Melissa Knight receives her scholarship from Sydney Brown, president of the Miriam Stevenson Memorial Foundation in Florida, United States. - Contributed

SOME OF Jamaica's problems rest with the nation being unable to hold on to its best and brightest talent due to less-than-favourable living conditions, which even-tually lead to migration. Others have looked at the flight of the skilled in terms of what they can contribute financially to the island through means of remittances or otherwise.

Sydney Brown, a retired resident of Florida in the United States, is one such Jamaican who is giving back to the island through a memorial scholarship set up in memory of his grandmother.

The Miriam Stephenson Memorial Scholarship was set up by Brown in dedication to his grandmother, a Kingstonian, who he described as a philanthropist.

His grandmother, who died in 1936, lived in Denham Town and, according to Brown, was very helpful to the community.

Happy for scholarship

The annual scholarship, valued at US$5,000 ($445,000), is intended for a student to have his or her tuition covered for a course to be studied at a local university.

Melissa Knight, who is in her last year at the University of the West Indies, studying actuarial science, is this year's awardee.

Her mother, Claudette Knight, was very happy for the scholar-ship as the money will go a long way in helping her daughter finish school.

"I feel very good because I grow them very poor, but I send them to school and they turn out very well," Knight, who has four daughters, said that Melissa, 20, is very driven. The native of St Johns Road in St Catherine is also encouraging other Jamaicans to strive despite the challenges they might have.

To foster development in Jamaica

Brown said she was chosen because of her financial circum-stances and her drive to succeed.

"We wanted the degree to be something that is related to a career path. It is something that we believe in," he said.

Brown said the scholarship seeks to foster development in the country by ensuring that whatever is studied will be used to propel the island.

Brown, who was born in west Kingston, moved to the United States in 1966 to pursue higher education. While he left Jamaica then, he never forgot where he came from, and how Jamaica was instrumental in making him who he is.

Brown wants this to be one of many other ventures to help poor Jamaicans. He also wants other Jamaicans to contribute to the society, despite the many challenges that the country faces.

mark.beckford@gleanerjm.com