Jamalco rolls out 14 scholarships
published:
Saturday | July 26, 2008
Sheresce Higgins, student of the Gravel Hill All-Age School in Clarendon, collects an envelope containing a cheque for $25,000 along with a gift package from Leo Lambert, manager of corporate services and government affairs at Jamalco. - Photo by Dwight Nelson
SPALDINGS, Clarendon:
Fourteen students from Clarendon and Manchester, who have been placed in high schools in the parishes, have been awarded scholarships, along with school supplies, from bauxite giant, Jamalco.
The presentation ceremony last Thursday was hosted at the Halse Hall Great House in Clarendon.
The children are from each of the seven areas in which Jamalco has community councils and were selected by their principals, grade teachers and guidance counsellors based on need, academic performance, discipline and attendance.
Renewable
The scholarships, valued at $25,000 each will be renewed annually for the next five years, once the student maintains at least a 'B' average, remains disciplined and is involved in at least one extracurricular activity.
The purpose of the scholarship is to assist with non-tuition costs and funds will be disbursed through the schools the students will be attending in September.
"Some persons will see this just as Jamalco giving away some money, but to us this has a greater significance," said Leo Lambert, manager of corporate services and government affairs at Jamalco. "To us at Jamalco, this occasion represents an investment for the future."
Monitoring
Lambert also told the students that the exercise was about creating hope and that they would be monitored throughout their high school lives.
"You are going to submit every school report to our representative so we can monitor your progress," he said. "We are going to make sure you do all these things by finding a mentor from Jamalco to guide each of you throughout high school."
Senior education officer from the Ministry of Education Esmilda McKenzie told the students they were very special because they have been handpicked, She urged them to make their sponsor proud.
The education officer also urged the students to turn a blind eye to bad influences in society and emulate positive role models.
