THE NCB Foundation has named two young women — Andrene Hutchinson and Jenelle Longinius — its All-Island National Champions, awarding each scholarships valued at $500,000 to attend university this semester.

The awards were a first for NCB, which had in 2006, when the Foundation began, only planned to award an All-Island National Champion Boy and Girl from two of the 14 parishes.

However, in 2011, three scholarships were awarded, and in 2012, two top-performing males were given scholarships.

Belinda Williams, manager of group corporate communications, said on the basis of interviews this year, Hutchinson and Longinius proved to be equally deserving of the All-Island National Champion Girl position over the male finalists.

“After the rigorous interview process, we made the decision to award these two girls this year instead of the traditional boy and girl. These girls proved themselves to be most deserving of all the parish finalists, so for this year we awarded them both NCB Foundation Champion Girls,” Williams said.

Hutchinson, 19, from Hanover, is feeling quite elated.

“I feel great; I feel honoured because I have always wanted to represent my parish with the best of my ability, and this seems to be one of the best platforms through which I will be able to do that. I have already started the journey of making my parish proud through winning this scholarship,” said the Herbert Morrison Technical High School graduate.

She left the school with seven distinctions and three credits in the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations and one distinction and three credits at the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE).

Hutchinson has been accepted by the University of the West Indies to pursue a degree in law.

She said she always believed that she was destined to become a lawyer, and winning this scholarship will make that dream a reality.

“I love to do public speaking and represent people. I chose law because law is one way I believe I will be able to help others and represent them well,” she said.

Longinius wants to become a dietician. She will be pursuing a bachelor of science degree in dietetics and nutrition at the University of Technology.

“I want to become a registered dietician because I have a passion for that field of study. I also chose that degree programme because I want to become a restaurateur within the next 10 years, open my own line of restaurants, and this programme will help me develop on the ideas of healthy menus I can offer my future customers.”

Although she is a finalist for St Elizabeth, the parish of her birth, Longinius has been living in Kingston with her mother, Florence, for over a decade. She attended Dunrobin Primary School and recently graduated from Immaculate Conception High with four distinctions and five credits in CSEC and one distinction and three credits at the CAPE level.

The other parish champions this year are Romaine Chance from Kingston; Kenroy Gobourne from Portland; Sherica Taylor from St Thomas; Jozette Walker from St Andrew; Shanice Campbell from Clarendon; Justina Lansin from St Ann; Erika Raynor from Manchester; Derica Gardner from St Catherine; Clive Harris from St Mary; Karlane McFarlane from St James; Joey McLean from Trelawny, and Ashley Lawson from Westmoreland.