Stressing the importance of education to nation building, the J. Wray & Nephew Foundation (JWNF) has awarded 275 scholarships, totaling nearly $17M to students in communities surrounding its operations at Appleton Estate in St. Elizabeth, New Yarmouth Estate in Clarendon and Spanish Town Road manufacturing hub in Kingston.
The Scholarships were awarded to deserving students from the JWN Communities, children of JWN staff members and to dependent children registered during the 2018 closure of Holland & Casa Marantha Estates. The JWN Scholarships range in value from $25,000 at the secondary level to $450,000.00 at the tertiary level.
“The Foundation operates under three main pillars – Social Inclusion, Education and Cultural Expressions. Between 2016 -2019, we awarded 800 scholarships totaling $48.2M,” explained Clement “Jimmy” Lawrence, chairman of JWNF.
“We are convinced that there is an inextricable link between how educated our people are and the development of Jamaica. Indeed, this view is supported by several studies that have confirmed the causative link between the levels of education in a country and its economic development.”
Commenting on the 2019 Community Scholarships, Lawrence said “This year, we are awarding seven (7) full scholarships: three (3) Master Blender Scholarships for STEM students valued at $450,000 each; two (2) Maritime and Logistics Scholarship, valued at $400,000 each and two (2) Excellence in Education Awards, valued at $ 400,000 each. In addition to these 25 regular awards valued at $200,000 each were allocated at the tertiary level and 95 valued at $25,000 each at the secondary level.”
Of the 275 Scholarships issued 79 went to children of employees broken into 59 at the secondary level and 20 for study at local universities. The remaining 68 scholarships were allocated for registered children of those former staff members of the Holland & Casa Marantha Estates. At the time of the separation exercise, the JWN Foundation pledged support to ensure the dependents of affected parties were able to complete their studies up to high school.
The 2019 allocation of 196 bursaries to the community brings J. Wray & Nephew within closing distance of the 200 community scholarships it promised in 2016 when it presented the revamped Scholarship programme under the newly operationalized JWN Foundation.
Speaking on behalf of students, Reania Francis, who got her scholarship for the 2018-2019 academic school year to study medicine at the University of the West Indies (UWI) said no praises are too big for what she called the JWNF family.
“The scholarship allowed me to go to school without having a financial burden,” she pointed out. “It really transformed my life and allowed me to concentrate…it’s really like a family…it has allowed me the privilege of not having to resort to student loan.”
Francis also revealed a stunner! She said she was also awarded another JWNF scholarship for the 2019-2020 school year but turned it down because she got another opportunity elsewhere.
“I politely declined the offer so someone else can benefit,” she noted. “The Foundation has done a lot for me and so I wanted someone else who needs the assistance to benefit.”
Lawrence said there have been similar situations like Francis where repeat scholarship recipients have declined to take up offers so others who are less fortunate can be accommodated.
“This is what makes our awardees so special” he noted.
In the meantime, Rickardo Anderson, who will be graduating from the University of the West Indies with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Medical Physics and a Minor in Economics with first-class honours, said, “The JWN Foundation should be commended for being a great corporate citizen and also for its role in building leaders for the future.”
He noted that his journey through school was made easier by being the recipient of a scholarship, something he will always cherish and remember.
“It was a very long road but indeed I am proud,” he noted. “Education is the key to everything and the JWN Foundation must be commended for what they are doing.”
Lawrence said that all tertiary scholars are required to give a minimum of 72 hours of voluntary service in their communities and encouraged them to participate in JWNF’s career readiness and personal development training programmes.
ABOUT JWNF
The Foundation which operates under the mantra ‘transforming lives and communities for a better Jamaica’ caters heavily to areas surrounding the business operations of J. Wray & nephew Limited along Spanish Town Road in Kingston, in New Yarmouth, Clarendon and at Appleton Estate in St. Elizabeth.