Tuesday June 2, 2026
High performance met higher aspirations at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel last Friday, when the Pocket Rocket Foundation (PRF) hosted its second annual Student Athlete Summit. Bringing together over 150 students from 30 schools islandwide, under the theme “Ready. Set. Accelerate”, the event delivered master classes in mindset and physical preparation. Broadening its horizons this year, the summit expanded its footprint regionally, welcoming a contingent of student-athletes from St Vincent and the Grenadines. On hand to inspire the next generation of sporting stars was a stellar line-up of speakers, including PRF founder and chair Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Vituity CEO Dr Imamu Tomlinson, Vituity Physician Director Dr Maureen Bell and PRF Executive Director Dr Jermaine McCalpin.
Delivering the morning’s most inspiring moment was keynote speaker Stacey Abrams. The political leader, entrepreneur, and
New York Times bestselling author took to the podium to speak on ‘Breaking Barriers: Building a Legacy’, reminding the young athletes to look beyond sports and serve their communities in transformational ways.
“You are athletes who have always defied expectations. You run faster, jump higher, swim further, hit a ball harder, you do more than the human body is supposed to do. You are expected to be great in your sport,” Abrams said. “But I’m here to tell you we expect you to be great in the world, because that is what you are capable of, and that is who you are called to be.”
Page 2 shares highlights.
Pocket Rocket Foundation founder and chair Shelly Ann Fraser-Pryce engaged in discussion with Vituity CEO and guest panellist Dr Imamu Tomlinson (right), his father, MidCity Mortgage Managing Director Michael Tomlinson (second right) and uncle, Blue Mahoe Estate Chairman Lloyd Tomlinson. Joseph Wellington
Pocket Rocket Foundation founder and chair Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (left) engaged entrepreneur, political leader and keynote speaker Stacey Abrams ahead of the summit. Joseph Wellington
Jamaica College track and field team captain Michael-Andre Edwards presented a token of appreciation to Vituity Physician Director Dr Maureen Bell for her contribution to the opening session. Joseph Wellington
Convent of Mercy Academy lower sixth-form student Peter-Gaye Gray was all smiles with Vituity CEO Dr Imamu Tomlinson after presenting him with a gift following his insightful contribution to the Thinking Beyond Limits panel discussion. Joseph Wellington
Sharing the stage after the opening session were (from left) Vituity CEO Imamu Tomlinson; Vituity Physician Director Dr Maureen Bell; Pocket Rocket Foundation founder and chair Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce; and Pocket Rocket Foundation Executive Director Dr Jermaine McCalpin. Joseph Wellingon
Keynote speaker Stacey Abrams (standing, second left) and Pocket Rocket Foundation founder Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (standing, right) shared words of wisdom with Wolmer’s Girls’ third-form students Gabrielle Boothe (left) and Chelsea Gordon. Joseph Wellington
ESTABLISHING SHOT Joseph Wellington
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Following her powerful keynote address, author and political leader Stacey Abrams (right) accepted a token of appreciation from 2018 Pocket Rocket Foundation scholarship recipient Gianna Lewis. Joseph Wellington
