Joan Davis-Williams (right), guidance counsellor, Ardenne High School, giving a motivational talk to parents and students at Manpower and Maintenance Services Limited's GSAT Awards presentation, held at Manpower Centre, Eureka Road last Friday - Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer

Thirty-eight children of Manpower and Maintenance Services Limited (MMS) employees who sat the Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT) this year were last Friday presented with cash awards and gift packages.

An initiative of MMS, the awards function is an annual event planned by the company to recognise the children of its employees. Some 150 students have benefited from the initiative since it was introduced in 2003.

Lasco, GraceKennedy and Hi-Lo Food Stores, partnered with MMS and donated gift packages to the students.

Guest speaker at the function, Joan Davis-Williams urged the students to stand up for what was right. She also urged the parents to continue to support their children and stressed the importance of home and school relationship.

"Home and school must come together, they cannot be separated," she said.

In her remarks, Audrey Hinchcliffe, chief executive officer of MMS encouraged students to stay in school and avoid bad company.

"I feel nice because Manpower takes care of its staff. So no matter how the pay small, we cannot complain," Kimbalee Clarke, mother of one of the recipients told The Gleaner after the function.

The function was held at Manpower's offices in St. Andrew. The students are now attending high schools including Campion College, Holy Childhood High, St. Jago High, Jamaica College, Anchovy High and Norman Manley High.