From Monroe University to Westwood and Moneague with love
Alumna presents million‑dollar cheques to support rebuilding
Published:Thursday | March 26, 2026 | 12:06 AMCarl Gilchrist/Gleaner Writer
After Hurricane Melissa western parishes in October 2025, Shanique McKenzie-Daniel, assistant director of alumni relations at Monroe University in New York, wasted no time in mobilising support for her Jamaican alma maters.
Her former secondary school, Westwood High for Girls in Trelawny – where she graduated in 2015 – and her former college, Moneague College in St Ann, which she completed in 2017, were both affected.
Westwood suffered particularly severe losses, with damage estimated at approximately $300 million.
McKenzie-Daniel, who also graduated from Monroe College (now Monroe University) in 2022, felt compelled to act. A fundraising campaign – coordinated by her husband, Denzel Daniel, director of residence life at Monroe, and supported by “the entire Monroe family” – was launched under the Monroe Cares initiative. The campaign raised a total of $2 million to support Westwood High and Moneague College.
On Monday, McKenzie-Daniel, accompanied by Emerson Phillips, assistant vice-president, and Lorraine A. Myers, director of international admissions, visited both institutions to hand over cheques.
“This donation came about from our university, Monroe University, where we’re a melting pot and, of course, Jamaica is no stranger to that melting pot,” McKenzie-Daniel said.
She added: “The (fundraising) campaign was coordinated by Denzel Daniel and the entire Monroe family with our Monroe Cares campaign, where we raised funds through different means to ensure that we could have done this initiative today to give back as we often do at Monroe.”
Westwood principal, Karen Francis, expressed gratitude for the gesture from one of the school’s own.
“This morning, I want to say a big thank you to the Monroe University family for handing us this well-needed cheque to assist in our rebuilding process here at Westwood. We really appreciate this gesture and we want to say thanks, thanks, thanks,” Francis said.
“We will definitely use this towards our rebuilding, as there are still many things that we need and we want to just say thank you very much, Shanique and the Monroe family, for all of what you have done for us.
“We suffered great loss here at Westwood. Our auditorium was mangled, we have seven teachers’ flats that were damaged, our quad classrooms were also damaged; the loss would have been over $300 million and so we really are grateful.”
Francis noted that the relationship between Monroe University and Westwood has long been fruitful. The school has supplied the university with students for several years, and at least two current students – Nicola Scott and Kahlee Walters – have already been accepted to enrol at Monroe later this year.
“I am very excited, I cannot wait for September to come,” Scott said. “What I hope to achieve is to learn and to grow both socially and educationally at my time at Monroe.”
Walters added, “I am overjoyed and I wish to complete my bachelor’s in criminal justice.”
In thanking Westwood for producing good students, McKenzie-Daniel commented: “Today, I just want to say, from the Monroe University family thank you for the students that you send to us that have become a part of our family. We hope that this donation will definitely go towards helping with your rebuilding effort.”
At Moneague College, McKenzie-Daniel encouraged students gathered in the auditorium for the presentation, reminding them that, “A few years ago, I was in your shoes, sitting right there.”
She presented the cheque on behalf of the entire Monroe University family.
“I just want to present this contribution of one million dollars to help in your restoration. This is a momentous occasion, this is Monroe showing support,” she said.
Phillips noted: “On behalf of the president of the Monroe University, staff and students, I would just like you to know that our hearts are with each of you as you continue to recover (from the hurricane).”
Dr Jacqueline Thames, vice-principal for student and administrative affairs at Moneague, thanked Monroe University for its support.
“It will make a difference; it will definitely make a difference in the life of our institution and the lives of our students. So, thank you so much,” she said.