Agricultural school alumni propose annual scholarship
Published:Monday | June 7, 2010 | 12:00 AM
Noel Thompson, Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
A group of past students of the Jamaica School of Agriculture residing in the United States are proposing to establish an annual scholarship for Jamaicans who wish to undertake studies in the field of agriculture.
Wendell Codner, president of the Ole Farmers Association of North America (OFANA), said the scholarship will become effective for the 2010-11 academic year and will be open to members of allied Ole Farmers Associations, residing locally or overseas.
Codner was addressing a recent church service at the Mount Ward Methodist Church in Ramble, Hanover, in observation of the Centenary Celebration of the Jamaica School of Agriculture, the College of Agriculture and the College of Agriculture, Science and Education.
The celebrations saw several past students, from Jamaica and abroad, in attendance who pledged their support for the programme.
"We are trying to create a more permanent footprint, and establishing the OFANA scholarship is one way of achieving this goal. The idea is to use our collective strength and wisdom to give back to the society," he said.
Scholarship specifics
Codner said the specifics of the scholarship are to be decided at OFANA's next executive meeting to be held in the US in the coming weeks, adding that the scholarship could be given to more than one recipient depending on how things are structured.
OFANA's treasurer, Leighton Salmon, said funding would be realised through paid-up dues and fund-raising activities. He said he was hoping that greater financial support would be realised through the pending formation of allied associations in Maryland and Virginia.
"The scholarship is not to finance full tuition fees, but to provide some type of assistance during their studies. But the amount disbursed to each person would be determined depending on the number of recipients at any one time," Salmon stated.
Meanwhile, president of the Jamaica Agricultural Society, Glendon Harris, has welcomed OFANA's move, stating that past students of agricultural institutions need to assist in motivating young persons in considering a profession in the field.
"We have experienced it and so we know the benefits that can be derived. It is the widest vocational area one can venture into. If we don't encourage young people to venture into the sector, it will die," Harris said.
The Ole Farmers Association of North America was formed three years ago, primarily as a way for old students to relive their experiences as well as give back to their community.