Seven student-athletes from six high schools across the island of Jamaica received scholarships valued at J$190,000, a significant increase from previous years, from the Pocket Rocket Foundation on Thursday.

This was the ninth cohort to be awarded scholarships since the foundation began offering bursaries in 2013.

At the ceremony held at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in Kingston, Fraser-Pryce, who on Monday was conferred with the Order of Jamaica for her sustained excellence in the sport of track and field presented Ranicka Bryan, a netball player who attends the Convent of Mercy, Athilia Pryce, a track and field athlete who attends Clarendon College and Zavier Brown, a track and field athlete from York Castle High scholarships that will run throughout the remainder of their high school careers once they continue to attend school, maintain good grades and participate in sports.

Football player Kymani Francis, a student of Alphanso Davis High, Kaysian Sewell of Wolmer’s Girls, Cael Samuels, a footballer player of Wolmer’s Boys and Euvia Bennett, a track and field athlete of St Elizabeth Technical High School, were also among the recipients.

With the help of sponsors, the foundation was able to raise the student scholarship grant from J$50,000 to J$1000,000 per student.

Also, as part of what is the most valuable scholarship ever offered by the Pocket Rocket Foundation, each student-athlete received a Digicel Tablet valued at J$25,000 and J$2000 credit, a J$10,000 GraceKennedy food basket, a J$15,000 book voucher, a J$15,000 Nike gift card, J$7500 Nike book bag as well as a J$10,000 HiLo supermarket voucher.

The seven students who were selected from 72 applicants were encouraged by the five-time 100m world champion to try their best in pursuit of their respective goals.

“Giving you this start is basically telling you that you too can see beyond where you are right now and have a bright future and we believe that with the support of our sponsors, board of directors, the parents, the coaches, the school, we are able to give you access because access equals opportunity,” she said.

“And I want to make sure we are there for you, not just monetarily but holistically, to make sure we provide for you an environment that helps you to thrive.

“I hope that you continue to excel in the classroom. I am not asking you to be perfect but I am asking you to try and to do your best.”

She also implored the parents of the scholarship recipients to do their best to support them along the way.

“It is also important that you go along the journey with them to provide support and make sure you are encouraging them to continue because it can get difficult, it can get stressful at times but if they know that you are there to help and sustain them and cheer them on, it makes a difference,” she said.

“And I am always cheering on the sidelines for you.”

 

 

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