A 2021 nursing scholarship will honor the memory of Priscilla M. Gonzalez, a 2019 graduate and Waterbury Hospital nurse, who died last November at the age of 32.
Shenika Carroll, RN, MSN, a clinical instructor for Capital’s nursing program and member of the CCC Foundation board, is creating the award to be given in May at the end of the academic year.
“Priscilla was a determined student,” said Carroll, an alumna of Capital nursing. “She found out about her illness during the most stressful time of her life. She was assisting her teenage daughter with her first year as a freshman in high school, while completing her final year at Capital.”
Gonzalez battled her illness, graduated and passed the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) to become a registered nurse in her hometown. “She was a nursing student who became family,” says Carroll. “She is the epitome of strength.”
Priscilla graduated from W.F. Kaynor Technical High School’s class of 2006. She worked for 10 years as a patient care assistant at St. Mary’s Hospital and while working full time, she attended Naugatuck Valley Community College and transferred to Capital where she earned her Nursing degree.
The $500 award in memory of Ms. Gonzalez will be made with other nursing merit awards in May and is the second scholarship established in memory of a nursing graduate. Nursing merit awards include: the Laurel Anderson Memorial Scholarship, George J. and Anna T. Repicky memorial awards, Judee R. Lauria memorial awards, Eileen Helwig Memorial Scholarship, Adam E. Staszko memorial scholarships and the scholarship in honor of Professor Emerita Dannie Kennedy.
The College’s nonprofit Foundation maintains scholarship funds and endowments and seeks support for programs and initiatives to improve academic quality, campus life and expand educational opportunity.
Contributions in memory of Priscilla Gonzalez for the scholarship may be made online at https://capitalcc.networkforgood.com/projects/51598-annual-giving
For information, contact John McNamara at (860) 906-5102. E-mail: jmcnamara@capitalcc.edu
@ Capital Community College 
This is such an inspiring and incredible way of honoring Priscilla! I can just imagine how excited she is knowing how much she has impacted everyone around her! We are all very proud! 🙂