Published 13 November 2021
Basseterre
Buckie Got It, St.Kitts and Nevis News Source
ELEVEN ADDITIONAL STUDENTS WERE INDUCTED INTO SUSANNA LEE HIGH SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMME
Basseterre, St. Kitts, November 13, 2021 (SKNIS): Eleven deserving students from each of the public high schools in the Federation were recipients of the 2020-2021 Susanna Lee High School Scholarship Award, under the umbrella of the St. Christopher and Nevis Social Security Board Scholarship Programme.
The students were inducted into the programme on Thursday, November 11, 2021, at a ceremony held at the Social Security Board Room. In addition to the new inductees, eight fifth form graduates, who would have been inducted into the programme while in first form, were also awarded scholarships to continue pursuing their tertiary education.
Minister with responsibility for Social Security, the Honourable Eugene Hamilton, congratulated the awardees and their families for the “special privilege” offered to them, while stating that Social Security “is affording them the opportunity to pursue and realize your collective and individual dreams.”
“We have every expectation that you will make us all proud in the fullness of time,” added Minister Hamilton.
Minister Hamilton highlighted the sterling contribution the St. Christopher and Nevis Social Security Board continues to make in promoting educational advancement among youth.
“Each year, for the past 38 years, Social Security has continued to make a direct impact on the lives of the children and families, but especially the children who have been inducted into this scholarship programme,” he said. “We are pleased with the holistic development of each child through the mentorship and moral support programmes. This level of support is what is needed if our young people, and indeed we as a nation, are to be empowered to step boldly into the new and emerging spaces of opportunity, access and support that present themselves in the world if we are to rise and soar… above all else in this new era,” the minister added.
The social security minister said that he is confident with the legacy of the scholarship programme.
“We believe that it is achievable through a solid education, and more importantly through our scholarship component of holistic support. We have seen the fruits of our constant nurture and we are confident that the young scholars selected today will be no different from those who have blazed the remarkable trail in the past,” he said. “We are confident that they will emanate the theme of this year’s induction, ‘Rising Above and Soaring in the New Era.’
The new inductees are Takia Carty, Charles E. Mills Secondary School; K’Lonje Matthias, Washington Archibald High School; Tycoyah Harris, Basseterre High School; Alexander Lewis, Cayon High School; Khalaylah Maccabbee, Saddlers Secondary School; Jazaria Jeffers, Verchilds High School; Conjay Griffin, Charlestown Secondary School; and Shakirah Wilkin, Gingerland Secondary School.
Shahirah Baptiste of the Cayon High School; Azaniah Johnson of Basseterre High and Jaynia Prentice of Verchilds High will receive one-time assistance.
The Social Security Board Scholarship Programme began in 1983. At that time, the value of the scholarship was set at EC $300 per school year to cover the cost of books and uniforms from third to fifth form. However, in 1989, the scholarship committee adjusted the value from EC $300 to $500 for 2nd, 4th and 5th form students and EC $750 for 1st and 3rd form students to enable the recipients’ parents/guardians to be able to cope with the increasing cost of books and uniforms. Additionally, the period of the scholarship was extended from three to seven years beginning at first form through to fifth and onto the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College (CFBC) upon acceptance.
To date, 225 students have been inducted into the programme.
