UDC Awards $250,000 in Scholarships to Children of Staff
By: , August 30, 2014The Key Point:
The Facts
- At the scholarship awards ceremony held on Friday (August 29), at the Jamaica Conference Centre, downtown Kingston, UDC General Manager, Desmond Malcolm, emphasized the importance of investing in and supporting educational initiatives.
- Lecturer at the University College of the Caribbean (UCC), Kevin Powell, who gave the keynote address, encouraged the students to set goals and to pursue them, regardless of the challenges they may face or their circumstances.
The Full Story
Twenty-five students, who will be starting secondary school in September, are the beneficiaries of scholarships totaling $250,000 from the Urban Development Corporation (UDC), to assist with their school expenses.
Grants valued at $10,000 each, were presented to the awardees, who all sat the Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT) in March, and are children of UDC staff employed at properties across the island.
At the scholarship awards ceremony held on Friday (August 29), at the Jamaica Conference Centre, downtown Kingston, UDC General Manager, Desmond Malcolm, emphasized the importance of investing in and supporting educational initiatives.
He implored the scholarship recipients to continue to excel in their studies and to keep in mind that their journey is just beginning.
“In a week or in just a few days you will be embarking on a new journey; one with a new environment, new people, new teachers, new friends, and certainly new challenges. But fear not, move forward in excellence,” he stated.
Mr. Malcolm also extended congratulations to the parents of the scholarship recipients, noting that they all played their role.
He advised them to remain steadfast and to continue to support their children both financially and emotionally.
Lecturer at the University College of the Caribbean (UCC), Kevin Powell, who gave the keynote address, encouraged the students to set goals and to pursue them, regardless of the challenges they may face or their circumstances.
“You must figure out what your purpose is…and as you figure this out, you must set your goals according to your purpose and go out and get what you want. Nobody will do it for it,” he pointed out.
Mr. Powell also told the students to immerse themselves in their high school experience and to get involved in other areas such as sports, service clubs, and voluntary activities.
He advised them to find new passions outside of academia, and to develop an active and balanced life as these all form part of the education process.