When Kay-Lee Wright stood triumphant on the Jamaica Public Service (JPS) Foundation stage on Thursday to receive her $60,000 Power Up Community Renewal PEP Grant, she was thinking of her mother, who passed when she was in grade one, and the rocky journey that led her to academic success in her Primary Exit Profile (PEP).

“I say it was a rocky road because in first grade I wasn’t a very good reader — up to third grade — and I didn’t really come first [in class], and I was bad at math,” she explained.

Wright, who is from Riverton Meadows community and will be heading to Holy Childhood High School in September, was one of 25 students awarded more than $6 million in grants and scholarships in the second iteration of JPS Foundation’s Power Up Scholarship Programme.

The awards targeted science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) students, and brimming with hope, energy, and academic potential, the awardees were pulled from all walks of life.

Wright’s aunt, Atalia Muttlea, detailed her niece’s journey.

“Her mom died — and as she said, for about three grades she struggled. Then COVID-19 came and she even had to repeat a grade twice, but she’s very determined and she asks a lot of questions… It has been a journey. I am proud that her effort is being recognised because she puts in the work despite all the challenges,” Muttlea said proudly.

Like Wright, Lebron Ranglin — who also walked away with a one-time $60,000 grant — is from Riverton Meadows. Conversely, his mother, Tanisa Ranglin, is his sole support system.

“I am a single mommy. [During PEP] I was nervous because at one point, you know that Roblox game?” Tanisa said, shaking her head. “But he proved himself… he is very bright… I am a hairstylist, so I am always at work; it’s not like I’m always at home tutoring him. He is very smart.”

Ranglin, who will attend Meadowbrook High School, told the Jamaica Observer that sitting PEP was a breeze. Similar sentiments were shared by two of the three top JPS PEP achievers.

Chosen by county, they are Adrianna Willie (Surrey), Samuel Ridgard (Cornwall), and Blake Wilson (Middlesex). The three were also awarded $60,000 under the slightly different JPS VOLTS PEP Scholarship. Instead of a single grant, they will receive a recurring payout for five years.

Campion College-bound Willie said her exams were neither easy nor hard, because “I put in the hard work and I made sure I was prepared for it.”

Ridgard, who is bound for the city on the hill, Munro College, and Wilson, who will also be heading to Campion, both credited family as part of their journey to PEP success.

“It wasn’t really difficult, but my siblings did help me a lot, especially in Language Arts,” Ridgard said.

His mother, Jala Ridgard, added: “He did need a push now and again… I had to sometimes say, ‘It will soon be over, just put out the effort, and when you reap the rewards, you’ll have all summer to gallivant.’ …Everybody in Jamaica — we are trying to make the dollar stretch as far as we can… this, for us, is a huge help.”

A modest and slightly shy Wilson described PEP as difficult.

“Leading up to PEP it was very stressful — much hard work and determination — but I think I did well,” he said.

His mother, Fiona Wilson, was proud to describe him as a naturally bright boy, alongside his older brother, adding: “They tend not to want to say it, but he follows in his brother’s footsteps… he has good examples.”

Case in point: Blake is this year’s University of the West Indies Junior Math Olympiad Champion. He claimed the title two years after his brother Bryce won it in 2023.

“There’s self-motivation there too, and some mentorship,” Fiona added, while his father Damian described how badly Blake had wanted to attend Campion.

Wilson’s parents revealed that the healthy, friendly rivalry with his brother, paired with his own hard work, had propelled Wilson to a spot at his chosen school.

In charging the young people to continue to be high achievers, permanent secretary in the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information Dr Kasan Troupe described the grants and scholarships as an investment, quoting lyrics from reggae artiste Buju Banton to drive the point home.

“We ought not to be producing students who are just users of technology, but we want developers of technology… the song says, ‘When mama spend her last’, so when the JPS Foundation spends its last and sends you to class, never you ever play. It’s a competitive world for low-budget people… we do not want you to take this for granted,” she said to cheers from the audience.

President and CEO of JPS Hugh Grant picked up the lyrics, in his own address.

“Spending a dime while earning a nickel — that means you’re spending more than you can earn, so how that maths a go work out?” he queried, adding, “It comes through sacrifice, and you know what can prevent that? Grants,” the CEO said.

The awards included 16 one-time grants in two categories: the Power Up Community Renewal PEP Grant for 10 students, each receiving $60,000; and the Power Up EWP STEM Grant for four University of Technology (UTech), Jamaica engineering students, and two College of Agriculture, Science and Education (CASE) students, each receiving $500,000.

Also handed out were nine recurring scholarships in two categories: the VOLTS scholarship and the Power Up STEM Tertiary Scholarship for three tertiary students, each receiving $400,000; and three teachers’ college students, each receiving $400,000.

One of those teachers’ college awardees, Shari-Jae Ford — a secondary education biology major at The Mico University College — was receiving her award for the second year in a row and has plans to give back to Jamaica.

“I want to make a difference. I love biology, love the sciences. I want to go in there and make a difference. I love fostering relationships with children — obviously they are the future,” she said.

Reacting to her scholarship being renewed, Ford added: “It’s a feeling that’s hard to explain. Financially, I didn’t have the ‘backitive’ to help me throughout college. College was just a dream, and now it’s a reality.”

Ford’s excitement and sense of purpose are what JPS Foundation is hoping to cultivate with the scholarships, according to foundation head Sophia Lewis.

“Our aim is to impact lives and individuals, and we want to do so in a deliberate way. As the outreach arm of an energy company, STEM is very important to us. Maybe we are a little selfish because we are investing in the next generation of engineers and strategists that will give back to Jamaica in the energy industry,” Lewis explained.

Keynote speaker Georgia Crawford-Williams, in an energetic speech, encouraged the awardees to have “God-sized dreams”.

On the topic of dreams, Wright — who described her late mother as “one of the best mothers” — said she still remembered her parent vividly, and though the loss stings, she had advice for her fellow students:

“My dream is to excel… No matter how hard the obstacle is, you can always overcome it.”

The full list of awardees:

Power Up Community Renewal PEP Grant: Jaquan Campbell, Calaysia Chamberlain, Nevaeh Clarke, Chamoya Edwards, Tishmar Lindsay, Obriana McPherson, Lebron Ranglin, Samira Stampp, Anorra Wilson, and Kay-Lee Wright.

JPS VOLTS PEP Scholarship: Surrey, Adrianna Willie; Middlesex, Blake Wilson; Cornwall, Samuel Ridgard.

PowerUP STEM Tertiary Scholarship: Lexce Gooden, Chelsea Pingue, and Ajani Weston.

PowerUp STEM Tertiary Scholarship (for student teachers): Ronaldhino Brown; Tesarah Hall and Giovanne Robb.

PowerUp EWP STEM Grant: Chameka Baker (CASE); Rhoeyce White (CASE); Gabrielle Brown (UTech); Sha-J Lattibeaudiere (UTech); Chelsea Robinson (UTech) and Samoiah Russell (UTech).

Awardees whose scholarships have been renewed.

PEP level: Israelle Hill; Ajani Rodgers, and Nathan Stewart.

Tertiary and Teachers’ College: Shadelle Brown, Shevanise Carr, Shari-Jae Ford, Leonie Harris, and Antonio Spence.

PowerUp EWP STEM Grant recipient Rhoeyce White (right) of the College of Agriculture, Science and Education is presented with his award by JPS Foundation Director Youngyu Jung on Thursday.