KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Press Association of Jamaica (PAJ) has continued its outreach to future media professionals, with this year’s award of four education grants to college students of media and communications.

The 2019 awardees are Karen Oliver and Joel Samuels of Northern Caribbean University (NCU), Brian Pitter of the University of Technology, and Kedisha Clarke of CARIMAC, UWI, Mona.

PAJ said there were no applications from UWI Western campus, and the grant earmarked for that institution was instead awarded to another NCU student who had the second highest assessment grade overall.

The association said it sponsored two of the grants, worth $50,000 each, while Marcia Erskine & Associates and the Guardsman Group each sponsored one.

“The PAJ places a great deal of effort on education and professional development, and it was important to us to help those who are committed to a future in communications,” said PAJ President George Davis.

“We especially want to thank Marcia Erskine and Associates and the Guardsman Group for partnering with us.

“They came on board without any hesitation, allowing us to once again offer grants to students across the island.”

The PAJ added that it is presenting its education grants for the second year, in order to assist media and communications students’ progress towards their degrees.