Scholarship recipients urged to make a difference

Anya Schnoor, the Executive Vice President for the Caribbean, Central America and Uruguay at Scotiabank, has charged its latest cohort of UWI Scholarship recipients to maximize opportunities to realize their full potential and to make positive contributions to enhancing the lives of generations to come.

While speaking at the recent University of the West Indies 2021 Scotiabank Awards Ceremony, Schnoor reiterated the Bank’s commitment to investing in the communities that it serves and its dedication to making a meaningful and positive contribution to the people of the region.

Schnoor urged both the new students and former scholarship recipients to answer the call when the opportunity arises to support their communities in the future. “As community members, we all share a common responsibility to support in whatever way and through whatever means we can,” she said.

Emmana Jeffers, a 2nd year International Relations Major at the Cave Hill Campus said: “From failed loan applications to Government assistance, I felt like I hit a roadblock. The UWI Toronto Scotiabank Scholarship was indeed a saviour and is bringing me closer to finishing my degree.”

She also noted that for her, it has been a repeated cycle of losing and building up again as she cited the impact that Hurricane Maria and the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the financial affairs of her family.

In 2019, Scotiabank expanded its partnership with the UWI and has committed an additional CAD$225,000 over the next 5 years towards the programme providing 15 additional scholarships per annum.

During the scholarship ceremony, Schnoor announced a further donation of CAD$10,000 to provide new laptops for students in need of devices to support their learning.

Professor Eudine Barriteau Principal at the Cave Hill Campus commented: “I would like to say thank you to our colleagues at the UWI Toronto Gala, supported by Scotiabank for unlocking the dreams of these talented students across the Caribbean and you are also making the Caribbean a much better place.”

As the leading bank in the Caribbean, Scotiabank has a long history of supporting the University of the West Indies and for the past 12 years has been the lead sponsor for the UWI Gala hosted annually in Toronto which seeks to raise funds for scholarships for tertiary students in the region.

The Scotiabank scholarships are available to CARICOM nationals who are pursuing full-time undergraduate programmes at UWI campuses in Trinidad, Jamaica, Barbados as well as through the Open Campus program.

Eligible students must be entering at least level two of their B.Sc. degree programme in the Faculty of Medical Sciences, Science and Technology, Humanities & Education & Social Sciences.
(PR)