TWENTY-FOUR students will have to worry less about how their parents will find the funds to cope with their back-to-school expenses.

They have been awarded 2012 Carlton Alexander Bursaries by the GraceKennedy Foundation, just for that purpose. The recipients comprise students who have just completed their GSAT exams, as well as some, who are already in high school.

The awards were given to the students last Thursday, August 23, at GraceKennedy’s headquarters on Harbour Street. The awards, handed out annually to children of GraceKennedy employees, are named in honour of former chairman and CEO of the company, Carlton Alexander.

In remembering Alexander, Director of the GraceKennedy Foundation James Moss-Solomon, reminded those in attendance of his fearless and firm management style. He spoke of the invaluable contribution made by Alexander in helping to shape GraceKennedy into the formidable force it is today. He congratulated the bursary recipients, stating that Alexander would have been proud of each of them.

GK Foods CEO Michael Ranglin also commended the students on their accomplishments. Using the recent outstanding performance of the Jamaican athletes at the Olympics, he encouraged the young people to try as hard as they could to achieve their PB (Personal Best). He urged them to lay a solid foundation now, so that they could build on it later.

The GraceKennedy Foundation spends over $1.3 million annually for the Carlton Alexander Awards as a means of encouraging academic excellence among the dependents of GraceKennedy staff. Awards are made annually and renewed actually once the student maintains a minimum of a B average.