Schools get strong Champs support from overseas alumni

Schools participating in the Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls’ Athletics Championships find it a costly affair, and the hefty bill is often paid by past students.

In 2017, girls’ champions Edwin Allen reported that it had cost them $7 million to participate in the five-day athletics showpiece while at least one high-profile boys’ school indicated that the annual bill to prepare a team could be as high as $30 million.

Representatives of Edwin Allen, Holmwood Technical, and Herbert Morrison Technical told The Gleaner that much of the financial support they receive is from United States-based alumni.

Edwin Allen’s principal, Dr Everton Walters, said the overall support locally left something to be desired.

“We don’t have any chapter in Jamaica that is really active. There is a mid-Atlantic chapter in the United States, and they assist with scholarships [and] to the Penn Relays with accommodation. I would love to see greater support because it is quite inadequate, and I am not sure that many persons contributing to their alma mater is really good enough,” he said.

In contrast, Holmwood’s school bursar, Pitrona Stern, said that the Florida, New York, and Atlanta-based alumni are so active that in her view, “it’s as if Holmwood is the only school in Jamaica”.

equal support for all areas

Herbert Morrison headmaster Paul Adams said that most of his school’s support comes from the Tri-State area, adding that contributions are made to all departments, whereas alumni in Jamaica tend to focus on athletics, football, netball, and basketball.

However, he added: “Herbert Morrison doesn’t pull sport apart and focus on it. All areas are given the same level of support.”

Frankfield, Clarendon-based Edwin Allen, and Holmwood – which is based in Christiana, Manchester – have shared the Girls’ Champs titles since 2004. They also share the fact that their local alumni associations are based in Kingston.

“Many of our past students are living in the Corporate Area. So I think our location has something to do with it. I don’t think that should impact it, but I think it does. They come and assist in the week with foodstuff and snacks,” Walter said.

Stern said that while the lion’s share of Holmwood’s support comes from Kingston, past students from St Elizabeth and Manchester also provide valuable support.

“Sometimes you see a car drive up (to the school) and is somebody come with six to seven bunches of bananas,” she said.