Scholarship Fund for BB Coke Students

The St. Elizabeth-based Ballard’s Valley Primary School is looking to set up a scholarship fund for the five BB Coke High School students who acted swiftly in getting medical assistance for their severely injured schoolmate.

The announcement was made during a recent ceremony at Ballard’s Valley Primary to honour the five young men, three of whom are past students of the institution.

During the function, the boys were presented with certificates in recognition of their acts of bravery.

Speaking with JIS News, Senior Teacher and Civic Empowerment/Culture Agent at Ballard’s Valley Primary, Rosemarie Steele, said the scholarship fund is intended to ensure that the students’ future education is secure.

“Whatever they decide to specialise in, we want to be a part of their journey. It is a [good] thing to highlight when something [positive] has happened, and we don’t want it to be a nine-day story. We want to continue to motivate them so that they can continue on this path,” she said.

Miss Steele described the students as “five fantastic young men”, noting that they are deserving of every accolade.

She opined that the path they took in carrying their injured schoolmate to the medical facility should be preserved, and the story of their actions told to future generations.

Miss Steele said the fact that they acted independently of adult supervision or instruction is also creditable and in keeping with the Bible lesson about children being leaders.

“They journeyed 550 metres, and I am imagining each step they took. They were not only assisting in saving a life, they were also making history; and moments like these are truly phenomenal,” she added.

“I am hoping that the stretch of walk from BB Coke to the medical centre will become a historical site, one day,” she expressed.

For his part, Principal of the school, Fitzroy Black, said the students should be showcased as positive examples for their peers, noting that they could have stood aside and recorded the incident on their phones like others did.

“Their photos should be etched somewhere and it would inspire the minds of students who are quite young,” the Principal said.