Students awarded LIME scholarships

Twenty-six years after the programme was first introduced, Cable & Wireless, now LIME, is still donating scholarships to children of its employees and needy students from various communities.{{more}}

At a scholarship award ceremony held last Friday at the St Vincent Chamber of Industry and Commerce conference room, four students were handed cheques towards their first year of school.

Kay-Shaughna Chance, daughter of Curtis Chance, Corporate Sales and Services technician, and Antonique Clarke, daughter of Feona Clarke, Corporate Sales and Services Assistant, excelled at the Common Entrance examinations in May and were awarded the Internal LIME Scholarships for 2009. Both students attended the Kingstown Preparatory School and will attend the St Joseph’s Convent Kingstown in September.

Darren Weekes and Deja James also excelled at the Common Entrance Examinations in May and received the External LIME Scholarship awards. A local LIME committee was set up to give consideration to students of parents from various communities who are economically challenged. Darren and Deja performed creditably and will be attending the St. Vincent Grammar School and Girls’ High School, respectively.

LIME Head of Human Resources, Sandra Matthews, hosted the event and stressed the importance of investing in the youths, youth development and giving back to the communities. Each awardee gets $1,400 for the first three years of secondary education and $1600 from Form 4 to A-Level.

Matthews detailed the contribution made by LIME over the last 26 years and said: “LIME provides four scholarships on an annual basis and invests a total of forty-two thousand dollars ($42000) annually on twenty eight (28) students within the school system in St Vincent and the Grenadines. Over the life of the scholarship program thus far, LIME has expended over a quarter of a million dollars ($250000), money we consider to be well spent.”

The Human Resource Head continued: “We have had many successes over these years as well. We have had an island scholar like Charlene Douglas, daughter of Kenneth Douglas. Students are not expected to be intelligent but to be disciplined. Students are asked to provide a certificate of good conduct and their Exam Index number during the life of the scholarship. Whereas LIME provides the financing, we expect the students to maintain regular attendance, grades and excel academically.”

Present at the ceremony were past scholarship holders, parents, students and LIME colleagues.