By Kathy Weldon
Abaco Pathfinders’ Scholarship Foundation, in its first
year of operation, has enjoyed great success.
Eleven scholarships have been awarded to local students to help them
continue their formal education. This
success is because of the generosity of local residents, visitors, businesses,
and others who have come together in fund raising efforts. Keora Brown, whose
goal is to open a gynecological clinic in Abaco, will begin her college
education in January. Tabitha Cash will be studying business at Valdosta State University. Erica Cox, of
Copper’s Town, will be preparing to be one of the few women in the field of
air conditioning and refrigeration when she attends the American Trades
Institute in Fort Lauderdale this June. Rory
Duggan will be building his skills in computer art and graphic design at
Savannah College of Art and Design. Darlene Higgs, whose goal is to someday go
into medicine, will begin college this fall. Madeleine Joseph, who has already
received her B.S. in biology at Florida Memorial College, will begin medical
school. Bernadette Jean-Noel will
be attending Florida Community College in Jacksonville to prepare for a career
in physical therapy. Jerome Menard, who has already had three years of training
at The Bahamas Hotel Training College, will pursue a bachelor’s degree in the
culinary arts at Johnson & Wales University in Miami.
Olivia Patterson, who has long had an interest in the protection of the
local environment, will study marine biology this fall.
Waseela Rahim will be in Toronto studying graphic design at Humber
College and Tecuma Sherman will major in education while attending Palm Beach
Atlantic College. A special
award was also given to Diane Claridge to honor and aid her continuing research
of marine mammals.
Each of these students was interviewed by a scholarship
committee following an evaluation of their application and was selected on the
basis of academic preparedness, motivation, maturity and need.
In keeping with the Abaco Pathfinders’ philosophy of giving its
scholarship recipients more than monetary help, a volunteer mentor who resides
near their schools will be paired with each student.
This mentor will maintain regular contact with his or her student and
will be one on whom the student can call for help or advise.
A reception is being planned to honor these fine young people. Abaco Pathfinders is also planning summer workshops on how to succeed in college. These workshops will be open to any student.
- Electronic mail
- General Information: info@abacopathfinders.org