Sixteen Young Jamaicans Named N.C.B. Foundation 2023 Scholars
07 Sep 2023
Kingston, Jamaica – September 7, 2023: Sixteen young Jamaicans, hailing from all parishes across Jamaica, were the proud recipients of the 2023 scholarships and grants, which are geared towards supporting students pursuing digital areas of study. Fourteen parish champions were selected from the programme:
• Arianna Warren – Parish Champion, Kingston
• Charlene Jackson – Parish Champion, St. Thomas
• Crystal Bent – Parish Champion, Manchester
• Ebony Howell – Parish Champion, St. Catherine
• Michael Chambers – Parish Champion, St. Elizabeth
• Milannu Thompson – Parish Champion, Westmoreland
• Nathan Hansle – Parish Champion, Clarendon
• Onica Wint – Parish Champion, Portland
• Ron-Hugh Walters – Parish Champion, Trelawny
• Ryeme Boxter – Parish Champion, St. Ann
• Tajauna Willie – Parish Champion, St. James
• Timarnie Daley – Parish Champion, Hanover
• Vanessa Andrews – Parish Champion, St. Mary
• Zara Campbell – Parish Champion, St. Andrew
In addition to being named parish champions, 22-year old Nathan Hansle from Clarendon and Vanessa Andrews from St. Mary were selected as the N.C.B. Foundation National Scholars for 2023, based on their outstanding performance in the qualifying activities. Hansle and Andrews will each receive an annual scholarship of $600,000 for the duration of their studies, once they continue to meet the programme’s criteria.
Octasha Sterling from St. Mary was named the Dr. Rickert Allen Memorial Scholar for 2023, and will receive a scholarship valued at $600,000 per year for the duration of her studies. Meanwhile, Clement Jones from Kingston was the runner-up awardee, who will receive a one-time grant of $150,000.
“All we ask is that you do well in your studies, and pay it forward,” said Nadeen Matthews Blair, CEO of N.C.B. Foundation. “The Chairman of NCB Financial Group, Michael Lee-Chin, who was a scholarship recipient himself, lives by the personal mantra – it is important to do well, and do good. This has always been our ‘North Star’ at N.C.B. Foundation, as we believe that through education, our young people can improve not only their quality of life, but also make a difference in their families, communities, for our nation and the world.
A Journey Full Circle: From Scholar to Senator
Government Senator and award-winning former broadcast Journalist, Abka Fitz-Henley, one of the very first N.C.B. Foundation scholars from 2008, was in attendance at the event, and served as a judge for the qualifying activities.
"It's a great honour to be here and to serve as a judge for the N.C.B. Foundation tertiary scholarships programme. I have a tremendous feeling of nostalgia, as fifteen years ago, I was in the very shoes of these scholars and right here receiving a scholarship,” said Fitz-Henley. "It's not lost on me that NCB started this scholarship programme long before it was fashionable to have such programmes which on a large scale gave financial assistance to students, and I consider this initiative by N.C.B. Foundation as one of the more critical endeavours among its peers in corporate Jamaica. The programme has not only helped beneficiaries such as me to navigate my educational pursuits from a financial standpoint, it has also offered guidance and invaluable mentorship to my cohort where we gained access to people who have the interest of young people at heart."
Focused on Future Digital Leaders
Aligning with global shifts in technology, N.C.B. Foundation has channelled its focus within its core of education towards digital studies such as animation, computer science, and software development.
“We recognise the seismic shifts in the global landscape, particularly in the field of technology,” noted Matthews Blair. “We have set a bold aspiration to play a pivotal role in accelerating the digital transformation of Jamaica.”
Paying it Forward
To commemorate the 15th anniversary of the programme, each scholar also received a J$15,000 gift certificate to a local bookstore with a call to 'pay it forward' within their community. With over J$1 billion invested in education through its various scholarships, grants and training initiatives since 2008, N.C.B. Foundation this year celebrated the milestone 15th anniversary of its annual programme.
“Today marks a special milestone in your journey, one of many more to come. We stand on the shoulders of many and will continue to give back,” concluded Matthews Blair.
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