Tue | Apr 23, 2024

‘This is my sport and my way of contributing’

Briana Williams provides scholarships to Excelsior High students

Published:Wednesday | February 1, 2023 | 1:30 AM
Briana Williams (second left) with scholarship awardees Shakira Rhoden (left), Shelly-Ann Taylor (second right) and Janelia Williams of Excelsior High School track and field team at the school’s auditorium on Monday.
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Briana Williams (second left) with scholarship awardees Shakira Rhoden (left), Shelly-Ann Taylor (second right) and Janelia Williams of Excelsior High School track and field team at the school’s auditorium on Monday.

JAMAICA’S YOUNGEST Olympic gold medallist Briana Williams has awarded scholarships to three Excelsior High School student-athletes.

Williams, who moved to Jamaica last year, is already dedicated to giving back to the community.

Following a Christmas treat the 20-year-old staged for children in the Montego Bay environs in December, Williams will provide $70,000 each in scholarships to Shakira Rhoden, Shelly-Ann Taylor and Janelia Williams.

Rhoden and Taylor are members of Excelsior’s reigning Anthrick Corporate Area Development Meet 4x100m relay team. Janelia Williams is an ISSA/Gracekennedy Boys and Girls Athletics Championships (Champs) silver medallist in the 200m.

The athletes caught Williams’ eye when they indicated she was a role model in an interview after their victory at the Anthrick Development Meet.

Following up on that interview on Monday, Taylor continued:

“I am inspired by Briana because she pushes me to do a lot better in training. I’ve gone through injuries and just by going through her Instagram and seeing her motivational quotes and her reels, it motivates me to do well, because there are big things planned for my future as well.”

When Williams read the article, as well as saw an Instagram post with the athletes, she was thrilled,

“I was so honoured last year when I read the article in the newspaper stating that I inspire these girls. Then recently, I heard they wanted to meet me,” Williams said. “I wanted to meet them as well, but also leave more than inspirational words. I also want to support them on their academic journey.”

The scholarship, a total of $210,000, was made possible through Briana’s sponsor GraceKennedy Limited and will be disbursed to the school to cover the cost of books, tuition and other necessities for the 2023 academic year.

The Briana Williams scholarship will now be an annual offer to aid student-athletes in their academic and sporting pursuits.

“I know track and field can be quite demanding on their time, but it is also rewarding, so hopefully, this will motivate them even more,” she said.

“This is my sport and my way of contributing.”

In 2020, Williams provided 25 tablets to student-athletes forced to attend classes from home during the COVID-19 pandemic. She also donated furniture and school supplies to educator Stacey-Ann Donaldson who has a reading and homework centre in Rose Gardens, Kingston.

Williams ran the first leg of Jamaica’s gold-medal winning 4x100m effort at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics (held in 2021). She also won silver as part of Jamaica’s 4x100m relay team at the 2022 World Championships.