BLUE Cross of Jamaica on Wednesday awarded scholarships to 19 students who will be entering high school next month.

The scholarships, each valued at $12,000 annually for five years, were presented by the health insurance company at an awards ceremony held at the Caenwood Educational Centre in Kingston. The scholarships, said Blue Cross, will enable the students to complete courses leading to the CXC or GCE examinations.

Initiated in 1994, the programme has two components – students selected from the company’s subscriber group, civil servants, police officers, teachers and persons working in the commercial sectors and children of Blue Cross employees who have been successful in the GSAT examinations.

Selections are made in conjunction with the Ministry of Education, from among those students placed in traditional high schools.

From the subscriber group, the children awarded were:

. Miguel Allen, Ardenne High;

. Raquel Barrett, St Jago High;

. Shaneeli Gibson, Montego Bay High;

. Francine Derby, Campion College;

. Darren Jack, St Jago High;

. Antoinette Henry, Montego Bay High;

. Gavin Fletcher, Cornwall College;

. Craig Scott, Ardenne High;

. Carolyn Whittingham, Immaculate High;

. Kimberly Moore, Immaculate High;

. Damion Prendergast, Munro College; and

. Brandon Spencer, Campion College.

The children of employees who have been awarded scholarships were:

. Kadia Brown, Priory High;

. Vanessa Logan, Immaculate High;

. Andre Dunkley, Norman Manley High;

. Shanelle Richard, St Andrew High;

. Kavaughan Barton, Kingston College;

. Oneil Douglas, Calabar High; and

. Kaydeane Walker, St Hugh’s High.