Three students cop $630,000 Gillian Whylie Scholarships

Coyotito Rose of St.Jago High School, Mckayla Walker of Wolmer’s Trust High School for Girls and Lorena Eschoe of Immaculate Conception High School were all awarded Gillian Whylie Scholarships to continue their education in Modern Languages. These young ladies met the criteria of being academically worthy students but face financial challenges in going forward with their studies. Coyotito received a scholarship valued at $150,000 to support her CAPE studies at St. Jago over the two-year period. The Linstead based student received eight distinctions in her recent CSEC examinations and will be focusing on French for her CAPE studies. Her father is a Security Guard and the only bread winner in the family. “This generous donation will enable me to continue my studies in Grade twelve at St. Jago High School without interruption, relieving my parents of the burden,” the dynamic young lady said.

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. It is in honour of Gillian Lewis Whylie, who was a graduate of St. Jago High School, Wolmer’s High School for Girls and CARIMAC at UWI. She was a linguist and at her passing five years ago, was the President of the Alliance Française de la Jamaïque, the French organization in Jamaica that promotes French language and culture.

Mckayla completed her CSEC examinations with four distinctions. The St. Andrew resident will pursue CAPE studies at Wolmer’s High School for Girls including Spanish with the financial support of $180,000 from the scholarship over the two-year CAPE programme. Though facing difficult domestic challenges, Mckayla has doubled down with purpose and is motivated and focused to achieve her best at the CAPE level. “I am a very hard-working and determined student who always searches for another way out of a situation.” Mckayla has lived those words and we do wish her well as she takes on the CAPE challenge.

Lorena has lived up to expectations. With the tragic death of her father four years ago, the financial burden was placed on her mother who became ill and faced even more financial challenges. Lorena worked even harder and obtained seven distinctions at CSEC and a distinction in Spanish at CAPE while at Immaculate. The Norbrook Heights, St. Andrew resident wishes to become a speech therapist and has firmly set her sights on achieving her goal. Receiving the scholarship valued at $300,000 will allow Lorena to keep focused on the work ahead as she enters the University of the West Indies.

This is the fifth year that the GWSF has awarded scholarships. Only time will tell but these three young Jamaicans are worth monitoring as they will certainly make a positive impact on Jamaica in later life. We wish them well as they set out to achieve their dreams.

NOTE:

For further information, please contact:

Paul Whylie
Executive Secretary – Gillian Whylie Scholarship Fund
24 Charlemont Avenue
Kingston 6
Tel. 876 864 2644
E-mail: gwfund@yahoo.com

Applications are out for the Gillian Whylie Scholarship

The call has gone out for applications from students wishing to receive a scholarship from the Gillian Whylie Scholarship Fund (GWSF). Now in its fourth year, the GWSF offers scholarships to CAPE (Grade 12 & 13) students from St. Jago High School and Wolmer’s High School for Girls, as well as an entry-level scholarship to the University of the West Indies (UWI). All High School students across Jamaica are eligible for the UWI scholarship.

All three institutions have the responsibility to message the availability of the scholarships to their CSEC final year students and all Secondary Schools across the island for the CAPE examined cohort heading to the UWI. If required, the schools will shortlist the candidates down to three students for each scholarship.

Interviews will be conducted by the Scholarship Selection Committee, and will include a short conversation in another Modern Language. This feature is in line with the legacy of Gillian Lewis Whylie, who was a student of Modern Languages. Only students doing at least one Modern Language at the relevant study level are eligible.

Scholarships will go to worthy candidates with a shown need for financial support. Both CSEC awardees will each receive Seventy Five Thousand Jamaican dollars (JM$75,000) annually over the two years of CAPE studies, with the UWI scholarship awardee receiving a summary amount of Two Hundred Thousand Dollars ($200,000).

The GWSF will continue to provide support to students of the three educational institutions attended by Gillian Lewis Whylie. We thank all those persons who gave valuable donations to the GWSF. Your support is critical for the work of the charity and we look forward to your continued, kind support. We invite friends and associates of Gillian to contribute to the GWSF.

For further information, please contact:

Paul Whylie
Executive Secretary – Gillian Whylie Scholarship Fund
24 Charlemont Avenue
Kingston 6
Tel. 876 864 2644
E-mail: gwfund@yahoo.com