York Castle's Joel Lyn earns Tomlinson Trust Fund Scholarship

TOWER ISLE, St Mary:

For 16 years, St Ann-based medical practitioner, Dr Osmond Tomlinson Jr, has awarded the Dr Osmond Tomlinson Trust Fund Scholarship, named in honour of his late dad, to a worthy student in the parish.

The event this year, held at Couples Tower Isle, once again saw a worthy winner in York Castle grade-nine student, Joel Lyn who emerged tops from a group of four students who had applied and done the test to decide the winner.

Lyn was up against students from Marcus Garvey Technical, Steer Town Academy and St Hilda's and proved his worth in capturing the $100,000 scholarship, payable in three tranches.

The students were selected by the administration of each school, and underwent tests that included a general knowledge examination of 100 questions, essay writing and an interview.

A bursary was also given to a student of the open campus of the University of the West Indies, Ocho Rios, situated at a complex named in honour of the senior Tomlinson.

Lyn, who wishes to become a medical doctor, was happy for the award.

"I'm very elated and delighted and very thankful to God and this Scholarship Trust Fund," he told The Gleaner after collecting the award.

His mother, Elizabeth Lyn, who described Joel as a brilliant child who loves his books, was also grateful for the funding and very proud of her son.

"I feel really proud of him," she said. "The money will come in handy."

Successful careers

Several past winners of the scholarship have gone on to enjoying successful professional careers, such as 2001 awardee, attorney-at-law Cieanna Smith, who was guest speaker at the ceremony.

In her presentation, Smith traced her challenged-filled journey to fulfilling her career goal and urged the applicants to be resilient as they too seek to realise their goals. She urged them to adopt the JUMP

(Joy, Unbreakable, Movable, Patience) formula, regardless of the circumstances.

Meanwhile, Dr Tomlinson explained that the fund was set up to honour his father because of his (father's) emphasis on and fervent belief that education is the backbone for the future of any child, and the fund was seen as a way too honour his legacy.

"The Trust has really been doing its job," Tomlinson said, in recognising the people behind the establishment and subsequent running of the organisation.

Tomlinson challenged the students to continue to do well in school and strive to excel.

"Use this process as a learning process," he urged.

rural@gleanerjm.com