Crystal Dennis’s introduction to the world of Black civic leaders such as Marcus Garvey, Tacky and Kwame Ture started in 2008 when, as a student entering Tacky High School, the institution required that the entire grade seven cohort submit essays about the man after whom the school was named.

Over the years her interest in the subject matter deepened, culminating this past summer in her copping the Brian Henry Foundation Marcus Garvey Scholarship valued at $1 million.

The scholarship, named in honour of Jamaica’s first national hero, is offered to an individual to pursue a degree in either business or the sciences. The individual, the foundation says, must have shown outstanding academic achievement but cannot afford to advance his or her learning. To qualify, the candidate had to write an essay about Marcus Garvey, in addition to supplying recommendation letters from past teachers or principals and completing an application form.

“I am extremely happy!” 19-year-old Dennis told the

Jamaica Observer after the presentation of the award on the occasion of the 129th anniversary of Garvey’s birth in the courtyard of Irie FM in Ocho Rios, St Ann.

Dennis, who graduated Tacky in 2013 and did sixth form at St Mary High, is now enrolled in the banking and finance bachelor’s degree programme at The University of the West Indies.

“Between 2013 and 2015 I applied for numerous scholarships to no avail. I decided to do a stint in the working world until a scholarship came through. I have been working since September 2015. During that period I continued researching scholarships and bursaries…Sometimes I got despondent after trying a number of scholarships and getting nowhere. I knew that unless I took out a student loan, it would have been nearly impossible for me to further my education. Now I can pursue my goal and I am happy about that,” she said.

“I am just really thankful to the Brian Henry Foundation, to the Irie team, Andrea and Shamara, my family, friends and past teachers for making this happen. And I am really looking forward to being a UWI Pelican,” she added.

As Dennis explained it, her interest in black history developed as she progressed through high school.

“Perhaps one of the greatest influences came as a result of my batch of grade seven all being asked to write an essay on Tacky prior to our grade seven orientation. This pushed me to research the actions of the man for which the school was named. In so doing, I learnt about many black activists, or freedom fighters if you will. When grade nine came around, I was only too happy to be introduced to the subject Caribbean history, which I pursued in grade 11 as a CSEC subject. My interest in black/Caribbean history continued into sixth form where I made history one of my CXC CAPE unit choices.

The teen said she learned about the scholarship from a friend who heard it advertise on a programme on

Irie FM called Running Africans.

“It was unfortunate that I missed the programme that day, but I was fortunate to have friends looking out for me. I listened the programme the following week and nearly every week after that,” she said.

“The essay was particularly difficult to write, not because I knew nothing of Garvey, but because I wanted to write in a way that would speak to who I am and capture the best of Garvey for the world to see. Much of the information was readily available, but I did a bit of research just to ensure I was going on the right path. Also, I wrote with the knowledge of history garnered at the CSEC and CAPE level, as well as from my own interpretations of Garvey’s ideoloies etc,” she told Career & Education.

There were 49 applicants, but it came down to two finalists; the deciding factor being a letter outlining why each candidate thought they should be awarded.

“I was ever so nervous, particularly when the other finalist, a young man who later introduced himself to me as Marlon Smith, a graduate of Green Island High, was introduced…When Amina Blackwood Meeks started talking about education and Ms Preston invited me to go on stage, it was only then that I was fully convinced that I was in fact already chosen…

“I went on stage where I was awarded this cheque for $1,000,000 by MrHenry. That was just perhaps one of the happiest moments of my life, and I was just struck by the suddenness of the entire situation — no money for university one minute, one million [dollars] the next. Even now I can’t stop smiling, or being amazed for that matter,” the young woman said.