Negril, Westmoreland – Twenty-two students from rural Jamaica will this year benefit from the Sandals Community Scholarship Fund, with awards totalling $700,000 to help cover their expenses for the upcoming school year.

The scholarship award, now in year 10, has assisted 114 students to date, to the tune of $5 million.

General manager of Sandals Negril and first vice-president of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA), Wayne Cummings, on Wednesday challenged the first batch of recipients to excel in school and to consider professions in the tourism industry as viable career options.

“It is some of you here today who will be the replacements for positions we now hold here,” he told the nine scholarship winners, who were presented with their cheques at a luncheon at the hotel.

Cummings also encouraged the group to look beyond the hotel manager position, as there were many other lucrative professions within the industry. They include, he said, engineering, food and beverage management and public relations.

Wednesday’s group of awardees, meanwhile, included:

. the top-performing girl, Chevelle Blackburn, of Black River High School; and

. special awardee Amoya Roxborough, who is a sixth form student at the Mannings High School.

Roxborough, who will enter upper sixth form in September, thanked the management team for affording her and the other students the opportunity to pursue academic excellence in the face of challenging financial circumstances.

“Thank you for the hopes, dreams and aspirations I have received through this opportunity,” said the aspiring chemical engineer.

Roxborough and Lamoy Gordon, of Rusea’s High School, also had the distinction of being the children of Sandals employees.

Five hotels in the Sandals chain: Sandals Whitehouse, Sandals Negril, Beaches Negril, Beaches Sandy Bay, and Negril Gardens were represented on Wednesday. With the exception of Negril Gardens, all the represented properties have sponsored at least one school in their respective communities. Each property, with the exception of Negril Gardens, awarded two students. Negril Gardens offered one scholarship.

Scholarships are available to each child throughout high school. They are, however, required to maintain a B-plus average, be involved in extracurricular activities and exhibit good behaviour.

wrightk@jamaicaobserver.com