – New York
1997 –  Monique Robinson – New York
|2001 – Sharon Bedford – New York*
2007 – Marthalie McClean – New York
2012 – Marlene Nicole Brown – New York
              Alycia Amanda Richmond – New York
2017 – Nicole Greenidge – Barbados
              Ayesha Harte – Barbados
2022 – Mark Yearwood – Barbados
              Shakera Layne – Barbados
              Lian Clarke – Barbados
2024 – Rashawn Gibson – Barbados
              Jessica Spooner – Barbados
              Christy Osborne – Barbados

Profile of Sharon Bedford, MSN, RN-BC

Sharon-Bedford2

Sharon Bedford, the 4th recipient of this award, has remained active in the organization for over 20 years. Sharon is a graduate of Medgar Evers College School of Nursing and SUNY Downstate Medical Center. She has been a registered nurse for over 22 years and a certified medical-surgical nurse for 17 years. Sharon’s direct clinical patient care role is as a wound care nurse at OBH Interfaith Campus in Brooklyn, New York. Sharon is a member of BNAA’s Executive team and has served as Assistant Business Manager, Assistant Treasurer and now Treasurer. Sharon represented BNAA as a presenter of the Eunice Coppin Scholarship Awards to nursing students at the Barbados Community College in Barbados in 2024.

Dame Nita Barrow Scholarship Award (1997)

The Dame Nita Barrow Scholarship Award was awarded in 1997 to Paula M. Maxwell, a nursing student at Long Island University. The award was in honor of Nita Barrow, Dame of St. Andrew, Permanent Representative for Barbados to the United Nations, Doctor of Laws, Doctor of Science and Fellow of the Royal College of Nursing. Dame Nita Barrow was renowned for her contributions in the areas of health care, adult and nursing education, women’s issues and the cause of peace.

Memorial Scholarship Awards

Dr. Deborah Brathwaite Scholarship Award

The Deborah Brathwaite Scholarship Award was awarded in 2017 in memory of Dr. Deborah Brathwaite. The donation for this scholarship was made possible by Gail E.D. Brathwaite, GCM, through her continued commitment to philanthropic work in memory of her sister.  The scholarship provided educational assistance to two students in New York pursuing a career in Nursing.

2017 – Nicole Holder – New York
2022 – Taleya Delpeche – New York

Lydia T. Bedford Scholarship Award

The Lydia T. Bedford Scholarship Award was founded in 2022 by BNAA Executive Members, Sharon Bedford, Treasurer, and sister Lynette Bedford, Business Manager, in honor of their late mother. The scholarship award provided educational assistance to a student in Barbados pursuing a career in Nursing.

2022 – Aldaro Blackman – Barbados Community College

William M. Denny and Velta C. Denny Memorial Scholarship Award

The William M. Denny and Velta C. Denny Memorial Scholarship Award was founded in 2024 by BNAA member, Velta Simmons, in honor of her late parents. The scholarship award provided educational assistance to a student in Barbados pursuing a career in Nursing.

2024 – Ayeshia Bedford

Grants & Awards

Grant

1985 Carvel Phillips – Oakwood College

Community Awards

1972  Martin Harcourt.   
           Corvette Walcott – students, Barbados Community                           College 

1974  Two students, Barbados Community College

1975  Lawrence Guest – student, New York City College

1977  Barbados Association for Mentally Retarded Children

1982 Barbados Association for the Handicapped

1987  Dr. Richard Glendon Ishmael, M.D.

1992  Hale House – not-for-profit childcare agency for young children born to drug addicted mothers

1997 The Dorothy Robinson Community Award presented to Kianga House, shelter for young mothers (18-21) and their babies

2002 Repertory Impact Theatre

2007 Vincent E. Hutchinson, M.D. awarded the Health Service Award

2012 Detective Henderson
           Leroy Hutchinson 

2017 Justice Sylvia Hinds-Radix
          Gail E. D. Brathwaite, GCM

2022 Sonia Clarke.  
           Mark Reid

Lydia T. Bedford Scholarship Award

The Lydia T. Bedford Scholarship Award was founded in 2022 by BNAA Executive Members, Sharon Bedford, Treasurer, and sister Lynette Bedford, Business Manager, in honor of their late mother. The scholarship award provided educational assistance to a student in Barbados pursuing a career in Nursing.

2022 – Aldaro Blackman – Barbados Community College

Campership Awards

Awarded to children with chronic conditions to enable them to attend summer camp.

1970  Loretta Daniels – attended Sprout Lake, Special Camp for Cardiac Children,   N.Y.

1971  David McKnight – attended Special Camp for Diabetic Children, N.Y.

1972  Dolores Redding – Child of Sickle Cell Anemia Clinic, N.Y.

1976  Charles Pearson – attended Special Camp for children with medical Problems, N.Y.

1982  Fresh Air Fund – aided disadvantaged New York City children to explore the world beyond the inner-city in which they live.