Eleven-year-old Jada Myers, first-form student at Hampton School, who formerly attended Top Hill Primary, is not only overjoyed that she was placed at the school of her first choice in the recent Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT), but that she also achieved her dream of receiving a five-year scholarship.
The Yardley Chase resident and former head girl, who scored an average of 97.8 per cent in the GSAT, is the Jamaica National Building Society (JNBS) Foundation Scholar for the parish of St Elizabeth.
“I feel accomplished and happy about being awarded a scholarship because I worked hard to get one. In addition, my teacher and family were hoping that I would receive a scholarship; therefore, I’m really glad that my hardwork has paid off,” she said.
Jada is one of 37 outstanding performers in this year’s GSAT who were awarded five-year scholarships, and will be officially recognised as JN Foundation Scholars at a scholarship awards reception to be held at theorganisation’s chief office on Sunday.
TOP STUDENTS
The annual awards, which was previously managed by the parent organisation, JNBS, up to 2014, has been in place for the past 33 years. To date, hundreds of students have been awarded scholarships to pursue theireducation at the secondary and tertiary levels.
“Annually, we recognise a top-performing student in each parish; and a top student in each county, who is a member of the JN School Savers Programme; as well as the children of JN Group employees who attain a minimum average of 85 per cent,” Saffrey Brown, general manager of the JN Foundation, pointed out.
“The parish and county scholarships are awarded to students based on the recommendation of the Ministry of Education, while JN employees apply on behalf of their children, once they attain the minimum average grade,” she explains.
Miss Brown noted that this year’s scholarship awardees join some 102 existing five-year scholarship holders, who were issued with awards over the past four years.
The awards are renewable annually and JN Foundation Scholars must maintain an average of 70 per cent for the renewal of their scholarship each year, during the five-year period.
Donna-Marie McDonald, parent of Stephan Griffiths, who received a scholarship in 2011 to attend Campion College, expressed her gratitude to the JN Foundation in an email recently.
She wrote, “The process for disbursement of funds was hassle-free and the JN representatives were courteous and professional. We did our part; and JN did their part by honouring their commitment on time, all the time.”
The JN Foundation scholarship programme also provides scholarships to students at the tertiary level.
Annually, 15 students attending the University of the West Indies, the University of Technology, Jamaica and the Northern Caribbean University are awarded a one-year scholarship to pursue undergraduate degrees in specificdisciplines. Tertiary students are required to apply for the JNBS Foundation’s one-year scholarship through the scholarship office at their respective university. One scholarship to the University College of the Caribbean is also extended to a JN employee.
LEGACY SCHOLARSHIP
Additionally, for the past three years, three Jamaicans who successfully matriculated at the University of Birmingham Business School in the United Kingdom have also benefited from an 18-month full JN Legacy Scholarship.
This year’s GSAT Parish Scholarship recipients are Amri Hanson, Brandon Cheddesingh, Cardiff McKenzie, Dania Creary, Gabrielle Barrett, Jada Myers, Jada Glenn, Kentsania Samuels, Kyle Dunn, Leojai Hibbert, Romaine Barrett, Sashaunna Lamb, Shavecia Cole and Teiona Jones.
The JN School Savers Scholarship awardees, at the county level, are Daisja Langley, Alex Cephas and Ashae Whorms.
JN Employees’ Children Scholarship recipients are Aaron Robotham, Ajani Scarlett, Akeil Vassel, Alicia Campbell, Anya Gray, Arianna Eppes, Daena Wynter, Danielle Griffiths, Davian Skinner, Enidro Hall, Gabrielle Dixon, Jacey Henry, Jordan Palmer, Justin Williams, Keona McIntosh, Kiana-Jade Blackwood, Kymani Scarlett, Paris Campbell, Sydonae England and Zachary Gordon.
