A scholarship and financial grants totalling $2 million have been awarded to three university students by their Excellencies the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen and Lady Allen.
The students, who are pursuing Bachelor of Science (BSc) degrees at the University of Technology (UTech), were presented with the funds during a ceremony at King’s House on Friday, August 12.
Simone Dwyer, who is reading for a degree in Medical Technology, was the recipient of the scholarship valued at $1,380,580.
First and second runners-up for the award, Raymond Stewart, and Lacy-Ann Green were presented with financial grants of $459,060 and $175,000 respectively to complete their studies.
The award programme, dubbed the Sir Patrick and Lady Allen 40th Anniversary Scholarship was conceptualised in recognition of this marital milestone which they celebrated last year.
In his remarks, the Governor-General said he and Lady Allen are passionate about “serving our people” and therefore used their 40th wedding anniversary to receive gifts of cash to create an account for bright, but financially challenged students to pursue tertiary education.
“We happily embrace the opportunity to serve in whatever way we are required to uplift and to affirm others as we do through the “I Believe Initiative” which is to empower individuals to achieve their objectives and then in return to help others,” he said.
Acting President, UTech, Professor Colin Gyles, said he was pleased that their Excellencies chose students pursuing their studies in the Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) disciplines “as we understand that this is the future for development”.
“The UTech family is sincerely grateful to your Excellencies for the kind and selfless gesture in support of our students. I am confident that you have made an excellent decision to invest in the future of these students who have already given their commitment to make good use of this privilege that has been afforded them,” he said.
In her response on behalf of the awardees, Ms. Dwyer thanked Their Excellencies for this “generous offer… which has lightened many financial burdens, allowing us to put our focus on the most important aspect of schooling, reading for our degrees”.
“Our educational pursuits would have been extremely difficult without this bountiful assistance given to us…our lifelong aspirations of attending university have certainly been enhanced through this offer,” she said.
The scholarship was offered to UTech students pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in the STEM area.
The scholarship covers tuition and ancillary fees for the selected degree programme. Applicants were either successful first year university students or secondary school students who exceeded Utech’s minimum requirement for acceptance in the selected programmes.
The winner is required to give at least three weeks of voluntary service each year and on successful completion of the degree programme, will be bonded to work in Jamaica for four years.
Source: Jamaica Information Service