The premier fundraising event of the David 'Wagga' Hunt Scholarship Foundation, (DWHF), The “Jamaica David 'Wagga' Hunt Annual Red Carpet Ball,” will be held virtually this year, on Sunday, January 31, 2021, at 7:00 PM and will be streamed live on YouTube.
The Red Carpet Ball joins a long list of events which have moved online due to the Covid-19 Pandemic. The event will be held under the Distinguished Patronages of the Jamaican Ambassador to the USA, Her Excellency, Audrey P. Marks, and Principals Messrs. Dave Myrie and Albert Corcho of Kingston College and Calabar High School, respectively.
The approximately two-hour-long program will feature the scholarship recipients of Calabar High School and Kingston College alumni and parents. The public will get the chance to learn more about the program through vignettes and carefully curated content which will showcase the institutions and the students under their charge.
The foundation will also honour two of Jamaica’s distinguished sons and exemplars of excellence Richard Pandohie, CEO of Seprod and a Calabar Old Boy and Rainford Wilks, Professor Emeritus, Caribbean Institute for Health and Research and a KC Old Boy.
DWHF awards scholarships to deserving young men of Kingston College and Calabar High School.
Since 2009, the scholarship initiative has funded students from grades eight through 13 covering tuition, books, lunch and other school-related expenses. To date, over 30 scholarships exceeding J$13 Million dollars have been awarded.
Recipients are selected from a shortlist of nominees and must display commendable academic performance and deportment; be involved in extracurricular activities, and are deemed in need of financial assistance.
This year has proven to be a challenging one for students against the backdrop of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Schools were forced to shift to online classes, which students are struggling with the new remote learning environment with many being without basic tools such as internet connectivity and devices needed to access lessons. These setbacks have caused increased stress and concerns for both parents and students, alike.
The foundation has stepped in to alleviate some of these issues. In addition to the JMD$2.1 million disbursed for the school year 2020/2021; each recipient was presented with a brand new laptop for a total value of JA$500,000.00.
JMD$2 million was disbursed to facilitate the schools’ technological upgrade of their equipment and framework with each school receiving $JMD$1 million.
“Presenting our scholarship recipients with laptops was a major goal for us during this pandemic and we are extremely happy to have done so,” said Christopher Hunt, chairman of the Foundation and younger brother to the late David Hunt. “We are also thrilled to have been able to include the schools in our allocation allowing them to create a more inclusive and advanced learning environment with much needed technological and infrastructural upgrades.”
Patrons will be entertained by some of Jamaica’s top reggae acts; Kabaka Pyramid, Fab 5 Band, Paul Blake and Pam Hall who have all donated their time to this worthy cause. Emcees for the evening are Leighton “Fyah” McKnight and Radio Broadcaster Dervan Malcolm.
Gracious support was provided by sponsors, VMBS, Proven Wealth, The Gibson-Mc-Cook Relays. Steuart Foundation and Penthouse Recording Studios. The show is being produced by Duane McDonald.
For more information or to make a donation, you may visit our website www.davidwaggahunt.org.
Dalilah Muhammad headlines additions to star-studded line up for Jamaica Athletics Invitational
The excitement is building for the upcoming Jamaica Athletics Invitational, set to take place on May 11 at the National Stadium in Kingston, as 2016 Olympic 400m hurdles champion Dalilah Muhammad joins the list of confirmed international stars for the event. Muhammad, a former world record holder and two-time world champion, brings her stellar track record to Kingston following her silver medal performance at the Tokyo Games.
Alongside Muhammad, a host of emerging Jamaican talents will also grace the track, including standout sprinters Alana Reid, Briana Williams, Bouwahjgie Nkrumie, and Sandrey Davison.
Reid has been training alongside World 100m champion Sha'Carri Richardson in Florida and will be looking to make an early statement on her form leading into the national championships in June.
Williams, under the mentorship of distinguished coach John Smith in California, is an Olympic sprint relay gold medalist and a two-time World Championship silver medallist who is eager for a return to form.
Nkrumie, who last year became the first Jamaican schoolboy to break the 10-second barrier, and Davison, both formidable sprinters in their own right, add depth to sprint line up with Davison currently holding the title of fastest Jamaican over 100m this year.
Marvin Anderson, Athletes' Liaison for the Jamaica Athletics Invitational, expressed his enthusiasm for the calibre of athletes set to compete. "We are pleased with the confirmed list to date and excited about the level of competition the athletes and fans should experience," he remarked.
Anticipation is high for a thrilling series of events both on the track and in the field.
Tickets for the May 11 event are already available online, with ticket locations opening on May 4. Grandstand tickets are priced at $3,000, while bleacher seating is free of charge. The meet is scheduled to run from 7:00 pm to 9:30 pm, followed by an after-party to celebrate an evening of world-class athletics.
The Jamaica Athletics Invitational promises to deliver top-notch competition and showcase the immense talent within the track and field community. With international stars like Dalilah Muhammad and rising Jamaican sensations like Alana Reid and Briana Williams, fans can expect an unforgettable evening of athletic prowess at the National Stadium in Kingston.
Jamaica’s girls dominate field events on opening day at Penn Relays: Bahamas thrower wins javelin event
Caribbean athletes showcased their prowess in the field on the opening day of the 128th edition of the Penn Relays at Franklin Field in Philadelphia on Thursday. Chief among them were the Jamaicans who enjoyed podium places in the high jump and triple jump events with the Bahamas taking gold in the javelin.
Shaniqua Williams and Danielle Noble, both of Wolmer’s Girls, secured a 1-2 finish in the keenly contested high school girls high jump. Williams’ winning mark of 1.73m was also cleared by Noble and Alysa Carrigan.
However, she won on the basis of a cleaner record during the rounds.
Williams said it was cold and her muscles were lazy but she knew what she had to do to win.
“Despite that I came out here and did what I had to do which was focus on my technique,” she said. “The weather was very cold and I am not used to this kind of weather so I had to take a long time to warm up.”
The Jamaicans were not alone in their dominance as Taysha Stubbs who attends Queens College in the Bahamas showcased her incredible skill and strength in winning the high school girls javelin with an outstanding throw of 47.17m.
Stubbs was several metres better than her main rivals in Sophia Scott of Omaha Burke, who took second place with a throw of 44.79m. In a close third place was Eliana Schneider who produced a best mark of 44.78m.
Jamaicans Marla-Kay Lampart and Kimeka Smith were second and third, respectively in the high school girls shot put that was won by Jessica Oji of Livingston with an impressive throw of 14.01m.
Lampart of Claredon College threw 13.64m for second place while Smith mustered a throw of 13.46m for third place.
Jamaica’s girls won the top four places in the high school girls triple jump competition.
Jade-Ann Dawkins of St Jago finished atop the podium with a distance of 13.01m. Jadea Robinson of Immaculate Conception was in second position with her jump of 12.70m just ahead of Celine Riddle of Holmwood Technical (12.69m).
Richelle Stanley of St Elizabeth Technical (12.55m) was fourth.
Nahjahda Seymoure of Excelsior High threw an impressive 48.08m to finish in second position in the high school girls discus competition that was won by Layla Giordano of NV Old Tappan who hurled the implement out to a winning mark of 51.17m.
Able Mills of St Catherine High threw 48.01m for third place.
Mills’ teammate Rohanna Sudlow jumped 5.83m to finish in third place in the high school girls long jump.
Jaydon Hibbert excited to make his professional debut at USATF Bermuda Grand Prix on Sunday
Jamaica's rising triple jump sensation Jaydon Hibbert is set for his professional debut at the USATF Bermuda Grand Prix this Sunday.
From holding both the indoor and outdoor NCAA records to becoming the first Jamaican and the youngest athlete to win the coveted Bowerman Award, Hibbert's journey has been an exciting display of exceptional talent in the jumps. He eagerly awaits the Bermuda Grand Prix this Sunday,
"Finally, I'll be opening my season. I'm grateful and happy that I am ready to compete and I'm excited to see where I am in my preparations. I've never visited Bermuda before, but I expect it to be fun. I've heard it's an electrifying stadium, which jumpers need, so I look forward to the crowd support," he exclaimed.
The 19-year-old won the gold medal at the 2022 World U20 championships and is the holder of the U20 indoor and outdoor triple jump world records at 17.54m and 17.87m, respectively. He went undefeated during his freshman year at the University of Arkansas in 2023 before transitioning to the professional ranks in January.
"Since I started doing the sport, I've been looking forward to competing professionally. I can't wait to get out there and make my coach and family proud. I'm praying for a great season!" he exclaimed hardly able to contain his excitement.
The Bermuda Grand Prix, also known as the "Prelude to Paris", will start at 3 pm Jamaica time at the Flora Duffy Stadium. Action is live on Peacock via NBC Sports.
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