Students Grateful For BGLC Tertiary Education Grant

Janelle Johnson, a student of the University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona, says being selected for the Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Commission (BGLC) Tertiary Education Grant was “beyond amazing”.

“It was amazing because the financial aspect of university sometimes feels like it’s choking you, and to have an entity helping you… it was beyond amazing for me… I don’t have to focus so much on trying to get money for school or consider if I should save this money for eating or towards school in order to prevent me from being barred from a class,” she shares.

Johnson is among 350 tertiary-level students who received a share of $17.5 million as part the annual BGLC Tertiary Education Grant programme.

“Your generosity has inspired me to progress with my greatest effort as a student and an individual. I am looking forward to giving back to my community, as well as helping others to achieve their goals, just like you have helped me,” says the first-year UWI student who is the first of six girls in her family to attend university.

She further commends the BGLC for playing an integral role in national development, noting that their support has pushed her one step closer to becoming an environmental biologist.

“You’ve helped to bridge the gap between delaying school, due to lack of funds, and education to foster the growth of future competent nation builders,” says Johnson.

“It is because of your generous support that Jamaica continues to bloom with stellar minds,” she adds.

Feelings of gratitude have also been expressed by other beneficiaries of the 2021 BGLC Tertiary Education Grant, many of whom wrote the Commission to express their thanks.

Adrianna Tulloch, a second-year nursing student at Brown’s Town Community College, revealed that she had previously applied for the grant but was unsuccessful.

However, this year she was determined to have a different outcome when she re-applied for the 2021 academic year.

“I was just confident and determined that this year I must get the grant. Every day I went on the platform checking to see if the application was out. I was just excited to do it,” says Tulloch

She emphasised how grateful she was to have been selected, noting that she was “a bit worried about how this year’s tuition would go”.

Another recipient, Alvin Davis, says he is now motivated more than ever to push harder, knowing that he will be able to continue his studies at the University of Technology, Jamaica (Utech), having previously dropped out.

“The truth be told is that since starting Utech, I have not had one stress-free semester, financially. This hindered me in starting my very first semester… resulting in me dropping out closer to exams,” he says.

He further reveals that his hope is to “one day help a struggling student reach their goals in higher education”, the same way that the BGLC did for him.

Since launching the BGLC Tertiary Education Grant in 2014, the BGLC has invested more than $69 million to assist more than 1,200 tertiary students with meeting their tuition fees.

“The Tertiary Education Grant is our flagship corporate social responsibility programme,” says Manager, Corporate Affairs and Communication, Jeanette Lewis.

“This programme helps us to contribute to ensuring that Jamaica has a cadre of trained and educated young people, which is an important foundation for national development,” she adds

As regulator for Jamaica’s gaming industry, the BGLC’s mandate includes oversight of the operation of betting and gaming and the conduct of lotteries. The Commission grants permits, licences and approvals to persons or entities considered fit and proper to conduct betting, gaming and lottery activities.

The Commission’s work is aimed at protecting the public from unfair, unscrupulous and illegal gambling activities, while encouraging those who participate in gambling to always practise responsible gaming.