Twenty year old first year UWI Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences student, Roger Grant is the 2008 recipient of the Bruce Rickards Scholarship.
The annual scholarship which is in its 7th year is awarded to a KC student of outstanding academic and leadership achievements. It is in memory of the former chairman of KCDTF, Bruce Rickards who was an outstanding manager at Grace Kennedy and also director of the Grace Kennedy Foundation. The scholarship which is awarded annually was first announced by Chairman of the Grace Kennedy Foundation , Douglas Orane at Rickards’ funeral at St Andrew Parish Church in 2001.
Grant entered the hallowed halls of Kingston College in September 2000 fresh out of Seaview Gardens Primary. In 2005 he attained 8 CXC ‘O’ Levels in chemistry ,biology, physics, French, social studies, history, Math and English. On graduation he attained the Advance Proficiency Diploma and Associate Degree in Natural Science having successfully attained CAPE subjects in communication studies, biology, maths and physics in 2006 and communication studies, bio and physics in 2007. His leadership abilities were utilized as a prefect as well as sports captain and deputy house captain of Nuthall house.
At the Community level Grant has represented Seaview Gardens in the KSAFA Under 17 football competition for the Dickie Coke Trophy and presently represents the same community in 20/20 cricket.
A Taylorite at UWI Mona, he has represented his Taylor Hall block in football.
He is presently pursing a Bachelor of Science Degree in Electronics and Computer Sciences in the Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences at Mona. His original career ambition was to be a mechanical engineer but he could not take up the offer at the St Augustine Campus faculty of engineering as he got the voice mail message a little too late from Trinidad. He therefore intends to pursue an MSC in electronics and may consider a minor in mechanical engineering.
He hopes to give back to KC by part time teaching at the school
Playing sports and surfing the net are listed amongst his hobbies.
The Bruce Rickards scholarship alternates annually between UWI and UTECH and mainly covers tuition but is flexible and can be extended to cover books, boarding and other costs depending on circumstances of the student. Roger Grant’s scholarship is for 3 years at $300,000 per annum and covers tuition, books, traveling and other incidentals.
The Jamaica College equivalent is called the Carlton Alexander Memorial which is awarded to the alma mater of another Grace Kennedy stalwart, Carlton Alexander.
The other six recipients of the Bruce Rickards scholarship who preceded Grant were:
2002: Greg Walcolm - He studied law at UWI Mona and Cave Hill and attained a LLB Degree Upper Second Class Honours. He is presently in private practice.
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.
2004:Dwayne Burrowes -The headboy of 2002/03 recently completed his BSc degree in mechanical engineering from UWI St Agustine.
2005: Junior Gowie - The UTECH Mechanical engineering student recently completed his 4 year degree programme at that University.
2006: Asad McKenzie - He is presently in his final year at Mona where he is pursuing biology, mathematics and chemistry in the faculty of Pure and applied sciences .
2007: Andre Campbell - He is now a second year mechanical engineering student at UTECH.
Reported by Basil Waite
J$4million refurbishing work underway at North Street Campus.
Rothrick Construction Company has commenced the refurbishing of the 10th grade block and sanitary facilities at KC Street Campus.
Some four million dollars have been allocated by the Ministry of Education to fund the project which commenced in December 2008 and is expected to complete at the end of January 2009.
The work on the 10th grade block which embraces 6 claasrooms, 2 technical drawing rooms and a history room will include replacement of all glass windows with grilled aluminium louvers, all old doors with newly secured doors, refitting new ceiling tiles and box eaves, installing new electrical wiring and fittings and scrubbing and putting on a new coat of paint throughout.
Where the toilet block is concerned, the scope of work includes a complete refurbishment which will witness replacement of all toilets and face basins, re-tiling and painting.
The work is being monitored by administrative and technical officials of the Ministry of Education. KCOB and chairman of the building committee, Pat McIntosh will maintain a watching brief on behalf of the Board of Governors.
