Eight years after it began, a scholarship program founded to enhance compassionate patient care in the Mid-Shore region continues to grow.

Friend of Chesapeake College, John DeLuca of Cambridge, launched the TREES (Training Recruitment Education and Employment) Scholarship Fund in ​2016 to help build the pool of compassionate and skilled nursing assistants in the area. The scholarships are awarded to Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) students in Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s and Talbot counties.

In addition to launching the scholarship program, Mr. DeLuca continues to support the CNA education at Chesapeake by attending Health Professions graduations and assisting in fundraising. Most recently, Mr. DeLuca organized a pit beef fundraiser in Cambridge for the TREES program.

Through the TREES scholarship, $139,400 has been raised to support students in the CNA program. To date, 58 CNAs are working in the field thanks to TREES funding.

“Mr. DeLuca’s altruism and passion for supporting Certified Nursing Assistant education is truly inspiring to many on the staff here at Chesapeake College. We are so grateful to him for starting the TREES Scholarship and providing our community with caring and compassionate healthcare workers,” said Director of Development Amber McGinnis.

For more information about the TREES program, please visit our non-credit scholarship applications page.