100 scholarships totalling EC $44.7 million were awarded in the Ministry of Education’s first scholarship award ceremony for the year, held on 20 March at its facility in the Sir Eric Gairy Botanical Gardens, St George.
83 scholarships worth more than EC$43.1 million were awarded for study at St George’s University (SGU). The Grenada Houston Association (GHA) presented 9 awards worth more than EC$12,000, and 8 students received island scholarships in excess of EC$1.5 million.
Representatives from SGU, the Grenada Houston Association, as well as Education Minister Senator the Hon. David Andrew, and other government officials and students witnessed the presentations in person and online.
SGU Associate Dean of Admissions Colin Dowe encouraged the recipients to “see yourselves, as scholarship awardees, as ambassador — ambassadors for Grenada; ambassadors for your communities; ambassadors for your families. Great things are expected of you, and, as such, we do expect you to do well, but we also expect you to carry yourselves well. Showcase what a Grenadian scholar and the ideals of a Grenadian scholar truly look like.”
Nursing student Abi Primus shared her thoughts on being an SGU Scholarship Awardee: “I definitely feel overjoyed. It was, I could say, a surprise, but, at the same time, I know that all of us, as awardees, have worked hard at receiving this scholarship.”
Minister Andrew reminded awardees of the importance of playing their role in nation-building and, on conclusion of their studies, being part of the solution to issues facing the country. He said, “Your government is committed to continuing to invest in education. We believe that education is one of the most transformative tools that we can have. If we have a more educated population, people will produce better. If we have a more educated population, people will take better care of themselves, and we will have less strain on the hospital system. If we have a better educated population, people will raise their children better, and our children will become less liabilities to the state.”
Celine Francis, an island scholar in the area of technical and vocational education and training, plans on a career in the culinary arts, explained, “The scholarship is for further studies after TAMCC. It’s for an undergraduate degree in an accredited school, and it will greatly help me in my passion for culinary arts.”
A fellow island scholar, Breanna Salfarlie, is pursuing her goal of becoming a doctor at SGU. She said, “I was also awarded a scholarship for pre-med and medicine, so this is going to help me when I go to do my clinical rotation in the United States because we have to pay our own rent and accommodation.”
Eric Barry, representative of the Grenada Houston Association, encouraged students and gave important information about the work of his association. He said, “GHA gives at least 7 scholarships each year — one to each parish and one to Carriacou and Petite Martinique. When we have no applicants from a parish, that scholarship will go to a person in another parish, and when we have extra money, we may give additional scholarships.”
Krysanthe St Bernard, who is studying culinary arts at T A Marryshow Community College, is pleased to be a recipient. She said, “The scholarship I received today is the GHA scholarship, and it will definitely benefit me in terms of purchasing various equipment because the culinary programme is very expensive.”
Prospective students who are interested in seeking a scholarship can contact the Scholarship Desk at the Ministry of Education at telephone numbers (473) 417-9762/ (473) 440-2737/2738 or by email at [email protected].
Ministry of Education
