By Shanique Richards
St. Kitts Reporter
On Thursday October 11 the Social Security Board held its annual scholarship award ceremony. The 2007 awardees who received high school scholarships were Taisha Lennard to Verchilds High School, Drexel Scarborough to Cayon High School, Kisheen Buchanan to Sandy Point High School, Rhonielle Lewis to Sandy Point High School, Davron Hanley to the Washington Archibald High School) and Brendon Phillip to Basseterre High School.
Social Security also announced that the high school scholarships have now been extended from three to five years and all students are encouraged to continue to the Clarence Fitzroy Byrant College. The committee has also decided to assist more than one student at the tertiary level so therefore financial assistance is now offered to four students instead of one full scholarship.
This year the board has added some other new features to the programme as a new scholarship was introduced in the technical vocational studies area for tertiary education. This scholarship was awarded to Mark Caesar who is expected to pursue studies in air conditioning and refrigeration in Michigan, USA.
The various scholarships were named in the honour of three persons who have made tremendous contributions to the Social Security Board. These are the Robert E. Manning M.B.E University Scholarship, the Stanley Amory Technical Scholarship and the Susanna Lee High School Scholarship. Plaques were also presented to these three persons whose names were honoured and Mrs. Amory received the plaque on behalf of her husband the late Stanley Amory.
Also this year, cheques were distributed to the scholarship holders who recently graduated from fifth form and a certificate of achievement presented to the graduate of the University of the West Indies. The fifth form graduates were Tishima Browne, Kirsten Wilson, Rakiya Hamilton, Kezron Burt, and the most outstanding student, Onielia Mulraine, who obtained 11 subjects with 7 distinctions. Sandra Swanston was also presented with her certificate as the university graduate.
Several dignitaries spoke at the ceremony including Deputy Prime Minister, Hon. Sam Condor, Halva Hendrickson, chairman of the Social Security Board Robert E. Manning M.B.E. and Sephlin Lawrence, Director of Social Security. In the opening remarks Lawrence stated that the board is looking out for the best interest of the students and not just assisting them financially.
“We at Social Security care for our students. Recently the board has deployed two retired teachers to reach out to the students as they visit the students at the high schools and speak with the teachers and also the parents. They follow up on exams and end of term results as well and helping the students to develop good social and study habits. This team demands a high standard of performance and I am please with our fifth form graduates which proves that it is worth it,” said Lawrence.
