For Ann-Marie Black, a self-employed mother from rural Jamaica, raising three sprint hurdlers has been a challenging but rewarding journey. On Wednesday, that journey reached a significant milestone as her youngest daughter, Yukika Harris, was awarded a scholarship by the Pocket Rocket Foundation, led by track icon Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce. The awards, presented at the AC Marriott Hotel in Kingston, saw 20 student-athletes, including Yukika, receive scholarships, the largest number ever awarded in the foundation's 11-year history.

Black, whose elder daughters, Habiba and Winsome Harris, also Pocket Rocket Scholarship recipients, was elated. For her, the scholarship means more than just financial relief. "Being a single mom, it has helped me a lot. Knowing that they are on the scholarship, I don’t have to stress much about their school fees and stuff, so I am very, very appreciative of these scholarships," she said.

Reflecting on where her daughters’ athletic talents come from, Black proudly shared her own history of sprinting at the Springfield All-Age and Lewisville Vocational schools. "I used to run the 100m and the 200m," she revealed. Today, the legacy continues not only through her daughters but also her grandson, Martino Baker, who dreams of becoming the next Usain Bolt while running for Glen Stewart Primary School.

Yukika, a rising star at St. Elizabeth Technical High School, is determined to outshine her sisters on the track. Black recalled a moment that encapsulated her daughter’s fighting spirit. "I

remember once I said to her; I call her Mary, I said, ‘Mary, you’re tiny,’ and she replied, ‘Mommy, is Shelly-Ann Fraser big?’” Shelly-Ann, Black said, was "elated" to know that her foundation's impact was deeply appreciated by families like theirs.

Three of Black's daughters have been scholarship beneficiaries

Another proud family present at the ceremony was that of Akira Graham, a student-athlete from St. Andrew High School for Girls. Like Yukika, Akira was among the 20 students to receive a scholarship, an achievement she worked hard for. "It means that you are attentive in your work and your athletics, and this scholarship to me has just proven that once you put in the work for both parts of the journey, you can get something out of it. I think I make my parents very proud," she said with a smile.

Her parents, Stanley and Iveta Graham, couldn’t agree more. "It’s a big help; we are so proud of her," said Iveta. "She started this journey with athletics during Covid just because she wanted to get out of the house, and it was a real push for her to stay. It just shows that with determination and support, your child can do great things."

Iveta believes the scholarship is not only a recognition of her daughter’s hard work but also a crucial financial lifeline, especially as she prepares for her CXC exams. "It’s something that I would like all parents to realize, which is that their child is great, and you just need to encourage the greatness," she said. "For us, this is going to be a great help because this is her CXC year, and school is expensive."

This year’s recipients, selected from a record-breaking 162 applicants, included an outstanding group of student-athletes excelling both academically and athletically with 80 per cent of the applicant exceeding the qualifying criteria. Alas, only 20 could be selected, among them was Danielle Noble from Wolmer’s Trust High School for Girls, who expressed gratitude for the opportunity to balance her education and athletics with less financial strain. Matthew Lambert of Knox College and Mattheau Thaxter of Wolmer’s Boys also earned scholarships for their dedication to both schoolwork and sport, along with Iorek Evans from Belair High School and Ajani Murphy of Guy’s Hill High School.

Michael Edwards from Jamaica College, Keelan Smith of Holy Childhood, and Keeshawn Yorke from York Castle High School, each of whom have shown remarkable talent, were also among those recognized. Shameika Dennis of St. Elizabeth Technical High School shared the honour with Yukika, as did Tirunesh Johnson of St. Mary High School and Nicholie Barclay of St. Jago High School, all of whom have consistently demonstrated excellence in both their studies and sporting endeavors.

Ruth Lewis of Belair High School, Abigail Lemard from Wolmer’s Girls, and Nevaeh Dawkins of Campion College were among the girls rewarded for their hard work, while Rickardo Mundle from Wolmer’s Boys, Ithran Softley from Papine High School, Shwayne McDermot of Knox College, and Imani Wint from Wolmer’s Girls rounded out the group of deserving recipients.

Yukika Harris receiving a gift bag courtesy of Nike from icon Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and a basket of goodies from Carlene Holness Promotions and Events Supervisor at GraceKennedy during the awards ceremony on Wednesday.

The scholarships, now in their 11th year, have grown significantly, with the Pocket Rocket Foundation having awarded 93 scholarships to date. For many of these young athletes, the scholarships are not just financial support but a validation of their hard work, discipline, and talent.

For Ann-Marie Black and the Graham family, the scholarships signify more than just a helping hand—they are a testament to the power of sport to uplift families and communities. "Sports takes us out of poverty as far as I am concerned because if you see the kids have the ability to do it, you let them do it," said Black, expressing gratitude for the opportunities her children have been given.

As Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce’s Pocket Rocket Foundation continues to grow, so too does its impact on the lives of young Jamaicans, inspiring them to reach for greatness in all aspects of their lives.