Scholarship comes at right time for NCU student

During her earlier years as she watched her parents struggle to make ends meet, Jessica Jones hoped to be part of the PATH programme.

This, she believed, would lessen the financial burden on her parents, as she would receive lunch at a subsidised rate as well as other helpful benefits. But this was not to be. But last Friday, the 22-year-old received a bigger blessing when she was awarded the Glen Francis Tertiary Scholarship which will cover her final year tuition at the Northern Caribbean University.

The business administration student was one of the recipients at the Jamaica Cooperative Credit Union League/Credit Unions of Jamaica annual tertiary and PEP bursaries and scholarship awards.

Speaking with THE STAR at the handover ceremony held at Pollyanna hotel in St Andrew, Jones said the gesture is nothing short of a blessing.

"I am not sure why I didn't get on the PATH programme as I really wanted to because during primary school, I saw how it benefited other children as they got free lunch and all. I know it would have helped my parents but when it is the right time, the Lord God will make it happen and now is the right time," she said.

"I am doing my last lap and this scholarship will ease the financial burden off my family and this will motivate me to work harder, and I want to encourage other young people that hard work does pay off, and only your best is good enough. I am really grateful for this scholarship, it means a lot to me," Jones added.

Jones, along with economics student Kavasha Stewart, who attends The University of the West Indies, received a combined $1 million towards their educational expense. Stewart is the recipient of the Milburn Corrie Cooperative Scholarship.

The ceremony also recognised credit union youth savers from across the island who had recently sat and excelled in the Primary Exit Profile (PEP) exam. Each student was awarded $125,000. Among them is 12-year-old Foluke Simpson. The Wolmer's Boys' School first former says his hard work has paid off.

"I am very proud of myself and I think I really deserve this because of my hard work and dedication. I did a lot of Saturday and Sunday classes so I didn't have any free time as I prepared for PEP. I did a lot of late nights studying too so I feel really good and really proud," he told THE STAR.