Students receive Fair Trade scholarships

Considering the rising cost of education these days, a scholarship is quite the godsend for parents and students alike. So it was no surprise that the recipients of this year’s St. Vincent and the Grenadines Fair Trade Scholarship and their parents could hardly contain their joy at the handing-over ceremony held on Tuesday, July 29th.{{more}}

This being its fifth year of awarding scholarships, the National Fair Trade Association (NFTA) was pleased to hand over cheques to 11-year-olds Tonisia Smart and Twanie Fergus. Park Hill resident Tonisia Smart was accompanied by her proud father, Osborne Wilkinson, and is looking forward to attending the Girls’ High School (GHS) in September. Having placed 23rd for girls and 30th overall, Tonisia is a past student of the Park Hill Government School.

Also attending GHS in the upcoming school term, Twanie Fergus attended the informal ceremony with her mother, Ingrid Charles, who, too, beamed with pride. The Georgetown resident began her primary education at Langley Park Primary but transferred to Union Methodist in Grade 4. In the recent Common Entrance results, Twanie placed 19th for Girls and 26th overall.

Each girl will receive a total of $1,500 per year throughout secondary school, and, at post secondary level thet will receive $1,000 annually.

According to NFTA Chairman Philemon Allen, the scholarships will cover the recipients’ education for the next 7 years – taking them through Secondary and Post-Secondary education. To qualify for this scholarship, students must be the children (biological or legally adopted) or grandchildren of Fair Trade farmers, and should not hold any other scholarships. (JSV)