Claudia Gardner, Assignment Coordinator
WESTERN BUREAU:Twelve students who excelled in the Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT) were presented with bursaries and scholarships during the Montego Co-operative Credit Union’s (MCCU) Bayley-Hay Scholarship and Awards Ceremony at the Day O’ Plantation in St James last week.
Among the recipients were the 2014-2019 Bayley-Hay Scholarship awardees, Adrian Rhoden and Gabrielle Graham.
Rhoden scored an average of 96 per cent in the GSAT and was awarded a place at Cornwall College. A past student of the Chetwood Memorial Primary School, he was involved in various activities, including the MCCU Schools Academic Championship Quiz. He also represented his school at the Butterkist Mathematics Olympiad at the University of the West Indies, Mona, and the TVJ Junior Schools’ Challenge Quiz Competition.
Graham, who attended the Corinaldi Avenue Primary School, attained a 96 per cent average in the GSAT and was awarded a place at the Montego Bay High School for Girls. At primary school, she was involved in the 4-H, Quiz, and Public Speaking clubs, and also represented her school in the Butterkist Mathematics Competition. She was also a prefect at her school.
According to chairman of the scholarship committee Evelyn Tugwell, the annual Bayley-Hay Scholarship was advertised via word of mouth in schools and at the credit union offices. She said members with children who were successful in their GSAT were invited to apply.
“The interviews were held at the credit union’s boardroom at 20 Church Street over a three-day period, July 15 to 17, 2014,” Tugwell said. “Most applicants were very high achievers with an average of 90 per cent and above. However, the committee sought to strike a balance between need and academic performance.”
The chairman said the awardees were selected from 45 applicants, 11 of whom were disqualified due to them being either non-members, having below-average performances, dormant accounts, late entries, or being absent from the interview.
“On behalf of the scholarship committee, I wish to appeal to the board to consider giving two additional scholarships. Each year, a number of deserving students have had to be turned down due to a lack of funds,” Tugwell said.
The male students who received bursaries were Mario Smith, Clevaugne Banton, Demar Barrett, while the females were Robertha Smith, Sylvanie Johnson, Davea Barrett, Maleek Wilmott, Abigail Daley, Adrienne Tugwell, and Roschelle Shaw.