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Three aspiring architecture students studying at the Jamaica Developers Association (JDA) on Wednesday, June 5, the School of Building and Land Management (SBLM) and the Caribbean School of Architecture (CSA) within the Faculty of the Built Environment (FOBE) at the University of Technology were presented $1.2 million in scholarships.

The students received their awards during a presentation ceremony at the university’s Papine Campus.

The scholarship recipients are Durval Clayton, a final year BSc Construction Engineering student who received the JDA’s Eustace Bird Memorial Scholarship valued at $350,000 and Britney Byfield, also a final year student pursuing a BA in Architectural Studies who was awarded the inaugural Joyce Bolton Memorial Scholarship valued at $350,000.

Another finalizing student in the BSc. in Construction Engineering programme, Jevaughn Carey along with Annecia Gordon who is completing her Diploma in Construction Management were the recipients of the JDA’s Special Awards Bursaries of $250,000 each.

Established in 1969, the Jamaica Developers Association prides itself on building the technological capacity of the Jamaican development industry through the promotion of ethical and legal practices in the business and administration of real estate development in the country.

Highlighting the supportive relationship between the Jamaica Developers Association and the university, Pauline Madourie, scholarship officer, University of Technology, Jamaica noted that the journey began with the “JDA approaching the UTech Foundation on May 25, 2004.

” This was during the celebration of the Association’s 35th Anniversary at which time they established “the Eustace Bird Memorial Scholarship and our first recipient received $56,400” Madourie said.

She added, “today, the JDA can boast 1.2 million dollars for the 2023/2024 academic year.”

Madourie further shared that late Eustace Bird, in whose name the first ever JDA scholarship was established, served “as the first Secretary and Manager of the Company for 22 years,” while the late Joyce Bolton in whose name the Association’s newest scholarship has been established, “served for 28 years in the organization” also assuming the role of secretary and manager.

Dean, Faculty of the Built Environment, Dr Laurence Neufville in his greetings congratulated the JDA team for supporting needy students at the University, noting that the goals of the JDA are well aligned with that of the university which aims to “produce excellent professionals who are able to support the constructed environment” especially “in this kind of new dispensation occasioned by climate change.

“He pointed out that both UTech, Ja and the JDA have a moral and professional responsibility to respond to the challenges brought on by harsh and prolonged weather conditions so that “our built artifacts can be resilient to these new changes.”

The FOBE Dean, stated that the JDA’s scholarship presentation to the four UTech, Ja students was an indication of the team’s honouring said responsibility in the face of climate change.

“I want to thank you for recognizing your role, and responsibility, your corporate social responsibility and you have actually demonstrated that by supporting our students here at the University of Technology, Jamaica.”

He further invited the JDA team to engage the students in the operations of the Association by providing them with opportunities for practical work experience. He also encouraged the awardees to give back to UTech, Ja upon completion of their studies.

Acknowledging the significance of his team’s contribution to UTech, Ja, chairman, Jamaica Developers Association, Dayton Wood stated, “we are only able to do what we do because institutions like UTech, develop students, our engineers and architects who assist us to build the products that are lasting and are credible to the country.”

He shared that the scholarship interview panel was impressed with this year’s recipients, observing that they are young people who are “making do with sometimes very little assistance, but they have really put their shoulders to the wheel and are committed and determined.”

The JDA chairman noted that it is dedication such as this which has “inspired the Association to do whatever we can to increase the assistance that we are able to give on an annual basis.”

Professor Garfield Young, former Dean, Faculty of The Built Environment and whose dialogue with the JDA was fundamental in this year’s expansion of the initiative to include the establishment of the JDA’s inaugural Joyce Bolton Memorial Scholarship, described the support from the Association as “critical” and one which “contributes to the dream of our students.

Dr Young noted the JDA’s support helps students to “realize their ambition and it supports what we do as a university, but bigger than that, it really strongly supports sustainable development of Jamaica.”

He applauded the collaboration between the university and the industry partner, noting that higher education is about the joint venture between industry and academia.

Scholarship recipients Durval Clayton and Britney Byfield also expressed their profound gratitude to the JDA for investing in their education.

Clayton in his response stated that the gesture “really shows how much there are eyes out there watching us and appreciating what we are doing”. He added that “this incredible gift is a great help to the awardees financially allowing us to attend university with fewer debts.”

In the meantime, Byfield noted that not only did the donation provided well needed financial relief, but that the efforts of the JDA team, through the Joyce Bolton Memorial Scholarship has particularly aided her to pursue her dreams and to “contribute to the construction industry.”