Twenty one year old first year UTECH mechanical engineering student, Andre Campbell is the recipient of the Bruce Rickards scholarship for 2007. The annual scholarship, which is in its 6th year, is awarded to a KC student of outstanding academic and leadership achievements. It is in memory of the former chairman of the Kingston College Development trust Fund (KCDTF) and KC old boy, Bruce Rickards who was also an outstanding manager of Grace Kennedy and also a director of the Grace Kennedy Foundation.
Chairman of the Grace Kennedy Foundation, Douglas Orane, first announced the Scholarship at Rickards’ funeral at St Andrew Parish Church in 2001.
Andre Campbell entered KC in 1999 from Allman Town Primary (1996-99). His early childhood was in Clarendon where he attended Tweedside Primary (1993-96) before his family moved to Woodford Park, Kingston, in 1996. It was whilst growing up in Wooford Park that young Andre became actively involved in community affairs. His passion for community service was largely honed by his mentor Maxine ‘Miss P’ Richards especially through the Woodford Park Strikers Youth Club. The penchant for service carried over with him to KC where he served in various capacities such as: Assistant Lt. Governor for the KC Key Club region, Vice President of the Interact club, PRO for the Sixth Form Association and Tourism Club as well as member of the Science and Drama Clubs.
Andre graduated from KC in 2004 and went on to sixth form having attained 8 CXC ‘O’ level subjects in mathematics, English, physics, geography, information technology, technical drawing, French and religious education. In 2005, at lower sixth he attained CAPE 1 in mathematics, physics, geography and communication studies. He did not complete upper sixth form and opted for UTECH but had to spend a year of pre-qualifying for the engineering faculty. He was admitted to UTECH faculty of engineering in the autumn of 2007.
The Bruce Rickards scholarship alternates between UWI and UTECH and mainly covers tuition but is flexible and can be extended to cover books, boarding and other costs depending on the circumstances of the student. Andre Campbell scholarship is renewable based on performance for the 4-year duration of his course. The first year award of $290,000 largely covers tuition.
The Jamaica College equivalent is called the Carlton Alexander Memorial, which is awarded to the alma mater of another outstanding Grace Kennedy stalwart.
This is the sixth year of the Bruce Rickards Scholarship and the five other recipients who preceded Campbell were:
2002- Greg Walcolm: He was awarded the scholarship fresh out of sixth form and attended UWI Mona and Cave Hill campuses where he attained a LLB Upper Second degree. Walcolm is now Clerk of the Court for the Westmoreland Resident Magistrate Court having graduated from the Norman Manley Law School in 2007.
2003-Dwayne Morrell: When he was awarded the scholarship, he was a third year Business administration student at UTECH majoring in production and operations management. He graduated with a BBA degree in 2004/05.
Dwayne Burrowes: The head boy of 2002/03 recently completed his BSc degree in mechanical engineering from UWI, St Augustine.
Junior Gowie : The UTECH mechanical engineering student recently completed his 4 year degree programme at that University.
Asad McKenzie : He is presently attending UWI Mona where he is pursuing mathematics, biology and Chemistry in the faculty of Pure and Applied Science.
