HOPE, prayer and a determination to succeed backed by a Burger King scholarship are being touted as the recipe for success by several recipients of scholarships and bursaries from the popular quick-service restaurant.

The Burger King scholarships are particularly welcomed to beat the financial challenges that would have otherwise made tertiary education near impossible for them.

“Burger King places no restrictions on what courses of study our tertiary scholarship recipients pursue and so we get the opportunity to support the career paths of future medical practitioners, actuarial scientists, attorneys, operations logistics managers, financial advisors, and much more,” Sabrena McDonald Radcliffe, Burger King head of sales & marketing, said. “We feel honoured to be part of the fuel to their flames.”

Khalia Patterson (2022 Lois Sherwood Scholar) is headed to the Caribbean Maritime University to study for a bachelor in engineering degree in industrial systems. She, too, has had a journey of financial difficulties. Due to an ailing mother she had to take a break from school in her sixth-form year when she began working to provide for the household.

“I returned to school after three months and was able to pick up on my studies with the help of the school’s facilities and staff,” she said. “I was granted a scholarship that paid for the three years of tuition I could not clear. Then I lost my brother to gun violence and had to take another break from school. But with help from Burger King I am currently on track towards my university degree.

“I hope to become a health and safety engineer or quality analyst. I also wish to pursue my master’s and further my career to become a senior quality control engineer. I apply integrity and honesty in all that I do and take my time to understand and listen to those around me. I take great pride in learning about my community and how it can be developed. In my actions, I hope to one day make an impact and positively shift the lives of those around me.”

Tiwarna Perrin (2022 Lois Sherwood Bursary recipient) is already giving back based on her own experience and understanding of financial struggles. She recalls: “It all started because I myself could not afford extra classes. I was forced to work alone, understanding how students got left behind due to factors outside their control. Though I was successful at my examinations I am well aware this is not the reality for all my peers, and so ‘The Bumblebee’ was born. Through voluntary tutoring I give the gift of tutelage. For six hours per week I shared my own knowledge with fun activities in many subjects. My love for economics pushed me to become the personal assistant of my economics teacher, expanding my own knowledge, mentoring students and forcing myself to step out of my comfort zone to meet people in my field.

“Since then I have understood the importance of following God’s plan for your life. I figured out his way of combining my love for service and business as an economist with the United Nations. My goals of being part of the rooms that affected my own life are made even stronger to become the representation for girls and women I knew who never saw themselves in these rooms. With this scholarship covering my tuition, I am able to focus on the networking needed to open doors to the rooms necessary in becoming this figure. I will also serve as an ambassador for the Burger King scholarship to help bring awareness to the far-reaching opportunities available to students from all walks of life.”