From One Torchbearer to the Next: Aeisha Anderson Hands Over to Colie Lyn as LASCO, NAJ Nursing Student of the Year
- Breakthrough Communications
- Jul 21, 2025
- 4 min read
Outgoing LASCO, NAJ Nursing Student of the Year 2024-2025, Aeisha Anderson, officially passed the torch to her successor, Colie Lyn, during the recent staging of the awards ceremony held on Saturday, July 19 at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel.
It was a busy but deeply fulfilling year for Anderson, who embraced her role with purpose and pride. From leading the Pagee Beach cleanup environmental initiative in St. Mary to participating in multiple fundraising campaigns for her beloved Brown’s Town Community College School of Nursing – an institution she proudly calls “the best of the best”, Anderson used her platform to serve, inspire, and uplift her peers and community.
“I’m feeling pretty good. I see another Brown’s Town student won for a consecutive year…we’re keeping it in the family,” Anderson shared after the handover. “We have wonderful students, likewise, lecturers who are patient with us, and they make sure we truly understand what’s being taught. They must be doing something right because we are brilliant students, and they help to build on that brilliance.”
More than academics, Anderson described the culture of care and connection that defined her time at the institution. “The bond our class has is something special, we really operate like a family. Whether it’s morning devotions or karaoke sessions to de-stress, we make time to enjoy the college experience together. That kind of support helps us stay focused without burning out.”
Her year of service also deepened her involvement with campus initiatives. She highlighted the student-led initiatives including the past student committee that helps to raise funds to give back to students and teachers in need and the scholarship fund. Having spent the past year representing student nurses across the island, Anderson said the experience helped her grow both personally and professionally.
“I was a bit apprehensive at first, especially about interviews, but I’ve grown so much and I’m more open to public speaking now. A huge thank you to LASCO Chin Foundation and the Nurses Association of Jamaica (NAJ) for giving me this opportunity,” she shared.
As she closes this chapter, Anderson is looking forward to the next stage of her nursing journey: “I’m at the end of my college life and I see myself going back to work at the Annotto Bay Hospital, transitioning from the maternity department to the surgical or medicine floor and just giving of my best – effective care always.”
That same spirit of care echoed throughout the awards ceremony, held under the theme, “Our Nurses. Our Future. Caring for Nurses, Strengthens Economies.” It was a message not only spoken, but deeply felt, especially by Colie Lyn, who stepped into the spotlight as the 2025-2026 LASCO, NAJ Nursing Student of the Year. For Lyn, it was the care and encouragement of others that inspired her to rise to the challenge and seize the moment.
“It’s because people cared and recognised my hard work that I stepped up to the plate,” she shared.
Lyn, also a proud student of Brown’s Town Community College School of Nursing, in her third year enrolled in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing programme, impressed judges with her academic excellence, poise, and purpose-driven vision for the future of nursing.
“To be named the LASCO, NAJ Nursing Student of the Year is more than just an award. It’s a testament to resilience, sacrifice, and unwavering purpose,” Lyn shared in her moving acceptance speech. “There were days I doubted my capabilities, but I held on to a dream of becoming a nurse who doesn’t just treat patients, but one who touches lives and brings healing not just with hands, but with heart.”
Her determination has already earned her accolades in Public Speaking and 10/10 Clinical Skills, and she credits her success to her peers, mentors, and faculty. “Honestly, I was encouraged to apply for this prestigious award by our campus director and friends. I’m someone who usually just goes from school to home, but their belief in me pushed me. I don’t like to lose, I like to excel, and I always put my best foot forward.”
With 16 CXC/CAPE subjects under her belt, including Caribbean merit list recognition for Spanish, and leadership experience as President of the Quiz Club, Lyn aspires to specialise in cardiology or nephrology, while also contributing to environmental awareness and public health. Looking ahead, she hopes to use the platform to build networks, expand her horizons, and make a lasting impression.
“I believe the biggest challenge as students is self-doubt, but I want to help shift that. I want to remind others we are capable, brilliant, and destined for greatness,” Lyn reassured.
As the handover closed, both Anderson and Lyn embraced, a symbol not just of continuity, but of the growing sisterhood of nursing excellence cultivated at Brown’s Town Community College and amplified by the NAJ and LASCO Chin Foundation (LCF).
“It is always inspiring to witness the camaraderie and sisterhood amongst these exceptional young nurses. This year’s theme was more than appropriate,” said Anna-Kay McIntosh-Richards, LCF Programmes Manager. “The LASCO Chin Foundation and wider LASCO family remain committed and motivated to supporting and celebrating their invaluable contributions within communities across Jamaica.”
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