JWN Foundation pumps up educational grants

Four times as many students will receive educational grants this year through the J. Wray & Nephew (JWN) Foundation's annual Scholarship Awards.

In 2016, the foundation granted 25 scholarships as part of its long-standing project to educate the nation's youth.

Now, JWNF is ramping up the numbers big time.

"Over the last 10 years we have disbursed scholarships to students within the communities we operate in Kingston, Clarendon and St Elizabeth," noted Clement 'Jimmy' Lawrence, chairman of J. Wray & Nephew.

"In 2017, we will continue to offer educational support to our communities and expand our reach," added Lawrence, as he noted that changes to the 2017 programme will ease the burden on significantly more students at both the high school and tertiary levels.

"This year's programme will form part of a wider five-year plan, to end in 2021, to ensure longer-term view is taken on the activities of the JWN Foundation.

"Our 2017 commitment is $6 million in community scholarships. This represents a quadrupling of the number of students who will be impacted," added Lawrence.

He noted that 92 students at the secondary level will receive scholarships and eight at the tertiary level.

The 2017 Scholarship Awards was launched on Wednesday, July 12, 2017, and runs for over a week, with applications set to close on Friday, July 21.

Applications may be collected from schools and community centres in the eligible communities of Olympic Way, Riverton Meadows, Majesty Gardens, Waterhouse and Seaview Gardens, all near J. Wray and Nephew Limited's base at Spanish Town Road in Kingston; and Gimme-Me-Bit, Race Course, Water Lane and Vernamfield, which engulf its New Yarmouth plant in Clarendon; plus Holland and Siloah, communities among which lies its Appleton Estate business in St Elizabeth.

Secondary students must:

- Achieve 90 per cent or higher on the GSAT or be maintaining a B average;

- Show financial need (letter from a member of parliament, church leader, school principal, JWN Community Council member or member of the police force above the rank of corporal);

- Write a 500-word essay under the theme 'I want to be a ... and this is how the JWN Scholarship will assist';

- Where there is a tie, students may be called in for an interview.

Tertiary students must:

- Academic achievement of 3.3 GPA/B+ average or higher;

- Show financial need (letter from a member of parliament, church leader, school principal, JWN Community Council member or member of the police force above the rank of corporal);

- Recommendation by academic adviser or professor;

- Shortlisted students will be called in for a panel interview;

- One-time disbursement, must reapply annually;

- Successful awardees are required to complete 72 volunteer hours per year within community.

Successful applicants will be notified during the week of August 14, with the official scholarship ceremony taking place on August 23.