STUDENTS at the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts continue to benefit from the benevolence of various individuals and organisations.

In recent weeks a total of nine students at the Corporate Area-based college have been the recipients of bursaries and scholarships from three of these donors, namely the Louise Bennett Heritage Council, the Earl Warner Trust, and the Friends of Karen Smith.

The Louise Bennett Heritage Council, established in honour of Jamaican author, actress and folklorist Louise Bennett Coverley, continued its support for the students at the college by awarding five bursaries to pupils across various disciplines. This year’s recipients are Kaela Sudeah (School of Visual Arts), Talia Prout (School of Music), Christophe Phillips (School of Dance), Shana-Kay Abdul (School of Arts Management and Humanities), and Judian Trowers (School of Drama).

The money for this bursary was raised by the council through various fund-raising activities, including a performance of the National Dance Theatre Company which was held in Florida, and the presentations were made by chairman of the council Colin Smith and Jamaican Consul General to the southern United States of America Oliver Mair, who also sits on the Florida-based Louise Bennett Heritage Council.

A proud Paige Carty is the 2022 recipient of the scholarship from the Earl Waner Trust, named to honour the work of noted Barbadian director, actor and dramaturge, Earl McDonald Warner. The trust further works to facilitate the development of the theatre arts in the Caribbean through scholarships, endowments, archiving, and productions.

Carty is a final-year student of the School of Drama where she is completing studies towards the Bachelor of Fine Arts. The presentation was made at the college by chair of the Earl Warner Trust Indera Persaud, and trustee and Warner’s widow, Karen Ford Warner.

The latest addition to the slate of bursaries available to students at the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts is the Karen Smith Memorial Scholarship. This has been named in honour of the late Jamaican cabaret artiste Karen Smith who died in 2021.

Created by Friends of Karen Smith — a small group of her close associates — the funds for this inaugural gift to students at the School of Music majoring in vocal performance were sourced from the proceeds of a fund-raising concert staged in October this year which featured a raft of artistes who donated their time and talent to the cause.

This year’s recipients of the inaugural Karen Smith Memorial Scholarship are Andyonie Alexander, Khalil Blake and Joraine Welsh. The presentations were made by Smith’s widower Jackie Jackson as well as representatives of the Friends of Karen Smith including Desi Jones, DiMario McDowell and Judith Jones.