ST. GEORGE, GRENADA, FEB. 13, 2018: Seventy-five Grenadians received scholarship awards on Friday, Feb. 09, 2018, valued at more than EC $22.2 million, during the first scholarship ceremony for 2018, held by the Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development, at the Grenada National Stadium.

Kathy-Ann George-Swan, a recipient of a Master of Public Health Scholarship Award, said, “I feel extremely proud. I cannot even contain myself, because a lot of persons would have applied for that scholarship and I feel extremely proud of myself that I would have gotten through.”

Speaking at the event, Sen. the Hon. Simon Stiell, Minister for Education and Human Resource Development, said, “Of the 75 awards to be bestowed today, 62 scholarships valued at $21 million dollars are granted by Government of Grenada, in collaboration with the St. George’s University, to study there; Island Scholarships valued at 1.2 million dollars have been presented to recent graduates of TAMCC, for their outstanding performance in the 2016/2017 examinations and seven awards valued at $9, 500 will be presented on behalf of the Grenada Houston Association. I applaud our partners for these awards.”

Yusuf Stafford, one of the Island Scholars, said, “I really do plan to come back and make a difference – a change in Grenada – to develop our country and to bring it to higher ground.”

Keline Peters-Hood, a Pre-Med student, shared a similar opinion.

“My ultimate goal is to come back and help Grenada. The health system needs help and I think that as young and upcoming doctors we can come back and fill the gaps, where there are gaps within the healthcare system,” she said.

St. George’s University (SGU) awarded 23 undergraduate studies awards; eight in Nursing; two in the Masters in Public Health programme; one in Veterinary Science; five in Pre-Medicine and 23 in Medicine.

Adrian Andall, a Pre-Med SGU Scholarship Awardee said, “I just want to help people, so in that case that’s why I really chose to pursue medicine over other career fields.”

Regine Mondesir, an Island Scholar Awardee, plans to bring diversity to the legal profession in Grenada. She said, “I hope to pursue stuff like tax law; corporate law; land law, because these are very relevant in today’s society.”

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Colin Dowe, Assistant Dean of Enrolment & Planning at SGU said, “The university is extremely proud of its partnership with the Government of Grenada. I will argue that unlike others forms of foreign direct investment, which benefit from tax concessions, the people of Grenada do not have to wonder about the benefits of the taxes they are foregoing through this SGU/Government of Grenada partnership. The beneficiaries are in this room.”

Lois Noel, is the only scholarship awardee in the area of Veterinary Science.

“I was very elated when I found out that I got the scholarship. I saw all my dreams coming before me as reality. They were no longer dreams. I could see myself in a clinic performing all the skills that I would be learning in the school,” Noel said.

Minister Stiell remarked on the contributions of the Grenada Houston Association.

“The Grenada Houston Association, for the past five years has provided one-off academic awards, valued at US $500 each, to seven students, from the various parishes, including Carriacou and Petite Martinique. These awards assists students at the secondary and tertiary levels, to meet school-related expenses, for one year,” he explained.

One these awardees is St. Joseph’s Convent St. George student, Jolene Bartholomew, who is fond of the science subjects. She says this is the first time she has won anything significant.

Bartholomew, said, “I would like to say thank you to them for giving me this opportunity and accepting me.”

The Minister for Education and Human Resource Development, noted that during the past five years, 1000 university scholarships, with a value in excess of EC $210 million, have been awarded to Grenadians. However, that is not the total investment.

Minister Stiell said, “That is in addition through the St. George’s University partnership agreement. Somewhere in the region of 500 scholarships valued at 90 percent of the total tuition costs and that is valued somewhere in the region of $124 million dollars, have been awarded to Grenadian students, so in total 1, 500 university scholarships valued at EC $334 million, invested in our young men and women over the past five years. This is unprecedented.”