Scholars Foster Hope and Healing through Nursing and Psychology
Scholarship Winners: Bonnie Curtis, Laundrell Jones, Nia Brown, Ahrianna M. Vicks
Bonnie Curtis
Instilling Hope through Compassion and Courage
Through her strong Christian faith, Bonnie Curtis found the strength to overcome fear and doubt and obtain the education she needed to embark on a new career at the age of 44. Bonnie graduated from cosmetology school in 2001 and has worked for years as a barber. She was struggling with the loss of her mother and grandparents, and she turned to faith and prayer to find her way through this difficult time. “God healed my heart,” she said. “I received a clear vision, a call into nursing.”
Bonnie began her journey with self-study of English and a college algebra class while working full-time. This built her skills, foundation and confidence. She then enrolled in LSU-Shreveport’s School of Nursing to pursue an LPN degree, which she can complete in one year, an important consideration because she was not able to give up work for a more extended period of time. She then applied for grants to help fund her education, and she also found the 431 Exchange, noting that she strongly identifies with Alice Geoffray, who led the Adult Education Center in New Orleans in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and is the inspiration for the 431 Exchange. Alice was 41 when she started the school that gave her a second career and transformed the lives of her students.
Bonnie, a Mooringsport resident and a 1999 graduate of Southwood High School in Shreveport, chose the LSU-S nursing program because it is a “fast-paced, full-time, strict program,” whose organization appealed to her. She plans to work full-time as an LPN after graduation while pursuing her RN degree. She looks forward to the opportunity to provide compassionate care for patients and believes that her courage and diligence will enable her to improve her patients’ lives.
“I’ve had things to conquer, but I sought help from God, and I’ve learned I am not supposed to doubt,” she said of her path. “I’m going to make it. I continue to make it. I have gotten the help through prayer and seeking God.”
As she worked to figure out how to fund her education, Bonnie explored scholarships but found that many were only available to graduating high school seniors. So she is tremendously grateful to the 431 Exchange for believing in non-traditional students. “Your organization loves and appreciates all people, regardless of gender, color, race or age,” she said. “The love and hope the 431 Exchange has given to so many people is amazing and something to celebrate! People need to feel a sense of belonging and have hope for the future.”
Laundrell Jones
Turning Hardship into Healing
Laundrell Jones knows what it is like to have to sacrifice. Her educational journey was initially derailed because she put loved ones first, serving as the primary caregiver for her grandfather during his terminal illness. During this time, she found it necessary to put her education on hold. But Laundrell has recently returned to school, to pursue a nursing degree at Southern University at New Orleans.
“I was once told to lower my goals and accept less,” Laundrell said of the extenuating circumstances. “Starting over in nursing took courage, but giving up was never an option.” The difficulties she experienced only increased her motivation to obtain her degree and serve others.
“I am driven by the patients and families who need someone who understands fear, loss and hope all at once. I am eager to make a difference because I know what it means to struggle and still show up with compassion.”
A 2016 graduate of New Orleans Charter Math and Science High School who then attended UNO, Laundrell is working to “turn hardship into healing for others.” After being discouraged from pursuing her goals, Laundrell found the Nursing program at Southern to be “a turning point rather than just a place of instruction.” She shared that it challenged her and demanded accountability, excellence and resilience. Laundrell has risen to the challenge. She wants to use her education to help those navigating fear and uncertainty, and she plans to mentor future nursing students.
What inspired Laundrell about the 431 Exchange is its commitment to “second chances and steady progress. By offering a true hand up, not a handout, it empowers Louisiana adults who are rebuilding their futures (turning) determination into opportunity and lasting stability.”
Nia Brown
Providing Compassionate Care to Support Women During Important Moments in Their Lives
Inspired by her mother’s strength and sacrifices, Nia Brown is channeling her mom’s compassion as she pursues a degree in health sciences. She plans to work as an ultrasound technician specializing in OB/GYN with a goal of supporting women during some of the most important moments of their lives and “provide reassurance through compassionate care.”
She explains that her mom’s example motivates her to work hard, stay focused and make a difference in her community. She said she always knew she wanted to work with babies and in healthcare. Becoming an ultrasound technician checked all the boxes.
A 2025 graduate of Hahnville High School in Boutte, Nia is working toward a bachelor’s degree in Health Sciences. She attends Southeastern State University and will transfer to Delgado’s sonogram program. The program combines technical skill with compassionate patient care, allowing her to learn technical skills as she prepares to support her patients “during meaningful moments in their lives.”
Nia said she admires the 431 Exchange’s commitment to creating opportunity and uplifting people through education and support. “Knowing that the 431 Exchange exists motivates me to work harder, honor the support I receive and eventually give back so I can help others grow in the same way.”
Ahrianna M. Vicks
Breaking the Stigma Around Mental Health to Support Children who have Endured Trauma
Ahrianna M. Vicks says growing up in Baton Rouge instilled in her a passion for civic engagement, and also gave her an understanding of how “poverty and systemic barriers impact Black communities.”
Formative experiences in her youth, as well as watching her parents work hard and persevere while also dealing with outside struggles such as caring for sick relatives, inspired this first-generation college student to pursue a degree in psychology to eventually advocate for children in need. “Their tenacity shaped my understanding of perseverance,” she said. “These experiences fuel my dedication to education, advocacy and my future clinical work.”
A 2024 graduate of Baton Rouge Magnet High, Ahrianna is a first semester junior at Dillard University majoring in Psychology with a minor in Political Science. She plans to earn a Master’s Degree and then a PsyD in clinical psychology with an emphasis on child development. “I hope to use an intersectional, culturally aware approach to break the stigma surrounding mental health in communities of color … and create safe, affirming spaces for healing. I am deeply committed to supporting children who come from traumatic backgrounds.”
Ahrianna shared that she understands what it is like to persevere through adversity and pursue one’s goals despite hardships, and she identifies with the women who attended the Adult Education Center in New Orleans and went on to break barriers in the workplace. “I want to be like one of the Black women at the Adult Education Center who succeeded with the help of the community around them and be able to pour into the community that poured into me.”