Fifty-eight awards, including 17 national scholarships announced

Fifty eight awards, including 17 national scholarships, will be bestowed upon those who have excelled at the 2020 Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination(CAPE), and Associate Degree examinations.

Awardees were made aware of this through a letter, signed by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Myccle Burke, informing them that Cabinet had granted the approval for such, and congratulating them on their achievements.

While the announcement of national awards is usually done in the same year as the exam, the process seems to have been hindered by the queries/reviews lodged following the release of results by the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) on September 22, 2020.

The number of recipients has increased from the awards related to the 2019 examinations, when 48 students were given national scholarships, national exhibitions, special awards and bursaries.

The number of national scholarships has climbed by seven from the 10 given the previous year, while the 12 national exhibitions is four greater than the eight awarded for the 2019 examinations.

There will be three special awards this time around, as opposed to the one named for 2019. However, the 26 bursaries granted is three fewer than the previous year, when 29 were given.

Kelcey Alia Allen, 2020 Valedictorian for the Division of Arts, Sciences and General Studies at the graduation ceremony of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Community College (SVGCC), and consistent top achiever, has been awarded the top prize: the Prime Minister’s award. She will be given a full scholarship covering five years of university education, and $20,000.

Another achiever who has an impressive record, Kyle DaSilva, will be given the second highest accolade, and will receive a full five-year scholarship, and $10,000.

The 15 other national scholarship awardees are Ryanna Tammia Glynn, receiving the Robert Milton Cato Scholarship; Delaan George Need, receiving the George Augustus McIntosh Scholarship; Heather Lakhram, awarded the Ebenezer Theodore Joshua Scholarship; Aaron DeFreitas, the Dr JP Eustace Scholarship; Nneka Mcmillan, the Sir Vincent Beache Scholarship; Zachery Richards, the Norma Keizer Scholarship; Zéchaunté Dalton, to receive the Bertram ‘Timmy’ Richards scholarship; Alana Delplesche, the Yvonne Francis-Gibson scholarship; Sheriese Sayers, the Alban Harry scholarship; Dandre Toney, the Festus Toney Scholarship; Ondré Foster, the Thomas Saunders Scholarship; Sariah Jackson, the CW Prescod Scholarship; Tirmoya Lewis, the Leopold Anthony Scholarship; Khlisa Peters, the Viola Johnson-Crichton scholarship, and Surana Harry, the Viola Thomas scholarship.

A national scholarship includes tuition and economic cost (as per University of the West Indies benchmarks) paid by the Government of St Vincent and the Grenadines for five years plus a monthly sum adequate for all living expenses (board and lodging) and associated expenses.

National exhibition awardees are: Gian Paul-Baker, Nicholi John, Keshawna Roberts, Jodessha Ashton, Cimalon Hamilton, Tia James, Cidney Matthews, Shani Williams, Krystal Foster, Wesonne George, Alyssa Patterson and Darryl DeFreitas.

For students in receipt of a national exhibition, three years of their university education will be funded by the state, during which they will receive the same benefits as national scholars.

In line for the same benefits as the national exhibition winners, are special award winners Abigail Paul-Kamara, Dillroy Texeira and Esther Smith.

Bursaries are set to be given to: Kelene Frederick, Nikki Lorraine, Rolano Nanton, Haquiem Noel, Megan Ollivierre, Aaliyah Nero, Natiesha Cordice, Ushia Myall, Sojurnah Barry, Meditza Ellis, Shavorn Foye, Kedesha Browne, Claudia Stephens-Forbes, Casia Moses, Allica Smart, Jemmel Williams, Shadell Williams, Fay-Ann Caesar, Aaliyah Adams, Shameca Butler, Sadiesha Bobb, Lanique Peniston, Kenisha Samuel, Anastasia White, Moesha Simmons and Tishorn Smart.

The bursaries given in 2019 covered three years of university education with an annual value of $25,000.