KINGSTON, Jamaica – The JN Foundation will on Sunday formally award 37 five-year scholarships, and 10 one-time grants to students who excelled in this year’s Grade 6 Primary Exit Profile (PEP) exam, at its annual scholarship awards ceremony scheduled for the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel.

Claudine Allen, general manager at the JN Foundation, notes that the annual event recognises Jamaica’s brightest young minds and celebrates the achievements of new scholars, while emphasising The Jamaica National’s commitment to investing in Jamaica’s future through education and personal development.

“At The Jamaica National Group, we firmly believe that education is the foundation upon which great nations are built. The awards are a part of our wider investments in programmes that enrich the lives of our young people and builds communities nationally,” she said.

According to a release fron the JN Group on Wednesday, of the 47, 37 will be five-year awards: 14 parish scholarships; three JN Bank Easi-Save County scholarships; and, 20 to children of JN Group staff members who will receive the Building Excellence and Achieving More Success (BEAMS) scholarships. The remaining 10 awards will be one-time grants and will be presented by JN Money Services Limited to high-performing students who did not receive full scholarships.

“The foundation’s work is fueled by collaboration with entities within the JN Group. And we act on purpose to foster excellence both within and outside the organisation,” she added, noting that the Scholarship Programme provides capacity development opportunities that build the character of the awardees over the five-year period, and celebrates continued academic excellence through a Top of the Class awards to high performers, annually.

The incoming awardees join more than 150 other high school students who benefit annually from the JN Foundation Scholarship programme.

The newcomers will be celebrated and encouraged to thrive through the theme ‘Nourish Your Spark’, at this year’s awards reception.

Permanent secretary in the Ministry of Education and Youth, Dr Kasan Troupe, is scheduled to be the guest speaker at the ceremony.

Last year, the scholarship programme celebrated 40 years since its establishment. Over the years, The Jamaica National Group has provided financial support for other educational and youth development initiatives, such as the Gleaner’s Children’s Own Spelling Bee competition, child-month initiatives undertaken by the National Child Month Committee, and the Ministry of Education and Youth’s National Youth Month activities.

The JN Foundation has also invested millions in educational transformation initiatives, such as the Centres of Excellence and iLead programmes, both targeted at improving leadership in rural-based underperforming schools.

Since 2001, The JN Group has maintained a financial literacy programme, the JN School Savers Programme, at the basic, primary, and secondary levels to foster sound money management practices among children and, since 2013, launched the JN Wise Aspiring Youth Programme, JN WAY, which promotes financial literacy and personal development skills for tertiary students and young adults.