FLOW awards over $30,000 in scholarships

FLOW St. Vincent and the Grenadines, awarded over $30,000 in secondary and tertiary scholarships at its annual academic scholarship ceremony held at the Frenches House Conference Room in Frenches last Thursday, July 26.

The ceremony marked 34 years since the scholarship programme was established with the help of the Commercial Technical and Allied Workers’ Union (CTAWU), to recognise academic excellence and assist students with a financial need.

In remarks to dozens of parents, well-wishers and employees, the acting General Secretary of the CTAWU, Joseph ‘Burns’ Bonadie, recollected fondly the origins of the programme, then called the Cable & Wireless Annual Scholarship Programme, and expressed satisfaction that the programme has remained a top priority for the company and has extended to non-employees and its customers.

According to Bonadie, the programme came at a time when scholarships were not prevalent in SVG ,and as a result, he has witnessed the programme positively impact the lives of many who have turned out to be exceptional citizens. He further urged the recipients to maintain good grades.

This was a sentiment shared by the Country Manager of FLOW Wayne Hull as he announced the programme’s newest recipients, and spoke about the company’s pride in being able to once again reward academic excellence as it pursues its mission to transform the lives of customers and employees across the country.

Wayne Hull

Hull said he was happy to honour the legacy started in 1984, and assured the audience that the company would continue to do so in the foreseeable future.

“I want to congratulate each of you on your achievements so far in your student career,” he added. “Once you continue to put in the work, each of you is destined to do great things in the future.”
Addressing the current and newest scholarship holders directly, Senior Education Officer in the Ministry of Education Kay Martin-Jack, who also delivered remarks at the ceremony, implored the students to persevere in their academic studies.

She took the opportunity to assure parents that their support is significant towards their children’s success, adding that they need to ensure that their children remain disciplined towards their academic future.

Another $20,000 in scholarship payments and bursaries are expected to be made when the CXC/CSEC and CAPE results are published in early August. When all is said and done over $50,000 in payments will be distributed this year to match the usual annual contribution.

Joining the almost 30 current scholarship holders, will be three children of employees and two children of customers who were successful in this year’s Caribbean Primary Exit Assessment (CPEA), students who topped the 2017 Lions Club South National Public Speaking Competition, and the student awarded the Best Student after Remediation at this year’s National CXC Awards. Three children of customers who applied to this year’s scholarship programme also received one-off bursaries to assist them in the new school year.

They are Leandre Burnette, Joshua Veira, Nyle Toney, Safiya Andrews, Kaylee Robertson, Julien James, Rolicia Abbey, Zachary Ash, Jaykwarn Donald-Payne, Alejandro Tesorero, Joel Ross and Derica York.

More than 200 students across the country have benefitted from the programme which complements the company’s other philanthropic initiatives.