Students get Norma Keizer scholarships, bursaries

The Norma Keizer Scholarship Foundation awarded scholarships and bursaries to six students last Wednesday.

Full seven-year scholarships were awarded to Ayosa Stapleton of the Lodge Village Primary School, Delroy Ashton of the Spring Village Methodist School and Zola Fraser of the Gomea Methodist School.{{more}}

Come September, Stapleton and Ashton will attend the St Vincent Grammar School (SVGS), while Fraser will attend the West St George Secondary School.

Fraser received a special scholarship, funded by Alfred Fraser, a past student of the Gomea Methodist School, who now resides in Canada.

Bursaries valued at $425 each were awarded to Ronaldo John of the Georgetown Government School, Tamia Webb of the Cane End Government School and Joshua Richardson of the Questelles Primary School.

John and Richardson will attend the SVGS, while Webb will attend the Girls’ HIgh School.

The students were chosen from almost 50 applicants and according to members of the Foundation’s board, the selection process was not an easy task.

Speaking at the scholarship presentation ceremony, chair of the Foundation Dr Adrian Fraser noted that competition this year was very tight, as consideration has to be given to the student’s need as well as their ability.

He encouraged the students to take their scholarships seriously and do their best at school.

“We hope that you students would put everything into what you are doing and make sure that you stay at the top of your class,” he stated.

Fraser also asked parents to encourage students to take advantage of every opportunity which is handed to them.

The Norma Keizer Scholarship Foundation was established in 2015 in memory of the late Norma Keizer, a distinguished educator and a former editor of the Searchlight newspaper.

Parents of the scholarship and bursary awardees expressed their gratitude to the Foundation for easing some of the financial strain of sending a child to secondary school.

Arlene Webb, mother of Tamia Webb, said she would ensure that her daughter puts her best foot forward and does not waste the money she was awarded.

The scholarships are valued at $1,400 per annum and will increase to $1,600 when students enter the fourth form.

The bursaries winners will receive a one-off payment valued at $425. (CM)