Well deserved

 Nineteen-year-old Dylana Alleyne has been able to overcome the odds to become the recipient of the Rotary Club of Barbados West’s scholarship winner.

The former student of St Michael’s School and the Barbados Community College is now pursuing an LLB in Law at the University of The West Indies, Cave Hill Campus.

The elated student told the audience at Bagatelle Great House. St Thomas during a presentation ceremony last night that she could not have received the scholarship without the encouragement from her mother Waveney Alleyne.

“I am grateful that you contributed and helped me and I am really grateful to my mom. I am going to get this law degree and give back to the nation,” she said.

Her mother who said she was a single parent told the audience that she was extremely proud of her daughter who continues to excel despite the odds.

Chairman of the Scholarship Committee Frank Hunte said that Alleyne could not always attend all of her classes at school but through the help of her accommodating teachers she was able to defy the odds.

“ Despite her not having all of the required books she was able to gain entry to her school of choice. . . There were days when she could not attend school because she did not have the financial means to do so,” Hunte said, adding that the reason Alleyne was selected by the committee was not only due to her academic excellence but because she also needed the assistance to pursue her dreams.

Minister of Education Technology and Vocational Training Santia Bradshaw said that she would like to see more scholarships being awarded from the private sector.

“ I want to thank Rotary Club West for this initiative, it is something that the Ministry embraces. It is the recognition of our young people and the hard work that they have been putting in and we need to see more of it. So, I am encouraging Rotary Club West to award more of our young people,” Bradshaw said, while encouraging Alleyne to be fearless in the pursuit of her dreams.

“ Dylana, I want to congratulate you and I wish you well. As a former attorney myself in my former life I know how important it is [to you] and how passionate you are about bringing about equality and I hope that as you achieve your dream you make that a reality as well and never stop fighting for what you believe in,” the Member of Parliament for St Michael South East said. (LG)