The National Association of Hispanic Nurses-New York Chapter held its seventh annual Scholarship Awards Gala Dec. 10 at Russo’s on the Bay in Howard Beach, N.Y. This year’s event included a new scholarship named for longtime nurse and NAHN-NY board member Elsie Soto, RN, who recently retired from the Visiting Nurse Service of New York.

Delivering a tribute on behalf of VNSNY president and CEO Mary Ann Christopher, RN, Linda Reid, BA, director of workforce planning for VNSNY, thanked Soto for her 40 years of quality, culturally sensitive care to residents of Manhattan, the Bronx and other areas of New York City.

"You have fostered greater diversity in nursing through your work as a NAHN-NY leader and you truly represent the best in nursing, both as a care provider and a colleague," Reid said.

The Soto Scholarship to Promote Diversity in Nursing provides a $1,500 award to a student in a baccalaureate, graduate or doctoral program in nursing who has demonstrated academic excellence and shares the commitment of Soto, NAHN-NY and VNSNY to advance diversity in nursing and address the healthcare needs of diverse patient populations, Reid said.

"It is my pleasure to add these accolades with the announcement that the Visiting Nurse Service of New York has established the 2012 VNSNY Soto Scholarship in Nursing to honor you," Reid told Soto. The inaugural scholarship had two recipients: Rosario B. Jaime-Lara, RN, BSN, who received the MSN scholarship, and Angela Plasencia, who was the recipient of the BSN scholarship.

NAHN-NY president Maria Elena Pina-Fonti, RN, MA, also recognized George A. Zeppenfeldt-Cestero, president and CEO of the National Hispanic Chamber of Commerce on Health and president of the Association of Hispanic Healthcare Executives (Community Advocacy Award); Althea Mighten, RN, EdD, DNP, APRN, BC, director of nursing education and recruitment, NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases (Dr. Ildaura Murillo-Rhodes Nursing Leadership award); and the Visiting Nurse Service of New York (Institution of the Year Award, accepted by Vivian Torres-Suarez, RN, BSN, MBA).

Tracey Boyd is a regional reporter.