FOUR Jamaicans will pursue postgraduate studies in the United Kingdom this academic year, having been awarded Chevening scholarships.

The recipients — attorney Mark Reynolds; supervising producer at Television Jamaica Allia McDonald; attorney Duwayne Lawrence; and senior forensic officer with the government Anika Brown-Lowe — were feted last Wednesday at the British High Commission office off Trafalgar Road in Kingston.

During a chat with Career & Education at the reception, all four scholars expressed elation at having been selected from a pool of 80 applicants for the scholarship programme, which has been running in Jamaican for 29 years.

“It’s a great opportunity. Not only did I get a full scholarship, but it comes with housing, it [also] comes with a little sustenance. It’s a great opportunity; it’s an opportunity of a lifetime,” said McDonald.

She will attend Westminster University where she will do a masters in media management.

“At some point, I want to move into media management and this masters degree will provide me with the requisite skills and knowledge I need to take the next step in my career path,” added McDonald, who also produces the popular comedy show Ity & Fancy Cat Show.

Brown-Lowe, a graduate of the University of the West Indies with a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry, was equally enthused at the opportunity the scholarship presents.

“I’m happy. This is an experience that I’ve always wanted — to study in a foreign country — and I never thought I’d be able to achieve it. Thanks to the Chevening scholarship, I’ll be able to achieve that,” said Brown-Lowe, who will read for a masters degree in DNA Profiling at the University of Central Lancashire.

Lawrence, a Principal’s Honour Roll graduate of the Norman Manley Law School, aims to become an international trade lawyer. He is to study public international law with a focus on international trade law, investment treaty law and regional integration at the London School of Economics and Political Science.

“I am very grateful about it [the scholarship]. It’s a wonderful opportunity and exactly what I wanted. Without the scholarship, I wouldn’t have been able to do it [study international law] at a school, such as the London School of Economics and Political Science… I’m very happy about that,” said the attorney, who is currently employed to Michael Hylton & Associates.

Reynolds, for his part, said he was humbled by the award.

“I feel very humbled and honoured to be able to study in this capacity and represent Jamaica and use this to the benefit of my country. I’m anticipating a very good experience from it,” he said.

Reynolds, also a graduate of the Norman Manley Law School, is employed to Grant Stewart Phillips and Company where he practises civil litigation. He will attend Queen Mary, University of London, to do a master of laws with a focus on computer and communications law, telecommunications and e-commerce.

Annually, the Chevening UK Government Scholarship Programme seeks a high calibre of graduates with personal, intellectual and interpersonal qualities who are motivated to create a career path that will take them to positions of leadership on their native country.

The programme provides full or part-funding for full-time courses at postgraduate levels, usually for a year. It is funded by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.