MoBay’s Brooke-Anne Bowen awarded BOJ scholarship
Published:Monday | October 26, 2020 | 12:14 AMJanet Silvera/Senior Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
Her plan is to become one of Jamaica’s esteemed economists, a multifaceted asset to the banking sector, a financial analyst, and a consultant.
At age 22, this is Brooke-Anne Bowen’s state of mind, and age is in her favour.
The University of the West Indies, Western Jamaica Campus (WJC), first-class honours graduate made history last week when she was awarded the prestigious Bank of Jamaica G. Arthur Brown Memorial Scholarship.
It is a first for the campus, and the Montego Bay High alumna will read for a master’s in economics at the university’s Mona campus. Already, she boasts a double major in banking and finance, and economics.
“What this has done is lifted the profile of the Western Jamaica Campus. It is a very good campus in terms of lecturers. The student-to-lecturer ratio there is very good. My experience there was incredible,” Bowen told The Gleaner.
A mathematics prodigy of sorts, Bowen, who did her pre-university studies at the Montego Bay Community College, said the original plan was to attain a degree in actuarial science. But a love affair with economics kindled a patriotic desire.
“I was placed in a position to help move the economy forward using my love for maths and my love for Jamaica,” she said.
Crediting her success to parents Kenrick and Charmaine Bowen, Brooke-Anne also has praise for former senator Noel Sloley, the mentor she calls a second father, for his support throughout her academic life.
“The world needs more Senator Sloleys,” she said.
When the 22-year-old graduated from WJC, her GPA towered at 4.1.
“Brooke-Anne is a genius. She is up there with the best mathematical minds, and I was so poor at the subject that her mastery fascinated me from early,” Sloley admitted, his voice oozing pride.
“Her modesty doesn’t allow her to see herself for what she could really achieve. I feel blessed and honoured to know her and being able to have played a small part in her early life.”
Reminiscing on Bowen’s early years as one of several Jamaica Tours Limited’s George Dawkins Scholars, Sloley, managing director of the company, said they observed a reserved, well-mannered child when she first got the award.
Bowen said that no honour she has achieved comes close to the G. Arthur Brown Memorial Scholarship, adding that it’s still surreal.
“I remember getting the call that I was being awarded. I started to shake. I didn’t get anything in writing then, so after the call, I started wondering if I dreamt it,” she told The Gleaner.
Bowen will intern at the central bank as part of her scholarship.