MALVERN, St Elizabeth — Seventeen students were recently awarded approximately $200,000 in scholarships and bursaries by St Elizabeth Technical High School Spanish teacher Kerene Nelson at Schoolfield Primary and Infant’s school-leaving ceremony.

“From the infant school, each got a bursary of $5,000 towards school supplies, and of the five that graduated from the primary school, three of those got $10,000 each, also for school supplies,” Nelson said while pointing out that two Primary Exit Profile students received $50,000 in recognition of the 10th anniversary of the Kerene Nelson Signature of Excellence Fund.

She explained the purpose of her philanthropic efforts.

“Ten years ago when I became LASCO Teacher of the Year we all had to do a project, so when my career catapulted to another level I did my research and I was sent to Schoolfield Primary and Infant School. There I did two things. For one year I built teachers’ capacity in Spanish grammar, resulting in Spanish being part of the curriculum from that time,” she said, adding that her relationship with the school has remained firm.

In total, 58 students to date have benefited from the Kerene Nelson Signature of Excellence Fund, resulting in an expenditure of one million dollars.

“Education is expensive, so that fund is aimed at helping students to advance at their highest potential. For the past 10 years the fund has been empowering so many lives. So far we have assisted 58 students — most of them are from Schoolfield Primary and Infant School,” said Nelson.

“I use my salary, and my family members from time to time will assist when they can, but importantly, five years ago Nick Stewart and Helen Gardner read a newspaper article and donated generously towards the fund. Those donated funds are still in use today,” she added.