St. Catherine Students Receive Scholarships from PAEF to Support High School Education

Six students from St. Catherine, set to begin high school this September, have received scholarships totaling $90,000 from the Poverty Alleviation and Empowerment Foundation (PAEF). The scholarships were awarded during a ceremony held on Wednesday, July 24, at the Parish Office of the Social Development Commission (SDC) in Spanish Town.

The recipients include five former students of Old Harbour Primary School and one from Kitson Town Primary School. This latest round of scholarships brings the total number of students supported by PAEF this year to 31, with a cumulative value of $475,000.

Pauline Gregory-Lewis, the Executive Director of PAEF, highlighted that this year marks the tenth anniversary of the foundation’s scholarship program. Over the past decade, the foundation has provided financial aid amounting to $3.5 million to assist needy students in St. Catherine. In addition to scholarships, PAEF’s initiatives have included a breakfast program that has benefited 500 students.

“We are committed to continuing our work for the people of St. Catherine. The need is great, and the challenges are significant. Whatever we can do for the parents and, more importantly, the children, we are dedicated to doing,” Mrs. Gregory-Lewis emphasized during the ceremony.

Kellesha Morris-Adams, a teacher at Old Harbour Bay Primary School, expressed gratitude on behalf of the students and encouraged them to strive for excellence in their high school education. “Become the men and women who will contribute significantly to the growth and development of Jamaica,” she urged.

Among the scholarship recipients was Jaleel Jumpp, who will be attending Clarendon College. His mother, Shevel Lamey, expressed relief, noting that the scholarship “will definitely help to alleviate some of the financial burden.”

In addition to the PAEF scholarship, Amelia Brown, a former student of Kitson Town Primary, received an additional $20,000 and a school bag filled with educational supplies from the Kitson Town Civic Committee. Jillian Wray, a member of the committee, highlighted that this support, facilitated by Dr. Vilroy McBean and the Tameka Hill Foundation, will help Amelia start her high school journey at St. Catherine High on the “right footing.”

Mariana Francis, a reading teacher at Kitson Town Primary School, underscored the importance of this assistance, describing it as “much needed” and a significant relief for Amelia’s mother, the family’s sole breadwinner. The support provided by PAEF and other community groups is a testament to the collective effort to invest in the future of St. Catherine’s youth.