Windalco scholarship recipients grateful for opportunity
Published:Saturday | November 12, 2011 | 12:00 AM
Karen Sudu, Gleaner Writer
EWARTON, St Catherine:
JODIAN CAMPBELL graduated from McGrath High School in St Catherine in June 2010 with 10 Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate. At that time, her desire was to enroll in the College of Agriculture, Science and Education to pursue further studies.
However, her mother's inability to fund her tertiary education cast doubt on her prospects. But come the first week in November, Jodian will be on her way to Moscow, Russia, as one of five winners of Windalco/UC RUSAL's international scholarships.
The scholarships, valued at approximately US$287,500, are tenable for five years and will enable the recipients to complete undergraduate degrees in various disciplines at the People's Friendship University of Russia.
"I am glad for the opportunity to pursue a degree in administration and economics. I always wanted to travel and experience a new culture, and this scholarship has afforded me that," the 17-year-old told The Gleaner. This was following a farewell reception for 15 students sponsored by the Russian Federation, as well as Windalco/UC RUSAL's five scholarship recipients, at The Knutsford Court Hotel in Kingston recently.
Jodian's mother, Leithia Allen, was filled with mixed emotions.
"I feel very proud and I'm very happy, kinda sad sometimes, because she is my only child and I'm a single mother, but with time, I will get used to it because it's all for the best," Allen told The Gleaner.
She heaped praises on Windalco for touching the lives of thousands of young people through its educational programme.
"They are doing a wonderful thing because Jodian also got assistance when she was at McGrath. My niece has gotten a back-to-school grant, and now she is getting a grant to assist with her CXCs, so Windalco is doing a wonderful thing in the community," an elated Allen of Jericho district, near Linstead, said.
An enthused Romonne Facey, a past student of St Jago and Dinthill Technical High schools, aspires to become a mechanical engineer. As a result of the scholarship, the 18-year-old will be reading for a degree in automation. "I wasn't expecting to study in Russia. That was completely out of my mind, so it is really good," Facey said smiling.
His mother, Titanya Gayle, believes he is totally deserving.
"He has worked hard over the years and when the opportunity came, he jumped right at it. It's a good opportunity for him," Gayle told The Gleaner.
Another recipient, Dwayne Wellington, hails from Longhill in Williamsfield, Manchester. He is a 19-year-old graduate of Munro College. He will be pursuing studies in economics.
"Sometimes I think going to Russia is scary, and I know what I am going to miss," Wellington shared with The Gleaner. "But I always think about the opportunity, and how much it can do for me later on in life, and what I can do for my family. I know where I'm coming from, and I want to go further," he added.
Undoubtedly, his mom, Sandra Wellington, is grateful to the bauxite company.
"I'm happy for the scholarship because Windalco has taken a big weight off our shoulders - to find all the funds for him to do tertiary studies - and he's anxious to start," she told The Gleaner.
Glenmuir High School past student, 19-year-old Jason Hemmings of Sandy Bay, Clarendon, will be studying mining.
"Mining seems closer to earth, natural resources," Hemmings said. "I always wanted to be in the soil or out in the field. I fear the cold, but I am looking forward to new experiences and adapting to a new way of life, so that being there and seeing something new will take away the fear of not seeing my family," he added.
Youth empowerment
And for Warren Feurtado, an 18-year-old graduate of St Jago High, geology and exploration will be his area of concentration.
"The cold climate and trying to adapt to the new culture will be challenging, but I am trying to block that out and just focus on what I am going there to do," Feurtado, who represented his high school in chess and table tennis, remarked.
Kayon Wallace, senior information and public affairs officer at Windalco, explained that the inaugural scholarships were an expansion of the company's youth empowerment through education programme.
"We will be fully funding their boarding, their airfares, medical insurance, and they will be receiving a monthly stipend," Wallace explained to The Gleaner. "During the summer, they will be interning at a RUSAL facility in Russia. In addition to that, all the recipients will get their laptops. Parents who do not have computers will also receive computers and will have Internet access," Wallace added.
She also disclosed that the recipients are guaranteed jobs at Windalco for the first five years after completing their studies.