Bunpan awards secondary school scholarship 2016

Janica Browne of Redemption Sharpes is the 2016 scholarship winner of the Marriaqua United Friendly Society (Bunpan) Award.

Janica is the daughter of Josette Caine of Redemption Sharpes. She attended the C W Prescod Primary School, placing 10th for girls and 31st overall, with an overall percentage of 91.{{more}} The scholarship award has a duration of seven years and includes the payment of fees for external examinations. Janica will begin her secondary education at the St Vincent Girls’ High School in September. The award marked the 45th scholarship since the Bunpan scholarship programme was started in 1985. The occasion also saw 19 other students receiving one-time assistance towards school expenses.

President Rickie Burnett, in his brief overview of the society’s progress for the last 62 years, highlighted the benefits to members, such as death benefit, scholarship, honorary membership and humanitarian assistance. He also made mention of past Bunpan scholarship holders who have excelled, such as Dr Rodion Hunte and Minister of Health Luke Browne. He also encouraged persons who are not yet members to register with the society and appealed to parents of scholarship holders to continue their membership after the scholarship has ended.

The motivational speaker was 2002 scholarship holder Shernell Hadaway, who has recently successfully completed her Legal Education Certificate at the Hugh Wooding Law School in Trinidad and Tobago. In her address, she encouraged students to work hard, make full use of their secondary education, view failure as a temporary setback and to try harder the next time.

The audience was entertained with cultural renditions from Brianca Matthias, competitor in the 2016 Junior Calypso competition and Anaelia Williams of the Marriaqua Government School, who played a medley on pan and also sang.

Parents also expressed satisfaction with the Bunpan programme and encouraged the students to take their education seriously.

Other board members present were vice-president Theophilus Shallow, trustee Trevor Jackson, and chairperson of the proceedings assistant secretary/treasurer Cecil Jackson.

The presentation ceremony was held on Wednesday, July 20, 2016 at the Freeland headquarters of the Marriaqua United Friendly Society.