FOUR students at Excelsior High school, three of them athletes, have benefited from brand new scholarships presented by the Ali Cup committee valuing $125,000.

The four recipients are track athlete Alexis Joseph, Aqueena Allen and Michael Clarke and Jadavin Waul — both of whom are members of the Manning Cup team.

The Ali Cup Committee is a group of past students who have over the years hosted a preseason schoolboy football competition to help support the Manning Cup team. Many of them are members of the successful 1987 championship winning team and started the tournament in honour of their Captain Ali Cole Jr who died suddenly a few years ago.

Their focus has usually been on football, however this year they have expanded their reach within the school community to not only impact the Manning Cup team but other areas of school welfare.

President of the Ali Cup Committee, Chris Bailey explained the nature of the scholarships.

“We gave away four scholarships to four students of Excelsior High school. It is with great honour and pride that we, the Ali Cup Committee give back to our school. We heard of these kids and we found out that they needed help, so we gave away four scholarships to two males and two females.

“It doesn’t matter who you are, we are here for you and we will do whatever we can to help,” was Bailey’s message.

Michael Clarke, who is a scholarship recipient and a member of the current Manning Cup team, expressed his gratitude at being awarded the scholarship.

“I want to say thanks to Ali Cup Committee for this help. It will help in many ways.

“I am very grateful for the help and I will make the best use of it and make them proud,” he promised.

Principal of Excelsior High, Deanroy Bromfield spoke of the impact that he thinks the scholarships will have, not just in terms of the financial assistance to the current students but the far-reaching impact on the student population.

“When our successful past students give back to their school, give back to particular to children who are less fortunate, then it is very gratifying.

“These past students who are giving back are not only giving back in terms of the material things but are setting an example for the present students.”

Bromfield believes that the current Manning Cup players are likely to emulate the current past students who are giving back right now.

“They have come, they have played Manning Cup, they have gone on to be successful individuals and now they have come back to [not only] give scholarships but also to indicate to the children who are here, the boys who are playing now, that football is not the only thing.”

The principal believes that the message that is likely to resonate with the current players is that there is more to life than just playing football.

“I am a student athlete; I can be very successful and I can go and be successful in all facets of my life,” is the message that Bromfield believes the boys are most likely to take away from the examples being set by the members of the Ali Cup Committee.

— Dwayne Richards