TEN St George’s College (STGC) sixth-form students have benefitted from co-curricular scholarships sponsored by two former students of the institution.

Damian Lyn of Alternative Power Sources Limited and Garfield McFarlane have provided the scholarships for the students.

Damian Lyn, who lives in Jamaica and has been providing scholarships over the years, explained why he chose to give back to his alma mater.

“It was an easy decision for me because I believe in giving back. If you don’t give back, you don’t get, and St George’s College motto is, “For the greater glory of God” — and that is something I believe in. God has blessed me and my family tremendously and giving back is important, especially now in Jamaica.

“Things are, I believe, much harder than when I was at school, for the students, for the parents coming out of COVID, people lost their jobs. It is important to give back.”

Principal of St George’s College Margaret Campbell spoke of the positive impact of scholarships, not just at her school, but on the Jamaican society.

“The students at St George’s College are typically high-performing students; many of them are also from homes where there is a financial challenge. It is therefore important for us to enable the education of this demographic because in doing so we are nation-building and transforming societies.

“When old boys and alumni give back by way of scholarships it allows the students to not have to worry about financing their education and instead just focus on doing their very best. I think it is very important, in the context in Jamaica of the financial challenges surrounding life and education, to give back by providing scholarships because in doing so we are benefitting the students, the school and the wider society,” she said.

One of the recipients who spoke on behalf of all the boys was Nathan Crossdale, deputy head boy at STGC. He is studying biochemistry and physics and wants to pursue a medical degree or study bioengineering.

“I am very elated to have received this scholarship so I can go further in my academic studies and carry on doing what I was doing before.

“It is certainly a relief for my parents having not to pay the school fee for this year, and also it makes it a lot easier knowing that I don’t have to worry about any academic situation that might arise.

Head boy and captain of the Manning Cup team Joel Brown, Roshane Evans, Demario Barham, Cavaughn Shae Calvin, Brian Burkett, Ranza Tooma, Quaid Williams, Rasheed Campbell and Jaheim Walker are the other recipients.

— Dwayne Richards