Sagicor has awarded 182 Jamaican students over J$24 million in scholarships from the Sagicor Foundation, including 55 new scholarship recipients, as it celebrates its 55th anniversary. 

The new awardees were announced at the annual awards ceremony on Tuesday, August 12, at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel. The milestone presentation underscores Sagicor Group’s continued investment in nation-building through education.

Sagicor Foundation—the charitable arm of Sagicor Group Jamaica—has been awarding scholarships for over three decades, benefiting thousands of students across the island. In the past decade alone, the foundation has disbursed over J$100 million in secondary and tertiary scholarships to students who demonstrate academic excellence, leadership, community involvement, and financial need.

This year’s recipients include both secondary and tertiary students, with tertiary scholars receiving up to $300,000 annually to attend local universities, and secondary scholarships valued at $50,000 for Grade Six students, who sat the 2024/2025 PEP exams to start high school in September. 

Success stories

Eligible applicants include Sagicor clients, their children and dependents of team members. Among the programme’s many success stories is 2024 Rhodes Scholar, Nile Anderson, whose journey from Sagicor Scholar to Oxford University reflects the transformative power of education. 

He is currently pursuing a degree in Engineering Science, building on an exceptional academic record that includes induction into the Faculty of Engineering Honour Society and the Taylor Hall Honour Society at the University of the West Indies, Mona, where he also served as Taylor Hall’s valedictorian.

“Education has always been at the heart of our mission,” declared Christopher Zacca, Chairman of the Sagicor Foundation and President and CEO of Sagicor Group Jamaica. “As we celebrate 55 years as a Group, we’re proud to continue empowering young Jamaicans with the tools to build a brighter future through our Foundation, which has been awarding scholarships and grants for over three decades. Knowing that we have impacted hundreds of students, fueling them to achieve their goals, is a great feeling,” he added.

Shaping Jamaica’s next generation 

Continuing, Zacca said: “Our scholarship programme is about more than funding; it’s about shaping Jamaica’s next generation of leaders and changemakers. When we speak to these students during our interview process and we hear the things they have to say, we know for certain that Jamaica’s future is in good hands.” 

Speaking on behalf of the 2025 awardees, Jody-Ann Duckworth, a tertiary scholarship recipient, told the gathering: “Sagicor has left its mark on many, and this year it has made its mark on me. As an academic star and aspiring investment banker, I am grateful for the financial support that has eased the burden of university for my family and me, allowing me to focus fully on my studies. I am determined to help my country by addressing financial challenges, and one day I hope to sponsor students and young talents, supporting their start-ups and helping them manage their finances for lasting success.”

In 2024, the Foundation introduced two special awards, the R. Danny Williams Visionary Award for Leadership and Volunteerism, and the Chairman’s Innovation Award, which recognises creative and tech-driven problem-solving. The inaugural honours went to Ramone Young, an outstanding nursing student at the University of Technology, Jamaica, celebrated for his exceptional volunteerism and leadership, and to Shenielle Gayle, Northern Caribbean University student, a trailblazer in IT innovation, respectively.