FIFTY students who save with Victoria Mutual Building Society (VMBS) have one less thing to worry about as the new school year takes root — school fees. Thanks to the scholarships and bursaries they received under the Victoria Mutual Head Start programme a week ago, they are better able to offset costs associated with their tuition.

The presentations were made at the 2015 VMBS Scholarship Awards ceremony.

The Head Start programme, an on-going initiative of the financial institution, was designed to reward excellent scholastic achievement of VMBS student savers by assisting them financially to continue to pursue their academic goals. The group consists of GSAT students, students pursuing tertiary education, and final year student teachers.

This year 39 students received the VMBS GSAT Head-Start Bursary, which is awarded to the top saver in each of the schools that participate in VMBS Save2Grow School Savings Programme. Two students received special bursaries valued at over J$200,000, while one teacher received the 2015 VMBS Teachers’ Bursary.

As is customary, the VMBS Junior Plan Head-Start Scholarship was awarded to three students who were the three top 2015 GSAT Junior Plan savers (one from each county). Three students matriculating to university received the VMBS Future Plan Head-Start Scholarship, while the VMBS Master Plan Head-Start Scholarship was offered to a Master Plan saver pursuing final-year studies at a local university.

A special scholarship to commemorate the 25th staging of the VMBS/St James Football Association Under 13 Football Competition was awarded to the player with the highest GSAT score from among the teams participating in the 25th annual VMBS/St James Football Competition. The scholarship is valued at $125,000.

“Our ultimate goal as a mutual organisation is to assist our members and clients to achieve their goals, which include gaining a sound education. Coupled with this is our need to highlight to our children and youth the importance of saving and its rewards, such as receiving a scholarship,” said senior vice president and chief operating officer Peter Reid.

Jovae Taylor, the 2015 Future Plan Scholarship winner who responded on behalf of the recipients said: “I am ecstatic to know that I am a recipient and eternally grateful to God first, and the Victoria Mutual family. I see the scholarship as a pillar for success and much motivation to succeed in medical school.”

Professor Verene Shepherd, Director of the Institute for Gender & Development Studies and Professor of Social History at the Mona campus of the University of the West Indies, was keynote speaker at the event.

The Victoria Mutual Head Start Scholarship Programme is in it 30th year and has rewarded over 1,600 students since inception.