MALCOLM-JAMAL Newland, affectionately known as Docta Newlan in his community, strives for excellence in every way. The 19-year-old scholar grew up in a Central Kingston community, just off Olympic Way, and has built a reputation for being an outstanding student.

His passion for the sciences and dedication to helping others earned him the nickname, and despite childhood struggles, the St George’s College alumnus is on his way to making the moniker his reality.

“I have always had a passion for academics and many of the people in my community know me as that bright boy down the road and they knew of my aspiration to be a doctor so they gave me a name they thought fit me,” Malcolm shared.

His childhood in Central Kingston came with many challenges as he was living in a tenement yard and struggling with no electricity and sometimes no running water. However, these challenges served as motivation for the aspiring doctor.

“Living in an inner-city community, you can look out and see poverty a doorstep away. For people from low-income households, you know the strongest means of elevation are athletics or academics. There aren’t many other mediums for people like myself to progress. Athletics was not my thing, so the best thing was to focus on academics.”

Indeed, the teenager, who was fuelled by his ambitions, was not only studious, but spent time becoming a well-rounded student and exploring his passion for helping others. As president of the St George’s College Peer Council, Newland took his role seriously as he believed all his peers had untapped potential.

“I grew to love the feeling of seeing peers who were underperforming go from that to being active members of the cadet and other clubs and societies as well as their grades improving. That gave me motivation to continue to help others seeing that they can also face challenges and overcome them,” he said.

He was also set apart by his involvement in 13 clubs and societies, including peer counselling, Modern languages club and science club where he served as president. All of this and his academic achievements earned him the spot as the 2024 recipient of the Rodwell Lake Scholarship, one of 43 scholarships and bursaries presented this year by Burger King Jamaica through its national scholarship awards programme.

With the help of the scholarship, valued $500,000, the Georgian is now a step closer to achieving his dreams, as this coming school year he will pursue a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery (MBBS) at The University of the West Indies (UWI).

Meanwhile, another MBBS pursuant also received financial support through the scholarship programme. Stephanie Watson, who is a graduate of St Andrew High School, was the recipient of the Lois Sherwood Bursary valued at $400,000.

Waston was to take on her Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) subjects when tragedy struck her family.

Her mother passed away from COVID-19 right when she was gearing up to enter grade eleven. This loss, though it left the young girl shaken, did not deter her as she continued to strive for excellence. She attained nine subjects at the CSEC level and four at the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination level.

“It was the biggest challenge I’ve had to face. Up to this day I cannot answer people when they ask me how I did it,“ she said. ”I have to give God the thanks because he gave me the strength to do it.”

During her time at St Andrew High School for Girls, Watson learned that while academics is important, one should strike a balance and have other things to enjoy.

“Outside of clubs and schoolwork, I love to crochet. I love trying new patterns and getting creative,” she said.

Watson served her high school community in many capacities, including senior prefect, production manager of the sign language club and creative director of the Andrews Press.

She is to enter a new chapter in her story of success, as this coming school year she will join Malcolm in beginning her pursuit of MBBS at UWI.

Stephanie Watson, recipient of the Lois Sherwood Bursary, smiles for the camera at the BK scholarship awards luncheon.