Students win credit union scholarships

Six promising young students were awarded with scholarships from the Barbados Public Workers’ Co-operative Credit Union Limited (BPWCCUL) recently.

The scholarships awarded were the H. Delisle Hurley Memorial Scholarship, BPWCCUL Verta Coppin Memorial Scholarship and the Overcomer Scholarship. The recipients will benefit from $19 500 in scholarship support.

In her feature address during the presentation of the scholarships at the LV Harcourt Lewis Auditorium of the  Keith Bourne Complex on Belmont Road, St Michael, secretary of the board of directors and chair of the Educational Grants and Social Outreach Committee, Virginia Sandiford Garner congratulated the awardees on their achievements.

“You have demonstrated exceptional promise and we are excited to see the impact that you will undoubtedly make in your academic and your professional journeys,” she said.

She also encouraged them to “continue striving for excellence” adding that the credit union looked forward to awarding the scholarship in the future.

She mentioned some of the initiatives within the credit union like the grants and academic awards programme which provided scholarships and tertiary-level educational grants to assist students pursuing higher education.

The Verta Coppin Memorial Scholarship is named in honour of the first paid employee at the credit union and was designed to support students pursuing technical and vocational disciplines at the Samuel Jackman Prescod Institute of Technology (SJPI).

The H. Delisle Hurley Memorial Scholarship  was awarded to students at the Barbados Community College enrolled full time or part time in a certificate, diploma or degree programme in technical, vocational or applied areas.

The Overcomer Scholarship was awarded to local secondary school leavers who triumphed amidst adversities and are pursuing tertiary studies.

Kaya Kellman-Wall, 20, was a recipient of the Overcomer Scholarship. Despite losing her father Jason Wall in 2015 to murder when she was ten-years-old, she showed outstanding academic performance.

She is now a second-year student at the UWI Cave Hill Campus pursuing a bachelor of science in biochemistry, with hopes of becoming a paediatrician. For her the scholarship will help manage the financial aspect of her studies as she was dependent on her mother and family for support.

Kellman-Wall advised persons who experienced circumstances similar to her to never give up and hoped that they too would be able to receive a scholarship.

The second recipient of the Overcomer scholarship was 20-year-old Teana Hunte. In 2018, when she was 13 years old and attending Combermere School, she was involved in a car accident that resulted in quadriplegia, two months after the passing of her father.

She recalled life after the accident as an “up and down hill of emotions and depression” but she overcame with the help and support of those who surrounded her. In 2023, she ranked first on the Caribbean merit list for Design and Technology in CAPE examinations and received outstanding results in Building Engineering and Mechanical Drawing. Teana is currently pursuing an associate degree in Architectural Studies at the Barbados Community College (BCC).

She said the scholarship was a testament that she could overcome anything. “It proves that I am able to overcome anything, and it also proves to myself that I have the resilience and determination to get through any situation as long as I have God and the people around me supporting me.”

Jaydon Alleyne, 17, who was the recipient of the H. Delisle Hurley Memorial Scholarship said it provided him with an opportunity he didn’t have before. Receiving the scholarship put his mind at ease as he said he can place his focus on his studies and not on the finances that came with it. He is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in mathematics through a collaborative programme between the BCC  and Delaware State University.

Peter Greenidge was grateful to receive the H. Delisle Hurley Memorial Scholarship. He said it was an opportunity that allowed him to pursue his educational goals without the financial burden, adding that he was deserving of the scholarship because he worked hard to get where he was now.

The 17-year-old is currently pursuing an associate degree in Computer Studies at BCC.

Luralylse Springer is a diploma student at the Samuel Jackman Prescod Institute of Technology (SJPI) who is a passionate musician and aspiring sound/acoustic engineer. She was the recipient of the Verta Coppin Memorial Scholarship. The 16-year-old said the scholarship was the assurance that her future would be provided for.

Springer said even though she took pride in her academic achievements there were those moments when she would wonder if she could continue to pursue what she wanted to do. She also said it provided opportunities she never thought possible.

“It gives me a stronger foot to go forward because now I know somebody’s paying for me and they’re helping me out and supporting my journey. I honestly plan on going as far as possible and by achieving my career heights I am trying to make everyone around me that’s supporting me proud,” she said.

Kerron Renée said the scholarship helped him achieve the certificates he had his mind set in achieving. The 18-year-old recipient of the Verta Coppin Memorial Scholarship said it gave him a relief not having to worry about financing his studies.

He aspires to receive more scholarships as he said it would be a big help in pursuing his career as a certified IT professional. He is a second year student pursuing a diploma in Networking Technology at SJPI. (AJ)

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