Award Description

The Nicola Lamanna Oncology Nursing Scholarship, with a value of $1,000, will be awarded to a student enrolled in a Baccalaureate-level program in their 3rd or 4th year at a recognized School of Nursing who has demonstrated academic achievement, leadership and commitment to work in oncology nursing.

Origin

The Nicola Lamanna Oncology Nursing Scholarship was initiated in 2023 by his daughter, Alessia Lamanna, her husband, Matthew Pellizzari and their families to celebrate their wedding, pay tribute to the late Nicola Lamanna, and support the profession of nursing. Nicola passed in 2012 and is immensely missed by his family and friends. Alessia was inspired to pursue a career in nursing by the nurses who cared for her father throughout his cancer treatment and end of life care. Alessia was also a 2022 RNFOO scholarship winner and is now a Registered Nurse working in oncology and emergency nursing.

Honoree Background

Nicola Lamanna was a first-generation immigrant from Italy, who was the first of his family to pursue post-secondary education in Canada. He was a George Brown College graduate who dedicated over 20 years of his life to working in the Engineering Department at St. Michael’s Hospital. Nicola is remembered as always having a smile on his face and being able to see the positives in all aspects of life. Nicola Lamanna was a selfless, and humble man who touched the lives of all those who knew him. He was an avid professional ballroom dancer and a very hard-working man, who often returned from the hospital at midnight, only to respond to his hospital pager just a few hours later.

Nicola was a lover of technology, and science; he was excited by the fast-growing changes in healthcare and science in the 2000’s. He was a very active member of the Italian-Canadian community, where he participated in various social events and generously gave many years of his life to this community.

Nicola always wanted his daughter Alessia to pursue a career within the health sciences. He completed his cancer treatment at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre where Alessia now works as a Registered Nurse and Research Assistant.

A note of recognition is offered here to Alessia’s former professor and colleague Dr. Catriona Buick for her guidance, support, and her devotion to oncology nursing.

Previous Award Winners

This is a new award and winners will be added each year.