Board Chairman of IGL Asraph Ali (left) and General Manager Sharon Thomas (right), rap with Romar Bent and Michell Hunter, two of the company's Razai Azard Rahaman Scholarship for Medicine Winners. (Gleaner photo)
Six students from the University of the West Indies will have a major financial burden lifted through intervention from IGL, specifically the Razai Azard Rahaman Scholarship for Medicine and the IGL Legacy Scholarships for the 2011-2012 academic year.
Guest speaker for this year's scholarship presentation ceremony, Her Excellency the Most Honourable Lady Allen, a nursing scholar, academic and member of the Sigma Theta Tau, and a main signatory to the "I Believe" Initiative encouraged the students to continuously strive towards actualising their goals, challenge the status quo and do more research that will benefit the Caribbean.
Believing is an essential part of achieving, and Kaydeen Morris, the outspoken straight 'A' Razai Azard Rahaman Scholarship 2011-2012 awardee is confident that she will make her mark on society with the foundation that has been laid by IGL.
"Life is the greatest privilege given unto man and I want to be part of the team that shepherds life," commented Morris. "I feel so proud that I'm on my way to somewhere."
Morris joins four other students who will be renewing their medical scholarships with IGL.
The first in her family to attend university, she is intent on having her happy ending, and is even more ecstatic that IGL is a part of her dream. "I don't want to have a sad story at the end of the day. As long as you do your part, others will see and help," she concluded.
Trace-Ann Gooden, the sole recipient of the IGL Legacy Scholarships for 2011-2012 is aiming towards becoming a registered nurse to offer high quality health care in Jamaica, and her desire to fulfil that passion is deeply ingrained within her. It is those desires which make IGL proud to be associated with providing a means for students to advance themselves academically.
General Manager of IGL, Sharon Thomas, commented that she is especially thrilled that IGL is a significant contributor to the health care sector in the island.
"We are ecstatic to once again have the opportunity to touch the lives of four brilliant, determined and progressive medical students who are renewing their scholarships, and we are proud that we can offer encouragement for the new scholars to persevere and excel. At IGL, we believe that a solid education will pave the way for development and for tackling many of the issues that plague us as a nation."
This year marks the fifth renewal of the IGL Legacy Scholarship, which was created to recognise and support students of the UWI Nursing programme for academic and practical excellence, positive social engagement and to meet the candidates' demonstrated financial need. The IGL Legacy Scholarship is valued at $100,000 per student per year.
The Razai Azard Rahaman Scholarship which is named after one of IGL's esteemed directors is in its third year. Like the Legacy Scholarship, it rewards academic success, community involvement and financial need for UWI students enrolled in the medical sciences. The scholarship covers full tuition, hall fees, and book costs annually for each recipient for five years at $650,000 per year.
The 2011 scholarship awardees have been selected by a panel including IGL executives Annette Farquharson, LPG sales and marketing manager; and Sheryll Hamilton, human resource manager; UWI administrators and UWI lecturers; Professor Wayne McLaughlin, deputy-dean of pre-clinical medical sciences and pathologist; Dr Elaine Williams; Dr Joanna Bennett, Head of UWI School of Nursing; and lecturer, Dawn Dover-Roberts, with the support of the UWI Office of Student Financing represented by Joy Dickenson and Rosalee Thomas.
IGL Razai Azard Rahaman Awardees 2011-2012
Kaydeen Morris
Romar P Bent (renewal)
Latoya Gayle (renewal)
Michell Hunter (renewal)
Matthew Lyew (renewal)
IGL Legacy Scholarship 2011-2012
Trace-Ann Gooden