First-generation nursing student from Everett is the inaugural recipient
Regis College is pleased to announce the first Tramuto Porter Compassionate Leadership Scholarship was awarded to nursing major Bryan De Souza ’25, a first-generation student from Everett, Mass. This new scholarship was established and funded by renowned health care and social justice activist, philanthropist, and author Donato J. Tramuto and his partner Jeffrey Porter, co-founders of the TramutoPorter Foundation. The scholarship is awarded annually to a nursing student enrolled in the Regis College Young School of Nursing with demonstrated financial need who represents compassionate leadership during their time at the university through their academics or a leadership role on campus.
“Regis College has been a quintessential leader in both creating a safe environment as well as championing a culture for leading with compassion. It is an honor and privilege to officially launch this partnership with them for a more compassionate and kind world,” said Tramuto.
“We are grateful to Donato and Jeffrey for recognizing the transformative value of a Regis education and how it forms compassionate and caring individuals,” said President Antoinette Hays, PhD, RN. “This scholarship advances Regis’ mission to increase access to higher education opportunities, while supporting the nursing workforce pipeline by educating future health care providers. The Regis community is proud to partner with Donato and Jeffrey who share and support this mission.”
At the 2022 Regis Commencement Ceremony, Tramuto addressed graduates and announced the creation of the scholarship. “Your lives will not be about doing one great thing, rather it will be about doing many little things that have the capacity to drive great change. It is important to not only uncover your professional why, you must uncover your personal why. Nobody cares what you do until they know why you do it.” said Tramuto. "The Tramuto Porter Compassionate Leadership Scholarship Fund will be awarded each year in perpetuity to a future nursing professional beginning their own journey in care and discovering their own personal ‘why.”’
Scholarship recipients are paired with a mentor from the TramutoPorter Foundation. De Souza recently met his mentor, Anthony Pacillo, a board member of the TramutoPorter Foundation.
“I am passionate about mental health and erasing the stigma, especially in communities of color like where I grew up,” said De Souza. “I have dreams of becoming a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner who incorporates hip-hop into his practice, and I know Regis and my Compassionate Leadership Scholarship will help me achieve that.”
