Eighty-nine university students attending The University of the West Indies (UWI), University of Technology (UTech), Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts, Caribbean Maritime University (CMU) and Northern Caribbean University (NCU) have been awarded scholarships valued at more than $24 million by the GraceKennedy Foundation (GKF) for the 2022-2023 academic year.

The presentations were made at GKF’s annual awards ceremony on October 27 at the UWI, Mona campus in St Andrew.

In her welcoming remarks, Gail Moss-Solomon, general counsel & chief corporate secretary of GraceKennedy Limited, welcomed the scholarship recipients to the GraceKennedy family and underscored GK’s longstanding commitment to education, and the importance of a quality education.

She charged the scholarship recipients to become great citizens of the world and contribute to nation building.

“You are on the right path. I encourage you all to maintain the habits that have brought you here today. Always do your best, in everything,” she said.

Hansle Parchment, Olympic gold and bronze medalist and GK brand ambassador, was guest speaker at the awards ceremony.

Parchment also offered advice to the students, encouraging them to work hard, despite the obstacles.

He shared his three steps to success with the audience.

“Find your purpose, come up with a strategy and write it down, and then kick-start the work. You won’t always get things right the first time, but keep going forward and see where it takes you,” he said.

Ahead of the new school year, 37 students had their existing GKF scholarships renewed, and 52 students were added to the programme.

Laptops valued at $3.1 million were also presented to 23 scholarship recipients by GKF last month. GKF scholarships are renewed annually once scholarship recipients maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 and complete requisite community service hours.

Since its inception in 1982, GKF has invested approximately $400 million in scholarships to hundreds of Jamaican university students.