Blanche D’Silva Memorial Scholarship

Support scholarship awards for undergraduate or graduate students at the College of Nursing. Preference shall be given to first generation students or students who have an interest in oncology.

History:
The D’Silva Family established this scholarship in memory of Blanche D’Silva, who was known for her infectious smile, generous spirit, and loving concern for others. Although Blanche was unable to pursue her lifelong dream of becoming a nurse, she immigrated to the US to ensure that her children had access to the best educational opportunities. Her daughters both earned degrees from the University of Florida. One of Blanche’s favorite pastimes was spending Saturdays rooting on the Florida Gators. During her journey with cholangiocarcinoma (bile duct cancer), she received excellent care from oncology nurses who administered complex treatments while instilling hope and keeping up her spirits. The hope of the D’Silva family for this scholarship is to support the next generation of nurses, who will bring compassion and commitment to cancer patient care.