The 2019 Digicel scholarship programme is a milestone edition for nine students, their parents and the telecommunications provider. Four years ago, instead of sticking to the previous method of filtering a new set of students annually, the company decided to commit to the education of twenty-two students for five academic years. This year Digicel celebrated with the remaining nine students that maintained their end of the contract as they prepare to enter the final year of this commitment—fifth form and CXC year.
“We walked this journey five years with you and I am so happy that you have made it,” Digicel St Lucia CEO, Siobhan James-Alexander remarked. “It is unfortunate that we don’t have the full twenty-two that we started with, but part of that support and commitment was that we asked one thing of the students—it was grades. And it was important for us to do that because there is reward for good work.”
The scholarship contract demanded that students maintained an overall average of at least 65% in each school term for the $1,000 grant to be renewed the next year. However, marketing executive Jamisha Wright informed that this year, students who did not hit the 65% mark were still rewarded with a percentage of the grant once their average did not fall below 50%.
In her address at the scholarship ceremony, James-Alexander continued: “You’re at that juncture, that crossroad: ‘What am I going to do with my life? What’s next?’ Let’s make sure we’re crossing that CXC mark with good grades for your parents and for yourselves. Let’s beat it, and let’s then determine what’s next. The only thing that somebody cannot take away from you is education.”
She further encouraged students to find a balance for this remarkable yet stressful period in their lives by continuing to engage in extra-curricular activities: “That’s part of your development. It’s not all about academics. This year, put in a little more.” Digicel also welcomed three newcomers to the staff complement of the scholarship programme. Addressing them, James-Alexander said: “You’ve crossed that big mountain that you call Common Entrance. Welcome to the next part of your journey. It’s not the end, it’s the beginning. Honour what you’ve just done. The fact that you’re here with us today means you’ve accomplished something.”
Finally James-Alexander said the scholarship programme is one of the ways by which Digicel thanks customers: “You supported us. We’re sixteen years here, almost seventeen, and it’s only because you’ve supported us. And how do we give back? We have to give back in kind and that sort of support.”
Coletta McDonald, head of Digicel St Lucia’s customer care operations, felt like “a proud parent”. She has spearheaded the process and monitored the students’ progress over the past four years. She invited Chantee Frederick, Dannia Joseph, Darlan Simeon, Diane Thomas, Diego Largon, Gabrielle McGowan, Lu Ann Prosepere, Termika Alcindor and Valine Louis to collect their scholarships for the last time. Children of the staff who earned scholarships are Shaz Nathan Lucien, Vivianne Calderon and Zaedyan Laurencin.
