CARP representative Mr. Gary N. Thomas presented the award to Ms. Williams at the St. Pauls Primary School Annual Graduation and Award Ceremony on Monday 11th July, 2011 at the St. Pauls Anglican Church.
Thomas said, “I was very pleased to present this scholarship to such an impressionable young person. We at CARP wish her much success in all of her endeavours, and we hope that she would become a part of the Midwestern State University and Caribbean Student Organization family one day.”
“The aim of the CARP Scholarship is to assist needy students in the islands of Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St. Lucia, St. Kitts and Nevis and St. Vincent and the grenadines” added CARP representative.
In each country CARP honours eligible students. The scholarship is for the sole purpose of purchasing school materials and is in the amount of EC$534.00.
The awardees of this scholarship are based on their financial status and academic performance; they are handpicked by the Principal of any school in the federation and are discussed about with the teaching staff.
Schools such as the Dean Glasford Primary School, Bronte Welsh Primary School, Tyrell Williams Primary School, Beach Allen Primary School, Dr William Connor Primary School, Tucker Clarke Primary School and Dieppe Bay Primary School, have been past recipients of the CARP scholarship since 2004.
CARP representative for St. Kitts and Nevis Ms. Mutryce A. Williams, while talking about the origins and history of the Caribbean Students Organization, she added that in the spring of 1993 the Caribbean Recruitment Program was officially launched by Dr. Randy Glean. Four students were recruited in Grenada, then visits went on to Antigua, Dominica, Grenada and St. Vincent in the summer of 1993, eight students join in the fall of 1993 and six more in the spring of 1994.
Those 18 students formed the Caribbean Students Organisation in January 1994. The intention of this group was that the existing students have the opportunity to pay in state tuition as long as they performed at a set academic level. They were able to accomplish this because of the absence of competition and help with tuition fees. They decided to provide simple support to oncoming students.
A merger with different establishments, governments as well as secure funding is why the program is in existence up to this day. Almost 250 Caribbean students are enrolled in this program and 1000 students have been recruited in January 2009.
Caribbean students after 15 years of maturity graduate 95% rate on time, with 60% and more achieving honours and up to 70% going on to earn advance degrees. Williams said, “The region owes a huge debt of gratitude to Dr. Randy Glean, who officially launched the Caribbean Recruitment program in the spring of 1993. It is because of his continued vision and arduous work that many of us were afforded the opportunities and successes that we have had, and continue to have today. “
“Our coming together and providing scholarships that would assist in alleviating the cost of education for children across the region is our way of showing Dr. Glean that we have learnt from his example of selflessness and giving,” said Williams