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Sir Royston offers words of wisdom to scholarship awardees
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- Parent Category: Sept 2011
- Category: Week ending Sept 03rd, 2011
- Published on Friday, 02 September 2011 00:26
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One of Grenada’s top hoteliers, Sir Royston Hopkin has encouraged a group of students to take their education seriously. Sir Royston who is the Chairman and Managing Director of the world renown Spice Island Beach Resort in the south of the island said these students now have an opportunity to attend a secondary school. His comments came during the presentation ceremony for awardees of the Sir Royston Hopkin Scholarship Fund which is now in its 20th year. That scholarship would assist children right through their tertiary education.
Sir Royston said the way in which the awardees mold themselves at this point in their life would determine what their end result would be on completion of their education. “This is your last chance to mold yourself and even those ahead of you who are recipients last year and year before to mold yourself because this six, seven years would be the most important years of your life. It would determine how you mold your character, how you discipline yourself, and how you handle your own self,” he said.
The hotelier stressed that he does not just want to provide a scholarship but an opportunity. He said the objective behind the scholarship is to provide the five most needy students from Blessed Sacrament School in Grand Anse, St. George’s an opportunity to gain a secondary education.
“My scholarship is not designed for people who can afford to send their children to school. My scholarship is designed exclusively for parents who are not in a position to afford this very golden way forward which is an opportunity for a rounded secondary education, I will continue my scholarship programme in that mould for the most needy,” he said.
Sir Royston pledged his commitment to continue working with the Blessed Sacrament School which, this year, obtained the 44th position in the person of scholarship awardee Latoya John from among the first 50 children who were successful at the common entrance exams. The school’s pass rate this year was increased from 63 percent to 90 percent.
The tourism giant believes the only way someone can take his rightful place in society is to have a sound education. “I feel very enriched that I contributed something to the development of individuals, young men and women, and also very proud to see them taking their rightful place in society,” he said.
Prior to 2008, the resort provided school books to the students, and after the Government of Prime Minister Tillman Thomas introduced the free school books programme, the resort complimented this initiative by providing a credit voucher system that now affords students the opportunity to purchase the other supporting items that are required for school.
Sir Royston said he could have taken a radical approach to end the scholarship programme, but he has decided to make available to them a voucher to match the value of the books that he was providing so that they can get other things that are needed for school.
“I am happy to continue the scholarship. It’s still the same scholarship, but it provides you with a greater opportunity,” he stated. This year seven children, five of which are from the Blessed Sacrament School, and two from members of staff of the resort, have been added to the progrmme, Co-ordinator of the scholarship programme, Hermian Griffith who addressed the function gave an overview of the entire fund.
Griffith said having seen the need for greater access for secondary school education, the Sir Royston Scholarship Fund was created in 1992 in an effort to ensure that needy students from the Blessed Sacrament School would have an easier entry into the secondary school system. According to her, since its inception, five children from the school benefit each year. Today over 117 students have benefited from the scholarship fund.
In 2004 the scholarship fund was extended to children of employees of the resort, and so far over 16 children of Sir Royston’s employees are benefiting. The Co-ordinator said they have experienced “some excellent performances” from some of the students on the programme. “To date our records show that at least 35 students have graduated from the TAMCC (T. A. Marryshow Community College), four are currently enrolled, and five are in the process of applying for entry this year,” she said.
The progress of the students is constantly monitored by the resort at the end of each term. A 2006 awardee, Maxine Roache who attended the Anglican High School passed the 11 subjects she wrote this year, and will be enrolled at TAMCC to pursue a degree in natural sciences with the hope of becoming a doctor.
For her success, Roache has been offered a three-night stay with her parents at the Five Star/AAA Four Diamond Resort. Although some of the awardees who have completed their education are employed in various fields, Griffith said the resort aims to have the beneficiaries integrated into the hospitality industry, or make them more aware of the numerous career possibilities that exist in the tourism industry.
Already one of the beneficiaries, Sheena Benjamin is currently employed at the resort as a cashier/hostess in the food and beverage department, while Alex Hazard who did his internship at the resort will find employment there. Tourism Minister Peter David who was present at the awards ceremony commended the efforts of Sir Royston in providing assistance to young students.
David implored the recipients of the scholarship to cherish what is being provided to them through the scholarship fund and to try and do their best at school. “You the recipients must work diligently for that same excellence that this resort is so renowned for, recognizing that you are a special group chosen from among many who need this opportunity,” he said.
The Tourism Minister urged the scholarship awardees to keep their eyes on the possibilities of being able obtain a government scholarship on completion of their formal years of education. Earlier this month a batch of students received scholarships to pursue university education at a number of countries from around the world.
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