British High Commissioner Jeremy Cresswell (far right) addresses Chevening scholars (from left), Taraja Richards, Stacy-Ann Robinson, Jaevion Nelson, Titania Ward (Chevening fellow), Danielle Andrade and Harold Malcolm

British High Commissioner Jeremy Cresswell and his wife, Barbara Munske, hosted a cosy send-off reception for the 2009 Chevening scholars and one fellow on Wednesday.

Held on the grounds of the high commission, Cresswell expressed his pride at once again hosting a reception for the scholars.

This year, five Jamaicans were awarded full scholarships to participate in postgraduate studies at an institution of their choice.

One scholar is Taraja Richards, a project engineer who will pursue a master of science in infrastructure asset engineering and management at the University of Leeds.

"It has everything in one course," Richards said of her university choice. She hopes, through her field, to find ways of combating severe infrastructure damage as a result of natural disasters.

Other scholars are Stacy-Ann Robinson, a foreign service officer who will pursue a master's degree in international development and environment at the University of Manchester; Danielle Andrade, a legal director, will pursue an LLM at Queen Mary, University of London; Jaevion Nelson, programme officer at the Violence Prevention Alliance, will pursue a master's degree in social development and communication at the University of Wales, Swansea; Harold Malcolm, an advisor/consultant to the minister of education, will pursue a master's in human rights at the London School of Economics and Titania Ward, the Chevening Fellow, is the acting policy manager in diversion and reintegration at the Ministry of National Security will pursue managing migration at the University of Sussex.

The Chevening scholarship is celebrating its 25th anniversary. Over 1,000 scholarships and 200 fellowships are awarded in over 100 countries yearly.

Cresswell said he hoped the programme not only allowed the scholars to achieve their goals and contribute to leadership and development in Jamaica, but to return with critical opinions about the United Kingdom.

Guests out included Paula Llewellyn, director of public prosecutions; Jo Seaman, project officer justice and security at the British High Commission; E. Nigel Harris; Diana McCauly; Jonathan Greenland and wife Rebecca Tortello-Greenland; Karen Bailey-Coleman; Dawn Gregory; Carmen Malcolm-Brown; Carlton Brown; Hamish Al; Marsha Montgomery, Camille Miller; Steve Morgan and Mark Montgomery.

2009 Chevening scholars and fellow chat with each other. (from left) Danielle Andrade, Jaevion Nelson, Harold Malcolm, Taraja Richards, Stacy-Ann Robinson and Titania Ward (Chevening fellow), at the reception hosted for them at Trafalgar House on Wednesday.

Jeremy Cresswell has Taraja Richards (left) and Danielle Andrade laughing at the reception to bid the scholars farewell.

Stacy-Ann Robinson, Chevening scholar, is sandwiched by her friends Karen Bailey-Coleman (left) and Dawn Gregory.

E. Nigel Harris, vice-chancellor, University of the West Indies, in conversation with Dr Barbara Munske, wife of British High Commissioner Jeremy Cresswell.

Director of Public Prosecutions Paula Llewellyn (right) has the attention of Carmen Malcolm-Brown and Carlton Brown, family members of one of the scholars.