3 get bursaries

BY PAUL A REID Observer writer

Thursday, December 22, 2011

MONTEGO BAY, St James - THREE first-form students at Montego Bay-based high schools were on Tuesday presented with bursaries from former Member of Parliament for West Central St James Clive Mullings, sponsor of the St James Netball Association's Under-12 competition, which was held earlier this year.

The three — Brittni-Ann Brown and Ruthel Rose who represented champions Corinaldi Avenue Primary and Shadeka Haye who played for Salters Hill Primary — received bursaries during a brief presentation ceremony held at the Montego Bay Boys Club.

This was the second year the bursaries were being handed out.

Last year, another Corinaldi Avenue student, Asha Kay Hall, was the sole recipient of a bursary.

The bursaries are awarded to players in the competition with the highest GSAT averages.

All three awardees this year expressed surprise and gratitude for their bursaries.

Twelve-year-old Haye, who is now attending Mount Alvernia High, said it meant a lot to her, as it proved she had learned the game after her initial confusion.

"When I started playing, it was pure confusion, but now I know what to do and that shows by this scholarship," she told Observer West.

Rose, who attends Montego Bay High School for Girls, was surprised when she heard she was an awardee.

"This means a lot, as I never saw myself getting an award like this," she said, adding that it was even more special as "I am getting it for educational purposes."

Brown -- who is also attending Montego Bay High for Girls and who plays several positions including goal defence, centre, wing defence and goal keeper — told Observer West that "sports means a lot to me and I hope to continue doing well".

Meanwhile, Egland Richards, president of the St James Netball Association, used the occasion to call for more bursaries and more sponsorships for the sport.

He expressed the hope that the number of bursaries would continue to increase.

Richards also said that the association is hoping that other sponsors would come on-board for the Under-15 competition, which he claimed, is without sponsors.

Mullings, who is the Jamaica Labour Party's candidate for West Central St James in the upcoming general election, argued that if the sports of netball and the nation in general are to benefit, then the younger players must be nurtured.

He described the Under-12 competition as the nursery for the game in St James, adding that "it must be encouraged if it is to continue to produce outstanding players and teams".