WEST SACRAMENTO, CA (MPG) - Sierra Donor Services, a leading nonprofit organization dedicated to saving and enhancing lives through organ and tissue donation, is proud to announce the inaugural Sierra Donor Services Lifesaver Nursing Scholarship for the Capitol City Black Nurses Association (CCBNA). Sierra Donor Services has committed to fund the scholarship annually through 2028.

Sheree Criner, Capitol City Black Nurses Association President, shared news of this collaboration with the Capitol City Black Nurses Association Executive Board, expressing excitement and gratitude.

“We are grateful to partner with Sierra Donor Services in supporting underserved nursing students from black and brown communities,” said DaJanae Gresham-Ryder, Capitol City Black Nurses Association vice-president and scholarship committee chair. “Together, CCBNA and Sierra Donor Services are making significant strides toward closing the diversity gap in the nursing workforce.”

Sierra Donor Services is based in West Sacramento.

Last month, the scholarship program awarded a total of $6,000 to two outstanding nursing students, Cayla Cook and Mariah Wolfe.

Cook is pursuing the University of the Pacific's Entry Level Master of Science in Nursing (ELMSN) degree. As a woman of color who has navigated numerous challenges, she is committed to delivering compassionate, patient-centered care to diverse populations.

“I am deeply honored to be a recipient of the Sierra Donor Services Lifesaver Nursing Scholarship,” said Cook. “This recognition not only supports my educational goals but also strengthens my resolve to make a meaningful impact in the nursing field.”

Wolfe is currently in the Master of Science in Nursing – Family Nurse Practitioner degree program at Samuel Merritt University. As a member of both the Bay Area Black Nurses Association and Chi Eta Phi Sorority, Inc., she is dedicated to supporting and uplifting her community.

“I am so grateful that this scholarship will allow me to focus more fully on my studies, engage in research opportunities, and actively contribute to community health initiatives without the added stress of financial uncertainty,” said Wolfe. “Although this scholarship holds significant importance to me, it represents more than just financial support. It is a validation of my academic achievements and dedication to the nursing profession.”

The awardees were announced at Capitol City Black Nurses Association’s Annual Scholarship Gala in September. The recipients were selected based on their personal statements, academic achievements and dedication to the nursing profession.

“We are honored to partner with the Capitol City Black Nurses Association to support and invest in the next generation of nurses,” said Sean Van Slyck, executive director of Sierra Donor Services. “These scholarships recognize the exceptional dedication and determination of Cayla and Mariah, and we’re very proud of them for their academic achievements. We are confident that they and future scholarship recipients will make significant contributions to the nursing profession and the communities they serve.”

The Sierra Donor Services Lifesavers Nursing Scholarship is part of Sierra Donor Services’ ongoing commitment to supporting diversity and inclusion in the healthcare field. Sierra Donor Services supports Scholarship Awarded for Black Nurses in Sacramento’s work in advocating for the needs of nurses and optimizing health outcomes in communities where health disparities persist by promoting recruitment, retention, and enhancing the nursing education pipeline.

About Sierra Donor Services

Sierra Donor Services is a federally designated, mission-driven nonprofit organ procurement organization dedicated to saving and improving more lives by connecting organ and tissue donations to the patients who need them. Sierra Donor Services serves more than 2.7 million people across 13 counties in Northern California and Nevada and is a part of a larger organization that serves Tennessee and New Mexico. For more information, visit SierraDonor.org.

About the Capitol City Black Nurses Association

The Capitol City Black Nurses Association (CCBNA) is the Sacramento chapter of the National Black Nurses Association nonprofit organization. CCBNA aims to advocate for the needs of nurses and optimize health outcomes in communities where health disparities persist by promoting recruitment, retention and enhancing the nursing education pipeline. To learn more, visit ccbna.org.