Pocket Rocket Foundation awards 11 new scholarships

KINGSTON:

Eleven students were awarded scholarships by Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce’s Pocket Rocket Foundation during an event which took place at the Negril Suite at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston on Tuesday, October 10.

The scholarships, which are in the sum of $100,000 each, in addition to gifts valued at approximately $80,000, were awarded as the Pocket Rocket Foundation celebrates its 10th anniversary this year.

The 2023 awardees are:

1. Tshani Armstrong - St Catherine High/Track & Field

2. Natrece East - Wolmer’s Trust High School For Girls/ Track & Field

3. Tyrone Lawson - Jamaica College/ Track & Field

4. Lysandra Taylor - Papine High School/Netball

5. Karissa Kelly - Wolmer’s Trust High School For Girls/Swimming

6. Nickayla Russell - Holmwood Technical/ Track & Field

7. Kenrick McFarlane - Excelsior High School/Cricket

8. Jahiem Jackson - Knox College/Volleyball

9. Joel Lamm - Wolmer’s Trust High School For Boys/Table Tennis, Chess

10. Jordayne Grant - Wolmer’s Trust High School For Girls/Field Hockey

11. Streme Cha - Campion College/Football

Fraser-Pryce, who handed over the scholarships to the recipients and addressed the event, said that she’s happy that the foundation is able to continue to fulfil its mandate to bring assistance to student athletes. The Pocket Rocket Foundation chairperson also thanked sponsors for their continued support.

“It’s more than just throwing money at a problem. It’s an investment. Our sponsors not only invest in us, but into the individual households of students throughout our communities. Together, we are changing lives,” Fraser-Pryce said.

The 11 recipients this year were carefully selected from a batch of 40 students from schools across the island. Students who show potential or those who are excelling in various sports disciplines, including track and field, netball, swimming, cricket, and volleyball, were awarded.

The scholarships cover tuition, books, uniforms, lunch, and travel expenses throughout their high-school studies. Sponsors including Grace Kennedy, Digicel, Nike and others have helped the foundation raise the scholarship amount year over year, to ensure the foundation can continue to support students and keep up with the cost of education over time.

In addition to the $100,000 academic scholarship, students also received:

1. $7,500 Nike book bag

2. Official Pocket Rocket Foundation notebooks and Promise Pin

3. $15,000 book voucher

4. $10,000 GK food basket

5. $25,000 Digicel tablet with $3,000 worth of credit

During this year’s event, representatives of the National Baking Company Foundation awarded the Pocket Rocket Foundation one million dollars.

Once a Pocket Rocket Scholar, students are guided along personalised journeys from champions to change-makers, with specialised programming focused on mental wellness, media training and etiquette, conflict resolution, volunteerism, and advocacy. Since its inception, a total of 73 students across 26 schools in more than 11 sports have received this prestigious scholarship.

With an educational background in childhood development, Fraser-Pryce, who was recently awarded one of Jamaica’s highest national honours, the Order of Jamaica, is on a mission to place positive impact among the upcoming generation at the forefront of her legacy.

“It all started with Jeanne Coke who poured into me with positive words of encouragement and assistance, but it doesn’t just end with me. There are so many other dreamers waiting to hit the main stage, and our Pocket Rocket Foundation is pleased to assist some of them to achieve their dreams and aspirations,” Fraser-Pryce said during her address at the ceremony.