FOR many athletes, a winner is defined as the man or woman who walks away from competition with a medal. But for some student athlete recipients of the Pocket Rocket Foundation scholarships, winning also means displaying discipline by showing up daily despite challenges.

Being present and focused regardless of having tremendous responsibility has been the lived reality for head girl of Wolmer’s Girls’ Lauren Thompson.

She told the Jamaica Observer at the Pocket Rocket Foundation awards ceremony, hosted at the AC Hotel, Kingston on Tuesday, that she was happy her hard work and dedication as both a student-leader and an athlete with many disciplines including volleyball, water polo, and dance, was being recognised.

“I’m eternally grateful. It’s a real honour because it’s actually the first scholarship I’ve ever received regarding sports and academics. So I feel completely humbled and I’m just really excited for what is to come with all of this,” said Thompson.

Being persistent even in the face of trials was also true for Waivany Walker, grade eight student of Immaculate Conception High School. She told the Observer that adjusting to high school was far more challenging than she had anticipated, an initial struggle further complicated due to her affiliation with sports and training.

Despite this, she has been able to overcome and perform well, due much in part, she said, to her mother and older peers, who gave her support and advice when she became overwhelmed by the demanding nature of being both a student and an athlete.

Record holder for both the Under-17 boys’ shot put and discus throw events at this year’s staging of the Carifta Games, Kamari Kennedy, who attends Calabar High, was beaming with pride as he told the Observer just how grateful he was to be a recipient of the award.

“I feel good about it. I’m very grateful to have gotten this opportunity,” he said.

Kennedy, who boasts great achievements on and off the field, shared that he had to prioritise balance to reap rewards.

Joshua Lewin of Kingston College was also in triumphant spirits, saying how grateful he was to be the second recipient of the Pocket Rocket scholarship from his institution, further noting that being a student-athlete was challenging at times.

Guest speaker was 2018 academic scholarship recipient Liana Campbell, a Wolmer’s old girl, and current biochemistry major enrolled at The University of The West Indies. Campbell welcomed the 20 new scholars to the Pocket Rocket Foundation family, in a year which saw the highest number of applicants to date.

Underscoring the theme of a winner being someone who perseveres, chairman and founder of the Pocket Rocket Foundation Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce told the awardees that they were already winners and on their way to doing big things.

She empahsised that it was not just being awarded medals that dictated greatness, but people’s willingness to try.

“You are already a winner, I can tell you that. It doesn’t matter what place you finish because sometimes winning is not just the medals or the first place. Winning sometimes is showing up in spite of. Life is difficult. It will always be challenging. But there is more for every single person that’s sitting here this morning,” she said.

The Pocket Rocket Foundation Academic Scholarship is designed to help young athletes succeed in their academics and athletic pursuits. Annual scholarships are offered to high school students who represent their school in any sporting discipline.

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, founder of the Pocket Rocket Foundation, attaches a scholarship badge to head girl of Wolmer’s Girls’ Lauren Thompson. (Photo: Joseph Wellington)

Guest speaker Liana Campbell, 2018 scholarship awardee, shares the merits of the awards with the new scholars. (Photo: Joseph Wellington)