Victoria Mutual Gives 'Head Start' To 50 Scholars
Published:Wednesday | September 16, 2015 | 12:00 AMKeisha Hill
As students from across the island have embarked on a new school term, 50 scholars have one less thing to worry about, thanks to the scholarships and bursaries they have received under the Victoria Mutual Head Start Scholarship Programme. The scholarships and bursaries were awarded at the financial institution's 2015 VMBS Scholarship Awards Presentation Ceremony.
The programme, an ongoing initiative of the financial institution, has been designed to reward the excellent scholastic achievement of VMBS student savers, by assisting them with much-needed financial assistance to continue pursuing their academic goals. This group consists of GSAT students, students pursuing tertiary education and final-year teachers who have the desire to upgrade their skills in order to better serve the nation's children.
This year, 39 students received the VMBS GSAT Head Start Bursary that is awarded to the top saver in each of the schools that participate in VMBS Save 2 Grow School Savings Programme. Two students received special bursaries valued at over J$200,000. One teacher also received the 2015 VMBS Teachers' Bursary to assist with her final-year studies at the University of the West Indies.
As is customary, the VMBS Junior Plan Head Start Scholarship was awarded to three students who were the three top 2015 GSAT Junior Plan savers (one from each county), to assist with their secondary education. Three students matriculating to tertiary studies and are Future Plan savers received the VMBS Future Plan Head Start Scholarship and the VMBS Master Plan 'Head Start' Scholarship was offered to a Master Plan saver pursuing final-year studies at a local university.
A special scholarship to commemorate the 25th staging of the VMBS/St James Football Association Under-13 Football Competition was awarded to the player with the highest GSAT scores from among the teams participating in the 25th annual VMBS/St James Football Competition. The scholarship is valued at one hundred and twenty thousand dollars (J$125,000).
Supporting members
Senior Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer Peter Reid noted that the entire Victoria Mutual team shared a common long-term vision of supporting its members and clients in pursuit of their goals.
"Our ultimate goal as a building society is to assist our members and clients to achieve their goals which include gaining a sound education. Coupled with this is our need to highlight to our children and youth the importance of saving and its rewards, such as receiving a scholarship," he said.
I am ecstatic to know that I am a recipient, I see the scholarship as a pillar for success and much motivation to succeed in medical school," said Jovae Taylor, 2015 Future Plan Scholarship Recipient, who responded on behalf of the awardees.
Professor Verene Shepherd, director of the Institute for Gender and Development Studies and professor of social history at the Mona campus of the University of the West Indies, was keynote speaker at the event.