SEVEN students from Greenwich Primary and St Andrew Primary schools are starting the new academic year at the secondary level with big financial and motivational boosts from Petrojam.

The seven were recipients of the State-owned oil refinery’s annual scholarship programme for students of both schools who were top performers in the 2024 Primary Exit Profile (PEP) examinations.

At the awards ceremony, held at the Jamaica Business Development Corporation Incubator and Resource Centre in Kingston on August 20, top girls Dijuana Jackson from St Andrew Primary, and Jezell Williams from Greenwich Primary were presented with $60,000 in annual high school tuition, a new laptop each, and school supplies. Top boys Shameir Vassell and Rajuan Drummonds from St Andrew Primary and Greenwich Primary, respectively, received the same honours.

Top student in language arts went to Akellah Richards of St Andrew Primary while her schoolmate, Hope Brown, was awarded top student in science. For excellence in mathematics, Dijuana Jackson received the 2025 prize, while her schoolmate Orlando Cockings took top honours for the arts.

“This impressive line-up of Jamaica’s next generation of leaders and innovators gives us hope for a brighter future,” a company release quoted Petrojam General Manager Telroy Morgan.

He told the awardees to remember the sacrifices of their parents and those who supported their success, adding, “Remember to stay curious, embrace challenges, and set ambitious goals.”

Petrojam Board Director Dennis May added his voice by encouraging students to use their success as, “an inspiration for others to have continuity in pursuit of academic success”.

Petrojam employees and former Petrojam PEP awardees who are now attending tertiary institutions shared nuggets of wisdom and inspiration in word and song at the motivationally charged event. All the past awardees reported doing exceptionally well at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate and Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination levels, many of them showing passing grades for all their exams.

Winnie Berry, deputy chief education officer, curriculum and support services, Ministry of Education, Youth, and Information, reminded the awardees that where they start does not determine how far they can go.

“You have already proven that you are capable of excellence, and now is the time to deepen your commitment and broaden your horizons. Let your journey through high school be one that reflects your character, your ambition, and your gratitude for those who believe in you — like the team at Petrojam and the team at the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information,” she said.

Since 2006 the Petrojam PEP scholarship programme has been the cornerstone of the oil and gas company’s corporate social responsibility mandate which recognises education as key to its community development focus.

Nearly 60 students have benefited from investments in their high school education, totalling more than $50 million.

Students also receive support throughout their high school years via the Petrojam Homework Centre which requires them to attend twice weekly and be assigned a mentor. The centre is staffed with trained teachers and is equipped with computers and printers.