SVGTCCU awards scholarships, book vouchers to students

Four students have been awarded seven-year scholarships from the St Vincent and the Grenadines Teachers Cooperative Credit Union Ltd (SVGTCCU).

Elzicho Debique, Jaynese Providence, Emma Rouse and Ronae Kirby will receive $1,200 annually until the completion of their tertiary education.{{more}}

Forty-nine other students received book vouchers this year.

Speaking at the presentation ceremony last Tuesday, SVGTCCU chief executive officer Julian Jack said the two additional years were added in order to ensure that students would not have to go searching for another scholarship to complete their college education.

He reminded recipients that scholarship holders must be at the top of their class, adding that parents have a responsibility to ensure that the student is performing.

According to Jack, if a student is not performing, the Union could contact the school and in collaboration with the parents, try to find out what is wrong.

He noted that the Union is monitoring students whose grades have fallen significantly.

“While we are interested in dealing with the scholarship, we are also interested in making sure that you maintain the scholarship,” he said.

Jack further noted that this year, 75 persons applied for scholarships — 42 females and 33 males. He pointed out the Union’s concern that the females are constantly out-performing the males.

The CEO recalled a time when boys were very competitive in school and stated that the Union must find a medium to motivate the students to do the work they are supposed to do.

During remarks, SVGTCCU president Kay Martin-Jack noted that over the last five years, the Union has awarded 13 scholarships and 257 book vouchers to students in SVG, which enables the next generation of leaders to achieve their dreams of a secondary school education.

She reminded students that persistence and determination produce desired results.

Also speaking at the ceremony, past scholarship recipient of 2011-2016 Daniel Hamilton told recipients that the scholarship played a pivotal role in his secondary education. Hamilton said the scholarship not only provided him with uniforms and books, but also paid for his CSEC subjects.

He said having the scholarship challenged him to work hard and set greater goals for himself, adding that he hopes that the SVGTCCU continues to award scholarships to hard-working and deserving young people and encourage them also to continue to strive for excellence.

Scholarship recipient Elzicho Debique also made remarks on behalf of the awardees and Iran Rouse made remarks on behalf of the parents. (AS)