GraceKennedy Foundation Awards Over $19Million in Tertiary Scholarships
Eighty -four (84) university students will be able to pursue their studies thanks to scholarships from the GraceKennedy Foundation which recently made its annual scholarship awards at The University of the West Indies (The UWI).
There were five first-time recipients of full scholarships, along with 13 students who had theirs renewed. Eighteen students received final-year scholarships, including two enrolled at the Caribbean Maritime University, which achieved university status on September 28. Additionally, the foundation awarded 48 merit scholarships, previously known as bursaries.
“This was my first year conducting scholarship interviews and it was a rewarding experience to see some of Jamaica’s outstanding and bright young persons who, many times, would not have been able to attend university had it not been for the award they received. We are glad to be able to contribute towards their future,” stated Dr Fred Kennedy, newly appointed chair of the foundation.
Two of the scholarships are named in honour of former GK CEOs Rafael Diaz and Douglas Orane. The Douglas Orane Scholarship is awarded to a student studying science, technology or engineering at either The UWI or University of Technology Jamaica (UTech, Jamaica), while the Rafael Diaz Scholarship goes to a student studying business at The UWI. The others are awarded specifically to The UWI; UTech, Jamaica; Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts; and Caribbean Maritime University (CMU).
Edna Manley College Scholar Ryan Scott described his award as a life saver.
“This scholarship came when I was at my wits’ end. There were so many challenges staring me in the face and I was just about to give up hope of being able to go to school. Gladly, the scholarship came just in time and reminds me to always maintain hope and determination,” he said.
At the awards ceremony, Chaluk Richards, guest speaker and a former GraceKennedy Foundation Carlton Alexander Scholar, gave sound advice to the recipients.
“Use your time, skill and effort to make the people and environment around you that much better,” he told them.
Richards is Assistant General Manager at GK General Insurance Company Limited.
The GraceKennedy Foundation is in its 35th year and supports educational and environmental programmes and processes. For 2017, the Foundation has offered a total of 111 scholarships and bursaries valued at $20.6 million.
Sourced and was first published in the Jamaica Observer
