The NRJ Foundation has officially announced the winners of its inaugural tertiary scholarships for science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) students.

At a handover ceremony at the National Rums of Jamaica (NRJ) head offices on Friday, September 13, the charity announced Anushca Hurst and D’Mario Johnson as the recipients.

Hurst and Johnson, who are studying Chemistry at the University of the West Indies, Mona and Mechanical Engineering at the University of Technology Jamaica respectively, have been awarded $500,000 each towards their tuition fees and other school-related expenses for the 2024/2025 academic year.

The foundation emphasised that this scholarship demonstrates its commitment to driving social change by investing in STEM education, and in particular giving back to the communities in which it operates, including St Catherine where both Hurst and Johnson are residents.

During the handover, Chairperson of the NRJ Foundation Board, Martha Miller, lauded the pair of aspiring scientists for their excellent academic performances and dedication.

“These bright young Jamaicans have not only excelled in their academic pursuits but have also shown remarkable ambition, vision, and determination to give back to their country,” stated Miller.

Anushca Hurst, she pointed out, was a standout candidate having laid a foundation for a charitable future by spreading the love for Chemistry through teaching in her hometown of Spanish Town. As for, D’Mario Johnson, Miller disclosed that the way he expressed his passion for problem-solving and creating new products was impressive.

She encouraged the students to persevere, calling their chosen fields of study the cornerstones of innovation that drive industrial growth, as well as advance sectors such as agriculture and even healthcare.

Both students expressed immense gratitude to the foundation.

Meanwhile, Minister of Education and Youth, Fayval Williams, who was in attendance at the handover ceremony, congratulated the students and commended the foundation for offering the scholarship. “The ministry is pleased with this investment in our young people and in science and maths-related subjects,” she noted. “This is the direction we want to continue to take our bright young minds in.”

Present at the event were also the NRJ Foundation’s Board of Directors Micheal Dunkley and Joseph Robinson, along with family members of the scholarship recipients.  

The NRJ Foundation Scholarship will be awarded annually to high-performing STEM students who reside in Clarendon, St Catherine and Trelawny, where NRJ currently operates. In keeping with the NRJ Foundation motto “Supporting Communities, Supporting Jamaica” the NRJ Foundation is the philanthropic branch of the National Rums of Jamaica and endeavours to continue to give back to its communities.