In a matter of weeks schools will reopen and several students have been literally left in the cold due to damage to their houses and school supplies caused by Hurricane Dean.

Now their parents, some of whom are extremely poor, will have to start all over again - possibly resulting in a delay in their going back to school.

But, for at least six children who will be attending new schools in September, their parents are able to purchase back-to-school supplies among other things through a scholarship from GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) through its Horlicks brand.

Since 1992, Horlicks scholarship funds have been administered by GSK and are tenable for five years - it is now at a value of $100,000, renewable each year on presentation of satisfactory report cards.

Students are required to maintain a B average.

Incentives are given for the highest grade point average and the most improved student.

"I feel honoured and excited for this scholarship and I will try very hard to maintain the standard so I can maintain this scholarship," Nickalia Sterling, who will be attending Hampton School, told The Gleaner last week at the ceremony held at the Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel in St. Andrew.

Recipients of the scholarship are chosen based on performance in the Grade Six Achievement Test and need, and are drawn from the Ministry of Education and Youth's six regions.

The other scholarship recipients are Nadine Thomas, Adrian Johnson, Jim Archer, Georgina Brown and Zana James.

GSK, through Horlicks, will also donate some $6 million worth of Horlicks to the public school feeding programme for the upcoming academic year.