This June, RVNAhealth was delighted to honor our 2021 Mary Edna Cargill Scholarship recipients. The Mary Edna Cargill Scholarships are awarded each year to deserving Bethel residents who are enrolled in, or pursuing, degrees in a health-related field.

The scholarship memorializes Mary Edna Cargill, a Bethel Visiting Nurse Association employee who was a beloved school and home care nurse.  The scholarship was founded in 1968 by the Bethel VNA. With the merge of Bethel VNA and RVNAhealth in November 2020, the legacy and tradition continues.

The 2021 Mary Edna Cargill scholarship honorees are:

• Allison Rodriguez-Brown, Bethel High School, pursuing a degree in Communication Disorders and Speech Pathology
• Rachel Nelson, Bethel High School, pursuing a degree in Kinesiology
• Sophie Bjornson, Western Connecticut State University,  Nursing Student (senior)
• Karen de Souza, Western Connecticut State University, Nursing Student (sophomore)

The award presentations were made at the students’ respective schools by Theresa Santoro, MSN RN, CHCA, President & CEO of RVNAhealth, and Stan Kessler, DDS, RVNAhealth Board of Directors. “We are so impressed and respectful of the work and the choices that these students have made,” said Santoro. “They’ve had quite a journey and they have stayed focused and determined. We are very excited for their promising futures!”

The 2021 scholarship recipients were chosen by the Mary Edna Cargill Scholarship Selection Committee.

Pictured above:

Bethel High School (left to right): Christopher Troetti (Principal, Bethel High School), Dr. Christine Carver (Superintendent, Bethel Schools), Allison Rodriguez-Brown, Theresa Santoro (President & CEO, RVNAhealth), Rachel Nelson, Dr. Stan Kessler (Board of Directors, RVNAhealth)

Western Connecticut State University (left to right): Dr. Stan Kessler (Board of Directors, RVNAhealth), Sophie Bjornson, Theresa Santoro (President & CEO, RVNAhealth), Karen De Souza, Dr. Jeanette Lupinacci (Chair Department of Nursing, WCSU), Dr. Missy Alexander (Provost & V.P. for Academic Affairs, WCSU)