Sanmerna Foundation gives students cash grants for CXC subjects

Twenty-two students from the Haile Selassie High School received cash grants from the Sanmerna Paper Products Foundation to assist them in paying for two Caribbean Examinations Council subjects of their choice.

Mark and Robert White, brothers and company directors, made the presentation at a special ceremony at the school yesterday.

"It was back in April that I came to this school to share with them as part of their Boys' Day. We made them a promise to return with assistance because many of the students are from humble backgrounds, and many cannot afford to pay for CXCs," said Mark White.

"So promise made, promise kept. It is important to these students and to the school that we did so. We took into consideration that the majority of these students come from the inner city. It is our wish that with this presentation of cash grants, these students will take the next step along the line of being educated," he added.

Principal Lorenzo Ellis lauded the effort from the Sanmerna Foundation in accepting the grant. He used the occasion to urge his students to make use of the "special help".

"We appreciate and thank the Sanmerna Foundation, and I want to express gratitude on behalf of our students, who will benefit," Ellis said.

The bursary of approximately $150,000 is to be equally shared among the 22 students to assist in the furtherance of their education.

The occasion was not lost on Wayne Allen, parent of one of the recipients.

"I am very happy for what these gentlemen have done for this school and for my child. It's a great thing to help children with education because they are the future," said Allen.

"It may not look like plenty of money but each student gets a chance to do two additional CXC subjects, which will go a far way," Allen added.

Grants recipients urged to remain focused

Haile Selassie High School past student and University of the West Indies graduate Moya Espeut told the recipients of grants from the Sanmerna Paper Products Foundation to grab the opportunity with both hands and remain focused.

Espeut, who told her story about her time at the Payne Land-based school, also urged the students to put aside friends who were not willing to study hard and be disciplined.

"I am not telling you that you cannot have your friends, but you must also be a leader in whatever you choose because friends sometimes are really not in your corner," she said.

"Always remember, it's not where you come from that is important, but where you are going," Espeut said.