Rasbert Turner, Gleaner Writer
Samuel Cameron (left), first vice-president of the St Catherine Co-operative Credit Union, and Paul Passley (centre), share a joke with David Nelson (third left) of St Jago High School. At right is Sade Dunbar of Immaculate Conception High School, one of this year's recipients of the Winston Passley Scholarship. Also in the photo are past scholarship winners Sukina Powell (background right) of Denbigh High, and Hope Graham of Ardenne High standing beside her. Deborah Manning is at second left. The scholarships were presented last Friday during a function at Arian's Restaurant, in Spanish Town, St Catherine. - Rudolph Brown/Chief Photographer
SPANISH TOWN, St Catherine:
Future recipients of the Winston Passley Scholarship are to receive greater benefits. The award will be increased by $50,000 per year.
The increase was revealed last Friday at a ceremony for eight beneficiaries from several schools in Jamaica.
This year's awardees are Sade Dunbar of Immaculate Conception High School, and Damarrow Williams of Dinthill Technical High School. Dunbar is the 2008 Gleaner Children's Own Spelling Bee champion.
Both honourees had high praise for the St Catherine Co-operative Credit Union, the award sponsors.
Children whose parents are members of the credit union are eligible for the award.
Bright students
The recipients must maintain high averages, said Garth Chung, marketing manager at the credit union.
"The students selected have to be bright and maintain their brilliance throughout," remarked Chung.
Among the programme's past awardees are Glenmuir's Marvin Thomas, who passed 10 Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate subjects, getting eight ones and two twos; and Hope Graham of Ardenne, who earned four ones and three twos. Both are now sixth-form students and have been on the programme since 2004.
The scholarship programme is 10 years old.
The recipients lauded the late Winston Passley, in whose honour the scholarship was named.
"He was an icon of a man and I am thankful and I know that the rest of students here are also thankful and we will be doing our best to make all concerned proud," said Dunbar.
Samuel Cameron, a board member of the cooperative, described Passley as a no-nonsense person.
The awardees received between $40,000 and $80,000 per annum over four years.
