Featured News - Current News - Archived News - News Categories

Roswell Park recognizes staff, community supporters at 5th annual Eva M. Noles program

by jmaloni
Sat, Dec 15th 2012 02:00 pm

Scholarship awarded to RPCI employee in tribute to Buffalo's first African-American nurse

DeMarco Ogletree, a cashier in the nutrition and food service department atRoswell Park Cancer Institute, earned the $2,000 Eva M. Noles Scholarship Friday, Dec. 7, at the fifth annual Eva M. Noles Scholarship and Community Recognition Breakfast at RPCI. The annual program honors the legacy of Eva M. Noles, RN, Buffalo's first African-American registered nurse and a longtime RPCI employee who served in many leadership roles at the Institute, including as director of nursing.

Ogletree joined the Roswell Park staff in the spring of 2012. He is presently pursuing degrees in both nursing and theology at Erie Community College and plans to continue his work in health care, helping to fight health disparities in the Buffalo area.

"From his first days with us, DeMarco has committed himself wholeheartedly to the Roswell Park mission," said David Scott, RPCI director of diversity and inclusion. "He has contributed greatly as an employee, and now we have a great opportunity to reward that commitment - which embodies the work, spirit and legacy of Ms. Noles - and help him achieve his career goals by providing a scholarship toward his studies."

Darius G. Pridgen, pastor of True Bethel Baptist Church in Buffalo and Ellicott District councilmember for the City of Buffalo, gave the keynote address at the program, during which several RPCI staff members and volunteers were recognized for their role in providing cancer education and preventive outreach to underserved communities throughout Western New York. Among those recognized were Georganne Alexander, a volunteer with the Buffalo/Niagara Witness Project; Ramon Luciano Jr., a volunteer with Minorities Allied for the Need to Understand Prostate Cancer (MAN UP); Carmen Sepulvedad, a volunteer with the Esperanza y Vida Project; and Gloria Quarles, a volunteer who serves on Roswell Park's community advisory steering committee.

Staff and volunteers were also recognized for their contributions to "Cruisin' for a Cure," a prostate cancer education and screening event held at RPCI in September, and to the African American Roswell Employee Network, whose activities include year-round community outreach on behalf of RPCI.

The mission of Roswell Park Cancer Institute is to understand, prevent and cure cancer. For more information, visit RPCI's website athttp://www.roswellpark.org, call 1-877-ASK-RPCI (1-877-275-7724) or email[email protected].

Hometown News

View All News