Cornwall College’s Class of ‘85 donates $2m in scholarships
Published:Saturday | November 5, 2022 | 12:09 AMAlbert Ferguson/Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
FORTY-TWO students of Cornwall College in Montego Bay, St James, are to benefit from scholarships valued at a combined $2 million, thanks to the school’s Class of 1985, who made the donation on Friday.
Huntley Medley, immediate past chairman of the Cornwall College Class of 1985 Scholarship Programme, said that it has grown from an initial investment of $150,000, which covered academic scholarships for four students in 2017.
The fund, he noted, increased and provided 14 scholarships in 2021.
Twenty-nine students in the academic year 2021-2022 benefited from scholarships valued at $1.6 million.
“For this academic year 2022-2023, we are pleased to be contributing overall to the scholarship programme in excess of $2 million, providing 42 scholarships as part of the scholarship programme which we started here to assist students,” Medley said during Friday’s presentation ceremony at the Cornwall College Chapel.
A cheque valued at $1.9 million was presented to Michael Ellis, principal of the 126-year-old boys’ school, which covers the cost of the scholarships.
Medley said another $150,000 will be awarded at a later date as an incentive to teachers who have served as mentors to the scholarship awardees over the years.
“I am thankful and grateful that here is a group from the vast network of old boys that we have who concern themselves with helping us financially, enabling our boys to achieve their goal and to become worthwhile citizens,” said Ellis.
“Young men, don’t take it for granted. When you get this scholarship, do all that you can to achieve your goals because I am expecting that, in years to come, you will be giving back. It is not about getting, but as often as you receive, you now have a duty to give back something to the society,” he stated.
The principal noted that a lot was taking place in terms of building out the physical plant of the school as it continues its mission to convert boys into men of might. He noted that the school will reach new heights with continuous collaboration and partnerships with its old boys.
“ Even at a very difficult time like it is right now, they have made it a part of their duty to give back to their school,” Ellis noted.
“It’s very difficult to find money and here we have a group of old boys who have said to themselves, ‘look, this is the institution that has made me who I am, this is the institution that continues to transform young boys into men of might, this is the institution that if I continue to support, will continue to produce leaders in our country and Montego Bay and its environs, Kingston and the world by extension will be a better place.’ And that is why they continue to give,” he said.
Jonovi Gayle, a fifth-form student, told The Gleaner that he and his colleagues are grateful that they will be able to pursue their academic dreams without being burdened with financial worries as he lauded the Class of 1985 for providing the scholarships.
“I can’t say I deserve it, but this is a great motivation for what I have been doing personally and I want to continue to improve my arts. And with the scholarship, I can certainly go further,” Gayle added.