LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — A 14-year-old Las Vegas girl being treated for leukemia used her Make-A-Wish wish to create a scholarship for future pediatric nurses, according to Make-A-Wish Nevada.
Gabrie Ann Nakhle revealed the G.A.B.R.I.E.N. Pediatric Nursing Scholarship during a World Wish Day event on April 29 at Cure 4 The Kids Foundation on Roseman University’s Las Vegas campus, where she has received treatment, said Make-A-Wish Nevada.
The scholarship’s first recipient is Roseman University College of Nursing student Rosalia Escalera, an accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing student expected to graduate in June 2026, organizers said. Escalera, a former accountant, has focused her clinical training on pediatric care in hospital and skilled nursing settings.
“I’m passionate about working with and advocating for children and supporting families during difficult times,” Escalera said.
After the scholarship announcement, Nakhle took part in a “No More Chemo” bell-ringing ceremony to mark a milestone in her treatment, organizers shared.
The event brought together Make-A-Wish Nevada, Roseman University College of Nursing, and Cure 4 The Kids Foundation.
Las Vegas Mayor Shelley Berkley and Clark County Commissioner Justin Jones also attended and spoke, according to organizers.
Organizers called the scholarship the first of its kind in Nevada.
Nakhle worked with Roseman representatives to set qualifications, review applications, and help select Escalera as the inaugural recipient, according to University and Make-A-Wish officials.
Nakhle was diagnosed in mid-2025 and has had a 32-day hospitalization while continuing outpatient treatment, organizers said.
Organizers said the scholarship will continue beyond its first year through the Roseman HERO Scholarship with support from Cure 4 The Kids Foundation.
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