MONTEGO BAY, St James — CARIBBEAN Producers Jamaica (CPJ) has awarded $2.5 million in scholarships to 50 students who are children of employees at the company.

The recipients were selected on the basis of them attaining and maintaining an average of above 74 per cent during the last school year at the primary and secondary level, and minimum grade point average of 3.0 at the tertiary level.

It was the 13th consecutive year that the food and beverage distribution company was extending financial support to the children of its employees.

Some $15 million has been distributed over the 13 years.

In addressing the students during the awards ceremony at the company’s Freeport offices in Montego Bay last Thursday, CPJ’s chief executive officer Tom Tyler implored them to have and maintain their dreams.

“Everything starts with a dream and then you develop on it to make it come true,” Tyler said, as he encouraged the students to continue working hard in school.

Tyler explained that he and CPJ’s chairman Mark Hart were happy to have implemented the scholarship initiative, which he said forms part of the company’s welfare programme.

“Your company is your employees and we feel good about making our employees and their children happy,” Tyler said.

Petra-Ann Williamson, CPJ’s director of human resources, said that the staff were highly appreciative of the programme and “looked forward” to it each year.

— Aceion Cunningham