Strong uptick in interest
Nearly 1/3 of all Lyford Cay Foundations 2021 scholarships go to technical training
The desire to possess job-ready technical skills may have hit a new high with nearly one third of this year’s Lyford Cay Foundation scholarship winners opting to earn a technical degree. The Foundations awarded 26 new scholarships this term to students pursuing a diverse range of studies in Canada and the United States. This year, eight recipients are pursuing technical degrees with more than half taking up studies to prepare them for a care in a health-related field.
“Based on the applications we received, there was particularly strong interest in technical training and we are grateful to our donors who have consistently funded these scholarships,” said Dr. Nicola Virgill-Rolle, Executive Director.
In addition to the traditional academic undergraduate and graduate awards, each year the Lyford Cay Foundation also support students who wish to pursue technical and vocational skills.
“We have an independent panel of technical experts who assess our applicants, evaluate their selected schools, career paths and the likelihood of the applicant securing employment or entrepreneurial opportunities in The Bahamas when finished with their education,” she added.
Applicants for Lyford Cay Foundations technical scholarships have often had some experience and have developed a passion for their chosen fields, Dr. Virgill-Rolle explained.
“The Lyford Cay Foundations have been strong supporters of technical and vocational skills upgrading in The Bahamas and seek to do more in this area in response to the growing need for skilled persons in technical professions,” she noted.
“We were delighted to award Grand Bahamian Dwayne Auguste, who had previously attended St. Georges High School and BTVI is seeking a diploma in an industrial trade – Welding Fabrication, a field he says is in dire need of locals, especially as the Grand Bahama Shipyard is set for a $300 million expansion that will make it a world leader in hauling and repair.” Auguste will be heading to Holland College in Canada.
The five students studying health-related disciplines include
· Jadon Demeritte, a St. Augustine’s College graduate who will be pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in medical technology at Hartwick College in Oneonta, New York;
· Jasper King, a CV Bethel High School graduate who will be studying for an Advanced Diploma in dental hygiene at Midwestern State University in Wichita, Texas,
· Jordan Johnson, a Windermere High School graduate and Eleuthera native, who is headed to Gwinett College for an Associate’s degree as a medical assistant;
· Diamond Johnson a Siebens award recipient will study for an Associate’s degree as a medical technician at Northern College in Canada; and
· Montayanna Major, a graduate of Aquinas College and also a Siebens awardee is headed to Acadia University to study for a Bachelor’s degree kinesiology.
The final two technical award recipients are Apryl Miller, who attended St. John’s College and is going on to study for a Bachelor’s degree in Theatre at the University of the Ozarks in Arkansas, USA and has a special interest in the technical aspects of stagecraft and Niara Black, who attended St. Anne’s School, and will be working toward a Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Management/ Aeronautics at Averett University in Virginia with a concentration in flight operations. Ms. Black wants to be a jet pilot for Bahamasair.
Some 600 students applied for technical, undergraduate and graduate scholarships this year. Of the 26 new scholarships awarded totaling more than $380,000 in tuition assistance, 18 were female, eight male. Fourteen are studying at the undergraduate level, four at the graduate and eight received technical and vocational awards.
The Lyford Cay Foundations have invested more than $50 million in Bahamians since 1969. The Foundations’ support has enabled more than 3,000 Bahamians to earn a college degree and over 250 non-profit organizations to carry on the work to which they are dedicated.
