Garren Pryce and Leon McKenzie, two of Jamaica's junior surfers, have been selected for the 2009 International Surfing Association (ISA) individual scholarships programme.

The Jamaicans were selected from over 80 applicants from 24 countries. There were 40 awardees. Applications were submitted based on surfing ability, attitude, academic efforts and ambitions. Each awardee receives a new custom surfboard and US$1,200 to be used for travel, school and or surf equipment purchase.

Before announcing the winners, ISA President Fernando Aguerre was quoted as saying in World Surfing News: "I believe the scholarship is a huge step forward by the ISA in areas of the world where we can't do enough. Together, we are supporting the dreams and hopes of good students who are also good surfers.

40 scholarships

We went from five to 40 scholarships in three years and we're hoping to reach 100 in a couple of years."

This makes the third time, in as many years, that Jamaicans have featured among the scholarship winners. In 2007, Imani Wilmot was one of five inaugural recipients with Ackeam Phillips being awarded a scholarship in 2008 when the programme was expanded to reward 20 applicants.

"This is wonderful news for these young surfers as both are good juniors," said Billy Wilmot, president of the Jamaica Surfing Association.