Twelve-year-old Torriann Haye couldn’t hide her excitement.

The former Siloah Primary School student, now attending St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS), was among a number of JWN Foundation scholarship recipients from St Elizabeth, Clarendon, and Kingston recognised for their outstanding scholastic performances at a Movie Day and Awards function at Sunshine Palace in Portmore, St Catherine, just before the start of the news school year.

“I feel very proud of myself. I studied a lot, and I am happy about my achievements. I chose STETHS because all my siblings attended the institution. I am the fifth child from my family to attend the school, and I will follow them in being on the honour roll,” a news release from the foundation quotes Torriann, who is desirous of becoming a biochemist.

Siloah Primary School Principal Oneil Larmond said Torriann qualified for the JWN Foundation Scholarship programme because of her overall outstanding performances.

“We entered 94 students for the Primary Exit Profile [exam] and Haye was the second top performer of the cohort. We are proud of her, and we also appreciate the JWN Foundation’s investment in her education. It means a lot to the community, as the foundation not only invests in scholarships but the overall infrastructure of the community,” Larmond said.

Curtis Castle of Denbigh High School in Clarendon received the JWN Foundation Scholarship for the fifth consecutive year. With an 87 per cent overall average heading into upper sixth form, Curtis wants to study computer science, with dreams of becoming a software engineer.

“I feel amazing. The scholarship has helped me a lot. I have been able to focus on my academics and excel. Going forward I would like to improve my grades, and I will not have to worry about fees,” he said.

His former teacher, Carlene Anderson from Gimme-Me-Bit Primary and Infant School, was elated for his continued success.

“I am so happy that when I think of it goosebumps come on my skin. I have seen him grow, and I know that he will continue to do his best,” the release quotes Anderson.

JWN Foundation, established in 2012, is J Wray & Nephew Limited’s vehicle for giving back to the wider society, playing an active role in transforming lives and communities for a better Jamaica. It also focuses on developing the areas surrounding J Wray & Nephew’s operations at Spanish Town Road in Kingston, New Yarmouth in Clarendon, and Appleton Estate in St Elizabeth.

Former JWN Foundation scholarship recipient and 2025 Festival Queen second runner-up, Rhaveen Kildare, gave the keynote address at the recent awards function.

She encouraged the scholarship recipients to persevere, work together, and share their light to make the world a better place.

“Your hard work will pay off. An investment in your future is the best, as you trust your abilities to be the best you can be. The best is yet to come. Trust God and He will provide the resources that you need. Just show up; we are all here to positively impact each other,” Kildare said.

JWN Foundation General Manager Garfene Grandison said they believe that education is not just about acquiring knowledge, it is about unlocking potential, breaking barriers, and creating pathways to dreams that might otherwise seem impossible.

“Each scholarship recipient here today has demonstrated not only academic excellence but also the character, determination, and vision that align with our foundation’s core values. You have shown us that when opportunity meets preparation, extraordinary things happen. You are proof that investing in education means investing in tomorrow’s leaders, innovators, and change-makers,” Grandison said.

JWN Foundation operates under three main pillars — social inclusion, education and cultural expressions. Through education, the foundation provides scholarships for tertiary and secondary-level students.

“The foundation does not just provide financial support, but an investment in the students’ stories, their aspirations, and their power to transform communities,” JWN Foundation Director Daniel Caron said.

“This may seem small, but to the recipients its recognition, it is the reward that gives them confidence and shows them that they are important to us,” he added.

JWN Foundation scholarship recipients at the Movie Day and Awards ceremony hosted by the foundation at Sunshine Palace in Portmore.

Rhaveen Kildare, former JWN Foundation tertiary scholarship recipient and 2025 JCDC Festival Queen second runner-up, engages this year’s scholarship recipients in an activity at the Movie Day and Awards function at Sunshine Palace in Portmore, St Catherine. Kildare was keynote speaker at the event.