KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Sagicor Foundation has awarded 55 scholarships, valued at over $10 million, to Jamaican students in commemoration of its 55th anniversary.

The awards ceremony was held on Tuesday at the Pegasus Hotel in Kingston and hosted by media personality Jennifer “Jenny Jenny” Small.

Vice President of Communications, Digital Media & Corporate Social Responsibility, Nicole Campbell-Robinson, emphasised the significance of this year’s milestone.

“When we invest in education, we invest in national progress. This year carries even deeper significance… we are commemorating 55 years of Sagicor Group Jamaica’s Legacy of service and nation building,” she said.

The Sagicor Foundation scholarship programme has supported Jamaican students for three decades.

This year’s awards included 28 scholarships for secondary students to attend high school, each valued at $50,000 per annum for five years. Recipients were selected based on their Primary Exit Profile (PEP) performance, with four of the awardees Kahneil Walford, Ashumor Morrison, Kellan Harris, and Antoya Lindsay, also being top athletes from the 2025 Jamaica Teachers’ Association/Sagicor National Athletics Championship.

Campbell-Robinson noted this balance of academics and athletics reflects Sagicor’s commitment to well-rounded development. Twenty-seven tertiary students also received awards valued at $300,000 each, renewable for four years.

Sagicor Group Jamaica Chairman Christopher Zacca, revealed that over 1,400 applications were received, narrowed down to 55 recipients through a competitive process.

Campbell-Robinson added that recipients are also required to complete up to 40 hours of voluntary service annually, demonstrating character and leadership.

Among the special awards were the 2025 RDanny Williams Visionary Award for Leadership and Volunteerism, presented to University of the West Indies student Calicia Vassell, and the 2025 Chairman’s Innovation Award, given to Northern Caribbean University student James Barrett for his AI-powered tutoring app, iLern AI.

Minister of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, Dana Morris Dixon, lauded Sagicor’s long-standing contribution.

“This scholarship event that we are seeing today is in the DNA of Sagicor because they do things like this and give back like this, day in and day out. We have to thank them for all these years that they have been serving our country,” she said.

She urged awardees to embrace the rapidly evolving technological landscape, especially using tools like artificial intelligence.

“You need to start putting yourself into the frame of mind of thinking, how am I going to create AI that is going to make my country better and my world better. You’re not thinking small. It’s not a time for small thinking, it’s a time for very big thinking,” said Morris Dixon.

She also highlighted upcoming government initiatives, including Jamaica’s first Artificial Intelligence Lab at the University of Technology, Jamaica (UTech Ja) in September, and upgraded labs for all technical high schools this academic year.

The ceremony also featured an inspirational address from 2025 Rhodes Scholar and 2023 Miss Festival Queen, Aundrene Cameron, who shared her journey from battling depression to achieving success. Using the metaphor of a seed, she urged recipients to “choose to bear fruit, choose to bloom unapologetically.”

Several awardees expressed their gratitude.

Secondary scholarship recipient Sudian McLeod said, “I’m feeling very good but I know that there is more for me and more to my name, and I’m going to achieve that greatness.”

Her mother, Trevelle Prince McLeod, said she was “very proud” of her daughter’s achievement.

Tertiary awardee Jaeda-Angelica Lawes said she hoped to make Sagicor proud, while fellow recipient Stasha Marston described the opportunity as “lovely” and gave thanks to God. Innovation award winner James Barrett reflected, “Five years ago I couldn’t imagine the level of success that I would face.”

Barrett thanked his lecturers, God, his family and all those who helped him reach this moment.

Chairman of the Sagicor Foundation Jamaica, Christopher Zacca (centre) surrounded by 2025 Sagicor Foundation Scholarship awardees.

Minister of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, Senator Dana Morris Dixon, speaking at the Sagicor Foundation Scholarship Awards Ceremony.