Top GSAT students get Petrojam scholarships
FOUR STUDENTS, two each from Greenwhich All-Age School and St Andrew Primary School, will begin high school in September knowing they have the support of oil refinery Petrojam, who awarded them with scholarships for outstanding performances in their recent Grade Six Achievement Test.
They were presented with their certificates and other awards at a lavish luncheon at the Terra Nova Hotel in Kingston on Friday.
Thirteen-year-old Ricardo Monroe and JodyAnn Trevelen, the top boy and girl at Greenwich All-Age, and Mekhi Richards and Kawiona Young (from St Andrew) are now set to begin a new chapter in their academic studies this September.
“I feel proud, very happy, having been named top boy for my school, Greenwhich All-Age School. Now I know that I’ll do well at KC (Kingston College) because of this scholarship and I’ll try to keep it up to help my family,” Ricardo said.
Jody-Ann Treleven was also delighted with the selection.
Young, a bright 12-year-old from St Andrew Primary, is that school’s top awardee. She told The Gleaner that she too was happy with the award, adding that she intended to maintain an A grade to keep Petrojam and her family proud. Mekhi Richards was selected as the top boy from St Andrew Primary.
The five-year scholarships are valued at $60,000 per year for each student and covers books, tuition, and other related fees.
RIGHT MOTIVATION
“At Petrojam, we understand that with the right motivation, students will excel beyond their expectations, so we decided to create a scholarship programme to ensure that children in communities that are close to the refinery can have access to a quality secondary education,” said Floyd Grindley, Petrojam general manager.
Five students from Greenwhich All-Age have been awarded scholarships from Petrojam since 2006, an initiative of Petrojam’s community outreach programme.The awardees are selected by the Ministry of Education and announced among the general scholarship awardees. The top performers are also selected by the ministry.
According to Grindley, the value being placed in the students meant a positive, bright and resourceful future for Jamaica.
Sectional prizes were presented to nine other students from the respective schools.