Students asked to balance careers

Edmond Jackson, President of the Kingstown Cooperative Credit Union (KCCU), has urged his institution’s scholarship recipients to be balanced in their careers. He noted that there were many distractions to which youngsters today were exposed, and advised that their responsibility was to “go to school and do well.”

Jackson handed over the first tranche of financial assistance to the two scholarship winners for the year 2006.{{more}}

Shaquille Thomas and Cornelius Neptune would be entering the St. Vincent Grammar School next September. They are both guaranteed five-year scholarships, of $1,000 each.

Thomas, a former St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Student, shared the first spot for boys and was second overall in the recent Common Entrance Examination. He had grades of 93.33% for Math, and 90 % each in English and General Paper.

Thomas’ story was already documented in the June 23 edition of the Searchlight Newspaper. He is from the interior region of Marriaqua and wants to be a mechanical engineer.

Neptune a former Questelles Primary School student placed sixth for Boys and 15th overall. He scored 93.33 for Math, 90% for General Paper and 81.67 % for English.

Neptune expressed gratitude for his KCCU scholarship. He enjoys reading and studying. He is one with an environmental orientation and likes “cleaning up the home.” Neptune is an athlete, but has his eyes on a career as a surgeon.

Jackson encouraged the students to “dream and dream big.”

“If you want it, set your goals and work hard,” Jackson advised.

He noted that, “youngsters today need as much encouragement as they can get.”

He expressed happiness that the KCCU was able to increase the annual amount from $900 to $1,000 this year.

Thirty-seven other students entering secondary schools also received assistance from the KCCU. Two of them who placed third and fourth on the KCCU list get a $500 one-off payment. Thirty-five others, children of KCCU members, get $150.00 each.

The presentation to the students took place at the Jerome Burke Senior Conference Room in the KCCU Financial Complex last Wednesday.

The KCCU, which was registered April 12, 1958, has been giving scholarships since 1995. It has a membership of over 11,000 and assets worth over $31 million.

The next KCCU Community Interaction will be the National Dance Festival in September and October. Primary school students will be in the spotlight in December with the Annual Quiz.