OVER 1,900 students applied for NCB Foundation scholarships this year – a 150 per cent increase over last year. Four hundred of these applicants will receive scholarships valued over $18 million in total to pursue tertiary studies islandwide. The Foundation expanded its scholarship programme in 2007 in order to reach a wider cross section of students aiming for their first degree.

A unique component of the NCBF programme is that scholarship recipients must volunteer time to charitable work. Also, some recipients have the opportunity to do summer internships at NCB. This summer internship programme compliments the NCB Group summer employment programme, which also continues this year.

Rickert Allen, senior general manager, group human resources attributes the success of the bank’s summer employment programme, in part, to a void they have identified. “As a result of the prevailing need for mentorship and skill development and the ’employer of choice’ status that NCB enjoys, the programme continues to be immensely successful,” he said.

When asked why NCB incorporates the summer internship as part of its scholarship programme, Sheree Martin, CEO, NCB Foundation, said NCB will continue to give priority to the development of the nation’s youth.

“Our scholarship programme gives them much-needed exposure to prepare for the world of work,” she said.