#UnitedStates, August 17, 2017 – Atlanta – The Atlanta Jamaican Association (AJA) has awarded 13 academic scholarships to students pursuing tertiary studies in Jamaica and Atlanta, Georgia.  The presentations were made at the AJA’s annual Independence Ball and Scholarship Awards ceremony held on August 12 at the Sheraton Hotel, downtown Atlanta.

Of the recipients, five are Jamaican students. They are Cadell Green and Joy-Ann Mason, who attend the University of Technology (UTech); University of the West Indies (UWI) students, Tiffany Mason and Dominique Spence; and Janiqua Thelwell, who is studying early-childhood education at The Mico University College.

The other eight scholarship awardees are Ghiselle Brown, Georgia State University; Stone Crews, University of Georgia; Jazz Duncan and Keyanna Ennis, Emory University; Peter Gai Groves, Florida State University; Brianna Ramsey, Mercy University; Natahlia Robinson, Kennesaw University; and Sierra Hart, Washington University.

In her address, Jamaica’s Ambassador to the United States, Her Excellency Audrey Marks, lauded the AJA for providing scholarships to deserving students in Jamaica and Atlanta over the past 22 years.

“It is very commendable that after starting out with just two scholarships in the early days of the association, tonight, 13 students will be the beneficiaries of scholarships from your organisation,” she said.

The Ambassador noted that the awards have assisted tremendously to advance the educational development of the recipients, some of whom will undoubtedly be among the next generation of leaders.   Ambassador Marks also lauded the work of the AJA, which is celebrating 40 years of service this year.

President of the AJA, Alan Stewart, in his remarks said the association is pleased to assist in furthering the education of these worthy students.    “Our way of giving back to our country is to provide these scholarships to college-bound students, both here in Atlanta and in Jamaica,” he said.

Mr. Stewart informed that the scholarship programme was established in 1995 to assist graduating high-school seniors of Jamaican heritage in Atlanta, as well as students in Jamaica, to continue their education.    He said that to date, the organisation has provided more than US$100,000 to students in Jamaica and in the Metro Atlanta area as well as individual awards of US$25,000 to students facing financial hardship.

Mr. Stewart said next year, the association plans to provide funding for full scholarships. Applications for the scholarships are posted on the AJA website at atlantajamaicanassociation.org.

During the function, lifetime membership awards were presented to Joy Booth and Alvin Thomas for giving more than 25 years of service to the AJA, while founding membership awards went to Dr. Juan Reid, Neville Barrett, Dr. Noel Erskine and Glenda Erskine.