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Students benefit from back-to-school treat

Published:Saturday | August 20, 2011 | 12:00 AM
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Kemak Ricketts (second left) poses with Errol McPherson, widower of the late educator Ionie 'Gem' McPherson, her daughter Lorren and sister Lorna Johnson after receiving a US$500 scholarship.
Even the collapse of the bounceabout could not dampen the enthusiasm of these children who were waiting their turn at a back-to-school treat held by Lorna Johnson and the Jamalco Refinery Council Committee.
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Christopher Serju, Gleaner Writer

CORN PIECE, Clarendon:

SOME 80 students, who will be attending Glenmuir High or Vere Technical High School in Clarendon will receive books or vouchers from the Jamalco Refinery Council Committee. Some of the students received their books at a treat funded by Lorna Johnson - who this year partnered with the committee, providing three US$500 scholarships in honour of her late sister Dr Ionie McPherson, who succumbed to colon cancer in March.

Chair of the council, Lorine Cousins, explained that the money was generated from a revolving chicken-rearing project with profits of more than $200,000 realised from the last batch of chicken.

This year's presentation was timed to coincide with the scholarships on offer from Johnson who, along with her sister - an educator known affectionately as Gem, was raised in the community. Some of the presentations were made at the treat in Corn Piece Settlement last Saturday that included performances from the Hatfield Cultural Group. There was also entertainment for the children, including, bounceabout, snacks, ice cream and other treats.

Johnson described the treat as a fitting tribute to her sister who loved children and believed in the value of education. The money is intended to help with school books, uniforms and other expenses, but where scholarship awardees are doing well and in need of more financial help, her committee would be open to helping them further.

Johnson, who now lives in the United States, attended Hayes Primary School where she excelled at track and field. Last year, she built a a computer laboratory and contributed 15 computers to her alma mater.

Meanwhile, Cousins, whose daughter Paula-Kay copped 11 distinctions in the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate examinations while a student at Glenmuir, was delighted by her success.

"I'm really excited for her because she worked hard and the results are based on the hard work she put in. What she got was what she put in," the proud mother declared.

The 17-year-old got distinctions in English language, English literature, mathematics, Caribbean history, economics, chemistry, Spanish, principles of business, religious education, principles of accounts and information technology.

In confirming her mother's statement, Paula-Kay said she was confident of doing well because she had been dedicated to her studies from an early age.

christopher.serju@gleanerjm.com


Photos by Christopher Serju