Help Establish the Gabriela Ridings Memorial Scholarship
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My name is John Ridings, and Gabriela Ridings was my daughter. As many of you know, she passed away on October 9th at the age of 20 in her dorm room at Nova Southeastern University (NSU) from heart failure.
Gaby's dream was to become a nurse and get accepted into the prestigious nursing program at NSU. She initially enrolled at NSU to study marine biology, but very quickly after starting college, she discovered her true calling: nursing. This shift was deeply inspired by her experience as a healthcare aide intern at NorthShore University HealthSystem in our hometown of Evanston, Illinois. She was over the moon when she received the email confirming her acceptance into the NSU nursing program.
I still vividly remember her excitement as she called her mom and I, nearly every day, to share updates about her journey. She spoke with pride about her grades, the skills she was learning, and the friends she was making. Gaby was excelling in her studies and making straight A's at the time of her passing. She had found her niche.
The cover photo for this fundraiser is the only picture we have of Gaby in her nursing uniform. She was so proud to receive her scrubs and lab coat, with her name embroidered on them. She wore them with immense pride, knowing that she was on her way to fulfilling her dream of becoming a nurse.
We are launching this campaign to ensure Gaby’s legacy lives on by helping other aspiring nurses achieve their dreams. Currently, donations can be made in Gaby’s memory to the Ron and Kathy Assaf College of Nursing at NSU. However, after discussions with the university’s fundraising department, we’ve decided to take this a step further by creating an endowed memorial scholarship in Gaby’s name.
Thus, we are proud to announce the establishment of the Gabriela Ridings Memorial Endowment Fund for Cardiac Focused Nursing Students. This scholarship will provide financial assistance to nursing students every year, in perpetuity. It’s our way of ensuring that Gaby’s passion for nursing continues to inspire and support others.
To establish this endowment, we need a total of $25,000. We are asking for your support to help us raise $10,000. Our family will cover the remaining amount. For those of you who have already donated to the NSU nursing program in Gaby's memory, those funds will be used to provide immediate scholarship aid to qualified nursing students under the name of the endowment.
The scholarship will be awarded to students who meet the following criteria:
- Must be a full-time B.S.N. student at NSU
- Document financial need
- Maintain good academic standing with a GPA of at least 3.0
- Be in good disciplinary standing
- Be in their first semester or beyond in the nursing program
- Application essay must express an interest in specializing in the care of patients with heart-related diseases and indicate a plan to seek employment in a cardiac care unit.
Gaby was only enrolled in the nursing program for a few months before her passing, but in that short time, she made a lasting impact. She formed a close-knit group of fellow nursing students, commuting with them to school and spending time together outside of class. The nursing program also recognized Gaby’s contributions by awarding her an engraved brick on campus — an honor typically reserved for graduates. It’s a permanent way for Gaby to be remembered at NSU.
Her fellow students and professors demonstrated the profound impact Gaby had on them when about 50 of them attended her final viewing at Broward Funeral Choices in Fort Lauderdale. This heartfelt display of love and respect for Gaby is something my wife and I wish you could have witnessed.
NSU’s B.S.N. nursing program is ranked among the top by U.S. News & World Report. It’s a program worthy of donation and new scholarship development. We hope that this scholarship will not only honor Gaby’s memory but also provide meaningful support to students who share her passion for nursing.
We will send out reminder posts for this charity fundraiser around Gaby’s birthday and other significant anniversaries.
We are deeply grateful for any donation amount, and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your love, support, and generosity. Every dollar contributed will help us honor Gaby’s legacy and ensure her dream lives on through the nurses of tomorrow.
With love and gratitude,
John and Rowena Ridings
Organizer
John Ridings
Organizer
Evanston, IL