ATTORNEY-AT-LAW and member of the Jamaica Labour Party’s (JLP) Scholarship Committee, Christian Tavares-Finson, has commended Northern Caribbean University (NCU) student Rolissa Stephenson who on Sunday was awarded the DC Tavares Scholarship for Business and Finance.

Stephenson, a second-year student, who is pursuing finance as her major, was formally awarded the scholarship, which covers her entire tuition, during the JLP’s Scholarship Awards Ceremony held at Spanish Court Hotel in St Andrew.

“First, let me say how impressed I am by Rolissa’s enthusiasm and grasp of issues related to business and finance. I have no doubt that she will do well and is indeed a deserving candidate for this scholarship,” said Tavares-Finson.

“It’s good that the JLP, under the leadership of prime minister and party leader Andrew Holness, via the scholarship programme, is responsive and sensitive to the needs of Jamaicans who are genuinely interested in pursuing higher education but require assistance,” added Tavares-Finson as he welcomed the decision to name a scholarship in honour of his grand-uncle who served as a minister of government between 1962 and 1967.

“I have no doubt that my late grand uncle would be pleased that the scholarship has been named in his honour. He was a principled man who believed firmly in education being the most potent vehicle in assisting the transformation of society,” said Tavares-Finson.

Stephenson, who gave the vote of thanks, expressed gratitude to the Scholarship Committee for investing confidence in her and seven other recipients who were awarded scholarships at this year’s event.

She vowed to do all she can to meet expectations of excellence which, she said, naturally arise from the DC Tavares Scholarship.

The eight awardees can look forward to attending and completing university worry-free after receiving full scholarships from the JLP with an additional five students receiving the prime minister’s special tertiary grant.

In addition to the eight scholarships and the Prime Minister’s Grant, as part of the party’s 80th-anniversary commemoration, a total of 71 bursaries will be provided by the JLP.

This is the fifth year of the party’s scholarship programme with the scholarships named each year in honour of outstanding JLP members who contributed significantly to national development and gave dedicated political service.