Nineteen deserving students of Kingston College (KC) and Calabar High School were awarded scholarships by the David “Wagga” Hunt Scholarship Foundation on Sunday, September 29, 2019.

The scholarships, valued at $100,000 each for the 2019-2020 school year, were presented at the 11th annual awards ceremony held at the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Jamaica auditorium.

The scholarship disbursement begins in grade 8 and runs through to grade 13. It covers the cost of school fees, books, lunch and related expenses. Selection of scholarship winners is based on financial need, academic performance, participation in sport or extra-curricular activity, deportment and discipline.

“These criteria must be maintained throughout the life of the scholarship,” the foundation stated in a news release.

To date, 29 scholarships have been awarded and over $12 million disbursed, inclusive of this year’s allocation.

Rev Dr Devon Dick, pastor of Boulevard Baptist Church and president of Jamaica Baptist Union, delivered the keynote address. The Calabar old boy referenced a passage of scripture in which the disciples tried to keep a group of children away from Jesus and were roundly chastised by the Messiah for doing so.

Reverend Dick highlighted compassion and critical thinking as two lessons to be learned from that story. He commended the Hunt family, the foundation, sponsors and supporters for demonstrating “compassion to students who need a start, who need help”.

“There must be care, so that all who have the potential, use their God-given ability to achieve knowledge and skill. Scholarships should not be seen as expenditure but as an investment in people, human capital, to a most important resource — our young ones,” Rev Dick said.

He went on to encourage the awardees to engage in critical thinking in their everyday lives “to add knowledge and to stand up for principle”.

Paulette Rhoden, who was officially appointed as the new patron of the foundation, was presented with a plaque in honour of the designation. In her response she told the awardees to be mindful of the privilege afforded them, and encouraged them to work hard to achieve their goals.

Elijah Turnbull of Calabar and Naem McKenzie of KC, who have both moved up to grade 12, were presented with official Wagga Hunt jackets in their respective school colours — a tradition of the programme.

Ronaldo Ferguson, a KC and scholarship alumnus, spoke of the life-changing impact that the scholarship had on him and charged the present cohort to work hard. Ferguson is currently a student at The University of the West Indies, majoring in mathematics and education.

Geovani Thomas, scholarship recipient from Calabar and co-captain of the Manning Cup team, responded on behalf of the awardees. He thanked the foundation for its “consistent support” and pledged, on behalf of his “brothers”, to pursue excellence.

“The scholarship has provided much more than financial needs,” he added. “It allows us to form a bond that demonstrates family, and as such we (the recipients) are able to have father figures who guide us like their own children; and they are also there for us as role models and motivators,” he said.

Scholarship funds are raised each year by the foundation’s activities, which include the prestigious annual Red Carpet Ball held in Washington, DC, and the annual Football Classic held in Jamaica. The foundation also relies on donations from corporate entities and individuals.

Co-chairs Christopher Hunt, who is based in Washington, DC, and Arnold “Dullo” McDonald of the Jamaica Organising committee lead the fund-raising efforts along with their teams.

Through the years, major corporate sponsorship has come from Victoria Mutual Building Society, which has been on board since its inception; Proven Wealth Management; Supreme Ventures Limited; Grace Foods USA; Gibson McCook Relays Committee; Caribbean Broilers; Crimson Dawn; and Derrimon Trading. The foundation also thanked its “other valued corporate and individual sponsors” who, it said, are numerous. “All assist to fund the scholarships on an ongoing basis,” the foundation stated.

The David “Wagga” Hunt Foundation was established in 2009 to honour the legacy of football coach, sporting analyst and sports administrator extraordinaire David “Wagga” Hunt.

Hunt, an alumnus of Kingston College, coached Calabar High to its first Manning Cup championship in 28 years in 2005, resurrecting the school’s ailing football programme. They also copped the coveted Olivier Shield title that year.

A hard-working and committed administrator who wore several hats, Hunt — at the time of his passing — was the general secretary of the Kingston and St Andrew Football Association. He was also the longest-serving secretary of the now-defunct Minor League Football Association and co-founder of Meadhaven United Football Club and Pelicans FC.

One of Jamaica’s most successful coaches, Hunt lead the National Under-17 team that was the first ever Jamaican team, at any level, to defeat the United States in competition. As coach of Meadhaven United FC he led them to championship honours in several age group competitions.