Eighty high school and tertiary level students in Clarendon and Manchester will have less to worry about when they return to school for the new academic year, as Jamalco awarded them J$14m in scholarships, grants, and bursaries. The organization presented commitment letters to the students at the 16th Annual Community Scholarship Awards Function held at the Wembley Center of Excellence recently.
A very strident, Guest Speaker and Director of the HEART NSTA, Jamaica’s Skill Training Agency Dr. Taneisha Ingleton, encouraged the students not to waste the opportunity to advance themselves through education and compromise their good character. “You cannot afford to lose your way, preserve yourselves and what you value. This is just a piece of your journey, keep focused and determined and you will succeed,” she stated.
Managing Director of Jamalco, Austin Mooney, outlined the company’s commitment to “creating opportunities and empowering the next generation of leaders. According to Mr. Mooney, this scholarship is not just a recognition of the students’ past accomplishments, “but also a proof of our belief in your future potential. We have invested in you because we see the incredible talent, ambition, and determination within each of you. This scholarship is just the beginning of a journey that we hope will lead to even greater successes and positive contributions to society.” Mr Mooney also congratulated this year’s recipients while stating “I know the selection process has very stringent criteria and earning a Jamalco scholarship is in great demand so congratulations to you who have been selected.” Mr Mooney stated.
In her overview of the programme, Corporate Services Manager, Donna Marie Brooks says over 50% of the organization’s annual community budget is invested in the educational support of children in its host communities. She added that since the inception of the scholarship programme, over 500 students have gone to college or university courtesy of Jamalco while 65 students have taken up their place in high school. Ms. Brooks also emphasized the importance of maintaining a 3.0 GPA as that is one of the main criteria for scholarship renewal.
The education assistance will not only alleviate the students’ financial burden but also acknowledge and reward their exceptional abilities. The Jamalco scholarships are valued at $200,000 to $250,000 while bursaries value $120,000. The high school students who received scholarships towards their auxiliary, books, transportation, and lunch are each valued at $40,000.
Meanwhile, teacher at the Winston Jones High School and former Jamalco mentee and scholarship recipient, Richie-Ann Newman, shared her testimony of overcoming financial difficulty, “The Jamalco scholarship enabled me to recognize my dreams for higher education and helped me to make those dreams a reality. Receiving a scholarship meant that I had to work hard to maintain my grades, but I remained focused. The Jamalco scholarship was my only chance of attending Teachers’ College and I give thanks every day for the company,” she said.
A former awardee and past student of the Northern Caribbean University, Rosheka Pitter expressed appreciation for the financial aid from Jamalco, noting that Jamalco’s investment made her educational journey possible as “my parents did not have the means to support my college education,” she explained.
Current awardee Dowesha Williams of the Faculty of Medical Sciences and first-time awardee Marsha-Ann Miller testified to their ability to achieve their educational dream would not have been possible without Jamalco’s support.