Government announces record 33 scholarships

Jamila Soso-Vincent 12.SEPT.08

A record-breaking 33 scholarships, bursaries and awards at a cost of EC$7 million have been granted this year to students wishing to access University studies.{{more}}

Twenty-four of the scholarships have been awarded to 2008 graduates of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Community College (SVGCC), while the remaining nine, open to members of the general public, are yet to be decided.

“They have lifted the bar and the Government, as always, has kept true to its promise by lifting the numbers,” said a beaming Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves in a Ministry of Education press conference held on Tuesday, September 9th.

Following the combination of raw scores from the Cambridge A’levels and the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Exams (CAPE), the top performers were ranked in order of their percentage scores.

According to the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Laura Browne, the top 6 students are set to receive National Scholarships that will cover them for 5 years; including tuition fees and cost of living expenses. They will not be restricted to any specified area of study. The top student, Jason Haynes, will receive the Prime Minister’s award, which, in addition to the national scholarship, will bestow him with a gold medal and a cash award of $10,000 – an increase from $5,000 last year. Haynes received grade A’s in A’ level Law, Psychology and Sociology and grade ones in CAPE Computer Science Units 1 & 2 and Caribbean Studies. He also gained a grade B in Computer Studies, which he completed through the University of Belize.

The five other National Scholars are Javal Wood with grade A’s in A’ level Physics and Chemistry, grade one in CAPE Mathematics and grade two in Communication Studies; Cassia Toby, who received grade A’s in A’ level Accounts, Economics and Business Studies and grade one in CAPE Communication Studies; Sinitta McLean, who returned grade A’s in A’ level Accounts, Economics and Business Studies and grade two in CAPE Communications Studies; Atiah Stephens with grade A’s in A’ level Economics and Business Studies, grade B in A’ level Accounts, grade two and three in CAPE Communication Studies and Mathematics Unit 1, respectively; Johanna-Marie Best who received grades A, B and C in A’ level Chemistry, Biology and Physics, respectively, a grade one in CAPE Mathematics Units 1 & 2 and a grade two in Communication Studies.

The 9 students occupying the 7th – 15th positions will receive National Exhibitions for the duration of 3 years. In 2007, only four exhibitions were awarded. In order of rank, the awardees are Sherry-Ann Williams, Isis Gonsalves, Rianna Thomas, Adella Sutherland, Keneil Bullock, Priya Debnath, Keisean Stevenson, Kimonette Robertson and Delano Da Souza.

The 16th – 20th positions went to Jimesha Prince, Romano Wynn, La’ron Browne, Joylyn Parris and Sophia Jardine, in that order. They will each receive a 3-year scholarship. These awards are new to the 2008 graduates.

Four new bursaries of a 3-year duration, each valued at $20,000 per year, were granted to Sabrina Kirby, Keera DeFreitas, Theoleen Toney and Maria Joyette.

Additionally, 9 special scholarships will be awarded to persons willing to return to St. Vincent and the Grenadines to work in a teaching capacity in the areas of Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Information Communications Technology and Technical-Vocational education. Not only open to this year’s graduates, all persons who will finish the degrees by their 32nd birthday are eligible to apply.

Senior Education Officer Marcus Caine was highly pleased with this year’s performances. “We cannot deny that the students are working at a higher level… This is good for St. Vincent and the Grenadines and I am well pleased!” All students will receive official notification by letter in the upcoming week. (JSV)