Scholarship Program

St. Catherine High School Alumni Association Northeast, Inc., Scholarship Program

From the many applications we receive each year, one deserving student receives a monetary gift that Is geared toward his or her Higher Education goals. We encourage all students in the upcoming graduating call to apply for the scholarship. In addition to receiving the award, the students Bio and Essay will be displayed on the website for an entire year or until another deserving student comes along.

Applications can be submitted via the automated process on the website or by downloading the required forms and mailing them in. Students are encouraged to use the website submission process whenever possible.

Current Recipient

Ricardo Henry

Shaneka McCalla

OCT

19 Sat

SCHS NE

Annual Banquet

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Orane

Wint

They say the journey of a thousand miles begin with just one step. My name is Orane Wint, the inaugural awardee of the North East Association Alumni Chapter of St. Catherine High scholarship. It was in Grade 12 that I was introduced to Mr. Kenneth Cyrus through Mrs. Gayle. At the time I was facing severe financial difficulties as I was living with my mother who wasn’t working but had the task of sending three kids to school every day. Despite that I still toiled on to make my mother and myself proud. Mrs. Gayle been cognizant of the fact sought help from the chapter through Mr. Cyrus and he obliged. Mr. Cyrus quickly sprang into action by making sure that I had what I needed to continue my education, he continually reassured me that he would do his best to help me.

The benevolence of the association, Mr. Cyrus and Mrs. Gayle continued into my upper sixth form years. When it was time for us students to send out applications to universities I was hesitant due to my financial limitations. Once again Mr. Cyrus on the behalf of the association offered help. I was informed that I would be the first student to benefit from a tertiary scholarship that the association had set up. So onward I went taking my first step in making my lifelong dream a reality. I started the University of the West Indies at Mona to pursue a Bachelor’s Degree in Management Studies (Accounting). As the days went by I struggled along to attend classes as I found it very hard to find bus fare and also to afford the books that the lectures were using. This is when Mr. Paul Brown Past President of the Jamaica chapter, stepped in to give me a helping hand. He ensured that I could come to school and he also helped me to make use of some of the aid facilities that the university had in place.

Now that I am finishing up my studies, I can say that my dream has come through. It wasn’t an easy journey but God sent a shining light at the end of my dark tunnel. Therefore I’m more than great full for all the help that I have gotten from the association over the years. It was like you have adopted me and taken me as your own to ensure that I got all that I could get out of life. Most of all I want to thank Mr. Cyrus who is always there to remind me that he made a promise and he intends to keep it. Even when difficult times set in and I felt like giving up along the way. He would reassure me to take things one step at a time. To Mrs. Gayle, she never left me at all, even when I left St. Catherine High she would still call me to find out if I am ok and if all everything is alright. Mrs. Gayle is more than a virtuous woman and a mother to me. My gratitude also goes to Mr. Brown for ensuring that while I am on campus I am well alright.

Ramone

Pennington

“Prayer and Work Conquer All” is more than just a school motto. To many of our students facing challenges, this is a lifeline, a promise that success is possible despite their current circumstances. One such student is Ramone Pennington, this year’s recipient of the Trailblazer Scholarship. The Trailblazer Scholarship administered by the STCHS Alumni Association N.E. Inc. is made possible by the generous donation of a STCHS Alum, Dr. Cherise Francis-Sterling. This scholarship is awarded to students who have displayed exceptional resilience in education, who are leaders and go-getters determined to succeed despite the odds they face.

Ramone Pennington, a resident of what he describes as the “beautifully blissful” community of Point Hill is no stranger to financial challenges. He depends on his mother and older brother to finance his education but they often have no money and struggle to make ends meet. Ramone has had to forgo purchasing basic educational tools such as textbooks and would have to laboriously copy assignments from his classmates’ text books. Unlike most students who have an aversion to tests, Ramone actually welcomed them because it meant that he would not have to spend time writing out notes from a borrowed textbook that day.

Yet, despite the many challenges he faces, Ramone manages to succeed. In 2008, Ramone sat the GSAT exam and passed with the highest average in his school for that year allowing him to attend his first choice high school, St. Catherine High School (STCHS). His first year at STCHS, Ramone achieved the second highest average in the grade and for the next three consecutive years, he placed first in the overall grade. He has represented STCHS in the national Schools’ Challenge Quiz competition for three consecutive school years (2011/2012 -2013/2014) and contributed to his team reaching the quarter finals in the 2013/2014 school year. Ramone graduated from grade 11 as valedictorian of the class of 2013 and also received the coordinator’s Award. He attained 8 subjects in the CSEC exam, including 6 grade ones and 2 grade twos. He is currently in the upper 6^th form of STCHS and has obtained passes in CAPE in Chemistry, Biology, Communications Studies and Physics.

Ramone is a leader and pace setter on and off campus. At school he served over the years as form captain (grades 7 and 11), student council representative (grades 9 and 10), debating society P.R.O., science club member and president of the Peer Educators Society. In addition, Ramone is an active member of his church, serving as youth leader, deacon and personal ministries assistant. Despite his many activities, Ramone still finds time to enjoy reading, playing video games and socializing.

Ramone aspires to be a pediatrician, motivated by the sudden unexplained death of a childhood friend and the desire to help advance the health and wellbeing of society’s most vulnerable children. Ramone is never satisfied with his performance, always thinking that he can do better. He continues to persevere through the challenges he faces. He is determined to pursue his career goals. In Ramone’s own words “Even though I have not the slightest idea as to where the first cent of my tuition for university next year is coming from, I am courageously convinced that God is in control. My faith in God has been my anchor. I know that whatever I desire to do, He will see me through once I stay true to Him, living by the motto ‘Prayer and Work Conquer All’ I am sure that I will be successful as I strive to be a servant of mankind.”

We Congratulate Ramone on his award of the STCHS Alumni Association, N.E. Trailblazer scholarship and we wish him success as he embarks on the next phase of his education.

St. Catherine High School Alumni Association Northeast, Inc., Scholarship Program