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Mico alumni donate $1m to needy students

Published:Saturday | May 8, 2021 | 12:08 AMJudana Murphy/Gleaner Writer
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Dr Asburn Pinnock (left), president of Mico University College, looks at one of the many commendations the college received from alumni shortly after they presented him with a cheque for $1 million to assist needy students at the institution on Thursday. I
Ian Allen
Dr Asburn Pinnock (left), president of Mico University College, looks at one of the many commendations the college received from alumni shortly after they presented him with a cheque for $1 million to assist needy students at the institution on Thursday. In the photo (from left) are Rudolph Sewell, Hope Evans Wilson, Sharon Wolfe, director of alumni affairs, and Nola Phillipots-Brown.
Dr Ashburn Pinnock (left), president of The Mico University College, thanks members of Mico’s Batch #146 alumni after they presented a cheque for $1 million to assist needy students at the college. The members are, from right: Everaldo Orr; Sharon Wolfe
Ian Allen
Dr Ashburn Pinnock (left), president of The Mico University College, thanks members of Mico’s Batch #146 alumni after they presented a cheque for $1 million to assist needy students at the college. The members are, from right: Everaldo Orr; Sharon Wolfe, director of Alumni Affairs; Hope Evans Wilson; and Holmer Morgan Jr. The alumni made the presentation to the president at the college on Thursday, May 6.
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Nola Phillipotts-Brown, a member of batch #146 at The Mico University College, recalled that as a student, a number of her colleagues dropped out of the diploma programme because of financial difficulties.

“As a result, we purposed among ourselves that we were going to try and make a difference, so that no student that we could help would fall out of their programme of study,” she said.

Added to that, they are aware of the challenges and hardships that college students continue to experience, especially in light of the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

On Thursday, the alumni group handed over a cheque valued at $1 million to the tertiary institution.

Ten deserving students will receive $100,000 grants to offset tuition costs.

The student must have passing grades and will be selected on a needs-and-attitude basis from the college’s three faculties.

Another batch member, Hope Evans Wilson, said it was her hope and prayer that the recipients will continue to be impacted by the values of Mico.

“And that they, too, will go out and impact lives in such a way that they will contribute to the advancement of the welfare of the whole human race,” she said.

Evans Wilson shared that the funds were garnered through individual donations from batch members who are spread out across the world.

Mico President Dr Asburn Pinnock expressed his gratitude to the alumni group.

“The resilience of Mico is because of the generations of students coming back to support and to remind us that this is their institution,” he remarked.

The president said he could not minimise the contribution the alumni have made, especially during the pandemic when people are trying to reserve as much money because of the uncertainties.

“It is commendable and I know that our students will benefit and possibly return the support in years to come,” said Pinnock.

judana.murphy@gleanerjm.com