Students receive Clarence Keizer scholarships from SVG Port Authority

The St Vincent and the Grenadines Port Authority has awarded scholarships to three students who successfully passed their Caribbean Primary Exit Assessment earlier this year.

Donye Fergus, Javanne Sam and Khalie Wallace received the scholarships {{more}}under the Clarence Keizer Education Award at a luncheon which took place at the Kingstown Methodist Church Hall on Tuesday, July 22, 2014.

Featured speaker Andrea Bowman, headmistress of the Girls’ High School – and daughter of the late Clarence Keizer – congratulated the students on their achievement, and impressed upon them the importance of fully utilising the educational resources now available to them.

Bowman also reminded the students that they need to remain “disciplined and deliberate” in their efforts to gain a sound education, because a lack of discipline would lead to many regrets later in their lives.

The GHS headmistress cited being left behind educationally, disappointing their parents and being ridiculed by their peers as some of the consequences of being ill-disciplined.

Bowman, who acknowledged that being disciplined requires sacrifice, said: “Living with regret is like living with a self-inflicted wound.”

She urged students to save themselves from “the blade of regret” by remaining focused on their education and realising that as they advance, they become increasingly responsible for their own learning and progress.

Quoting a line from Buju Banton’s “Untold Stories”, Bowman said: “It’s a competitive world for low budget people”; reminding students that when an individual has limited financial and educational resources, he/she has to use them as best as possible to be successful in their chosen careers.

Each year, the SVG Port Authority grants scholarships to the children of its employees who scored over 60 per cent average in the CPEA.

In brief remarks, SVGPA chairman Edwin Snagg said that the Port Authority prides itself on maintaining a close relationship with its employees, and considers its role one of “semi foster parent” to the scholarship holders.

“There is no better way you can get to someone’s feelings and heart than by doing something for their children,” he insisted.

“We have a responsibility when it comes to the education of our nation’s children.”

Snagg urged the recipients and current scholarship holders, who also attended the luncheon, to work hard as “education is the gateway out of poverty.”

He also called on parents to monitor their children’s activities, and to play their roles in ensuring that they receive a sound education.

Awardees Donye Fergus, Javanne Sam and Khalie Wallace will attend the St Vincent Grammar School, Thomas Saunders Secondary and Bishop’s College Kingstown, respectively, in the upcoming academic year.

Also present were Miss SVG 2014 Shadeisha George, a past scholarship holder; Clare Keizer, daughter of Clarence Keizer and CEO at Interactive Media; and SVGPA human resources and corporate affairs manager Charmane Tappin-John, who delivered opening and closing remarks. (JSV)