Scholarships have been granted to 96 students under Seprod Foundation’s PEP Scholarship Awards Programme.

The annual PEP Scholarship Awards Ceremony, which was held on November 21 in Kingston, welcomed 33 new awardees to the programme, who joined 64 returning scholars.

Once they maintain a standard of academic performance, the Foundation issues a grant to these students every year until they complete high school.

The awards programme was created to assist children of Seprod employees who did well on their PEP examinations and has since grown to include the special Granville Marsh Scholarship Award that is awarded to two top performing students from St Thomas.

Speaking at the event, Melanie Subratie, chairperson of the Seprod Foundation, encouraged the awardees to embrace this year’s theme, ‘Limitless’.

“This is how we view the potential of all of our scholars – as absolutely limitless – and if you are sitting here today we are looking forward to seeing where you are going to be in 10 years and the limits to your potential can be of your own making and therefore we hope that we can make sure that you can dream big, follow your heart, and encourage you to raise yourselves, others, the community and the country.”

Richard Pandohie, chief executive officer of the Seprod Group, in his congratulatory remarks, encouraged the students to think outside the box in terms of career choices as the world is constantly changing and they should be ready to change along with it.

Toni-Ann Lalor, Miss United Nations World 2022 and Serge Brand Ambassador, in her keynote remarks, offered commendations to the awardees, urging them to use her story of struggle to succeed.

“Never allow a hurdle to stop you from going after your dreams. Sometimes you must pivot, take a different approach, and keep it moving.”

The Byron Thompson Award for Academic Achievement, which is named in honour of the former CEO of Seprod Limited, and current director of the Seprod Foundation, Byron Thompson, was awarded to Marshaye Lounds of Willowdene High School, while the Granville Marsh Scholarship Award was awarded to Nadrek Chong and Ajani Smith of Campion College.

The Seprod Foundation contributes to the development of Jamaica’s youth by providing innovative learning experiences to primary school students, and strengthening communities through scholarships and grants.