TO mark its silver anniversary, TIP Friendly Society — the entity for employees in the education sector — has contributed $3.86 million in scholarships to 54 students for the current school term.

In addition, a member of the Friendly Society, Fabian Wainwright, education officer at the Ministry of Education, was the successful recipient of the TIP President’s 25th Anniversary Scholarship Award in the amount of $200,000.

The recipients were presented with their cheques at a scholarship awards ceremony last Monday.

Among the scholarship awardees were 28 top boys and top girls in the Primary Exit Profile (PEP) examination; five children of staff members; six repeat PEP awardees; seven undergraduates, six postgraduate students and two education grants.

Since the launch of the TIP Friendly Society Scholarship Awards programme in 2002, more than 950 students have benefited.

Guest speaker at the awards ceremony Jazeel Martin, of Myers, Fletcher & Gordon, kept his audience spellbound with his ‘rags to riches’ story. He illustrated the times when he did not have money and food as a student from August Town, St Andrew, attending St George’s College.

“But my mother taught me to put on a brave face and not tell people my business,” Martin said to nods of agreement from the adults in the audience.

To illustrate the point that when in such circumstances persons have to do what they have do to survive, Martin spoke about his cleaning houses for the upper echelon where he was paid premium rates, because of his diligence to the job.

According to Martin, his movement up the education ladder was only possible through the altruism of several persons, who covered his school fees, books, transport and lunch.

He benefited from these contributions right up to the tertiary level of his studies at The University of the West Indies and then Norman Manley Law School.