Recipient of the Jamaica Public Service

(JPS) and Partners Co-operative Credit Union (PCCU) Limited’s 2019 Albert

Morris Scholarship, Neikoy Redwood, is a step closer to realising his dream of

becoming a financial consultant.

Neikoy started undergraduate studies at the

University of the West Indies (UWI) Mona Campus this Monday and will receive

$150,000 annually over three years towards his education.

Star ‘Campionite’

The 19-year-old Campion College graduate

earned an impressive eight grade ones in this year’s Caribbean Secondary

Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations in additional mathematics, economics,

biology, chemistry, physics, information technology, Spanish, and English A,

and a grade two in English B.

Additionally, he got four grade ones in the

Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations (CAPE) in pure mathematics,

economics, chemistry and communication studies.

In an interview with the Jamaica Information Service (JIS) recently, the young scholar, who describes himself as goal-oriented, attributes his successes to hard work and discipline.

“I would say I am goal-oriented, because I

feel it is always better if you set a goal for yourself and you are working

towards that… I think that I am quite disciplined as well,” he told the JIS.

Success has been the hallmark of Neikoy’s educational journey starting at Marlie Mount Primary in St. Catherine, where the high achiever was head boy, class monitor, and prefect.

The brilliance continued at Campion where

he served as student council representative in both years of sixth form and was

appointed to the post of prefect in upper sixth form.

‘My baby sister is watching me, I have to make her proud’

Neikoy explained that his desire for

success extends beyond personal ambitions. As the older brother to a doting

six-year-old sister, the UWI fresher is striving to be a positive role model

for his sibling.

“I want to set a high standard for her. Now

she goes to my alma mater, Marlie Mount Primary… and she’s trying to live up to

the standard I set, and that is something I am quite proud of,” he noted.

The 19-year-old is looking forward to his

academic journey at UWI, in pursuit of actuarial science.

His affinity for mathematics and economics

in high school came naturally, and Neikoy asserted that actuarial science is a

good blend of both subjects.

The bigger picture

Ultimately, Redwood aspires to open a

financial consultancy where he can hire other professionals.

“I would like to open my own business and I

think a lot of Jamaicans should be looking to do that now, because not only

should you want to occupy a job, you should seek to create jobs in our economy

right now. We need more businesses to develop the country,” he told the JIS.

“It adds a lot more [value] if you can start a business, because you can create 10 or 15 jobs,” he added.

Neikoy’s call to Corporate Jamaica

Neikoy expressed his appreciation to the

JPS and PCCU for the scholarship – encouraging more corporate entities to

assist deserving young students to access higher education.

“Higher education is the only way that people can truly better themselves and truly move from a life of poverty to a comfortable life for themselves, their children and their

family. I feel that higher education is

something that is necessary,” he said.

The Albert Morris Scholarship, named in honour of one of the JPS and PCCU’s founding members, is offered annually to a member of the credit union or their children, and provides for study at any of the country’s recognised tertiary institutions.

The recipient must maintain a ‘B’ average

throughout the life of the scholarship.