Francis, Crooks and Patterson cop first Gillian Whylie Scholarships

Profile of Jenoia Francis (Left)

Profile of Brandon Crooks (Right)

Profile of Damario Patterson

Both are equally worthy. This is the view of the Selection Committee on Jenoia Francis and Brandon Crooks who jointly were awarded the first Gillian Whylie Scholarship for study at the University of the West Indies in Modern Languages.

A resident of Mason River District in Clarendon, Francis comes from a humble background, her father being a farmer and her mother a housewife. A graduate of Westwood High School, Francis struggled to make the transition from the quiet country school to the hustle and bustle of university life. “It was very stressful living on campus. I found it difficult to study and as a result, my grades suffered”, the young lady reflected.

On the other hand, Crooks appears to have settled well. The student has averaged a GPA of 3.5 and has immersed himself in university life. “I love performing and speaking other languages is such a buzz”, remarked the confident Crooks. A native of Albion Estates in St. Thomas, Crooks plans to complete his degree and start a career in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, expanding the linkages between French-speaking countries in the region and Jamaica. Both will receive $200,000 to support their studies for the current academic year.

The Gillian Whylie Scholarship Fund (GWSF) is a registered and certified charity organization with an objective to promote the education and vocational training of Jamaican students with special emphasis on students pursuing studies in modern languages or related disciplines.

The Fund has also provided a scholarship worth $200,000 to Damario Patterson to undertake CAPE studies at St. Jago High School. He obtained eleven distinctions at the recent CSEC examinations. “I start my day at three in the morning. It is not easy but I study best when I am fresh, the youngster said boldly.”

The GWSF was created to honour the legacy of caring, thoughtfulness and support for others displayed by Gillian Whylie during her life. A graduate of St. Jago High School, Wolmer’s High School for Girls and CARIMAC at UWI, Gillian was a linguist and at her passing a year ago, was the President of the Alliance Française de la Jamaïque, the French organization in Jamaica that promotes French language and culture.

Only time will tell but Jenoia Francis, Brandon Crooks and Damario Patterson have all started on the right path toward achieving their dreams. We wish them well.