We are delighted to announce outstanding results from our scholarship students who have recently completed either Lower Sixth Form (12th grade in the US) or Fifth Form (11th grade in the US).

Samantha Dicker, now in Lower Sixth Form at Hampton, passed nine subjects. She received seven 1s (the highest grade) and two 2s (the next highest grade). The 1s were in English, Biology, Food & Nutrition, Home Management, Information Technology, Principles of Business, and Social Studies; her 2s were in Mathematics and Principles of Accounts.

Kimberlee Taylor, also now in Lower Sixth Form at Hampton, received three grade 1s and five grade 2s. Her 1s were in English, Information Technology, and Spanish; her 2s were in Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics, and Principles of Accounts.

Dave Lloyd, who has completed Lower Sixth at Munro, received two grade 2s (distinctions) and two grade 3s (credits) at CAPE level. Dave is currently taking time off to study for his SATs and plans to enter university in the US next year.

These three young people are to be congratulated. They are indicative of the fine students Treasure Beach Foundation has been supporting over the years. Their perseverance and focus has allowed them to achieve all this—and more. Your continuing donations and purchase of villa raffle tickets has enabled the financial support that has afforded them these opportunities.

Thank you!

Congratulations! Your hard work is paying off and you are setting a wonderful example for the children coming up behind you.

Congratulations to all of our TBF student scholars! Special recognition is extended to Samantha Dicker, Kimberlee Taylor and University-bound Dave Lloyd. Their achievements depended upon hard work and extra effort. Investment in TBF student scholars comes from many sources: their dedicated teachers and administrators, their families and community as well as the generous financial contributions to TBF. It has been my honor to serve on the TBF Board and to witness the progress made by the TBF student scholars. Achievement is often challenging to attain; failure does not have to be an option.

Congratulations Dave, Kimberlee and Samantha. What great accomplishments!

Wishing each of you continued success.

Way to go everyone: students, teachers, parents and the Treasure Beach Foundation!

Also, congratulations to Karen Kennedy who we all know is the driving force that made the Foundation happen.

Wonderful to see the results after years of hard work on the part of everyone concerned with this brilliant programme.

Could someone explain what CAPE is?

It is a shame this program will not be continuing forever. Yet I am inspired by how the vision of one person has made a permanent and positive change on the lives of many others. Thank you.

I also appreciate what Treasure Beach Foundation has done for our community.

I hope the following explains the CAPEs, and I invite further clarification.

The Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) offers two levels of examinations and certifications:

• the Caribbean Secondary Education Certification (CSEC)

• the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations (CAPE)

Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSECs) are usually taken by students after five years of secondary school (after Fifth Form), and mark the end of standard secondary education. These exams are often called the CXC exams because they were the only examinations offered by the CXC from 1979 until 1998.

Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations (CAPEs) are taken by students who have completed their secondary education and wish to continue their studies. Students who wish to sit for the CAPEs usually possess CSEC or an equivalent certification. The CAPE is equivalent to the British Advanced Levels (A-levels); they are both voluntary qualifications that are intended for university entrance. Since they were introduced in 1998, the number of CAPE subjects has increased.

The CSECs are generally viewed as an employment qualification for some positions as they certify the holder as a secondary school graduate. The CAPEs are considered a suitable qualification for furthering studies through tertiary education.

Generally, A-Level or CAPE examinations are required to enter Jamaica’s universities. One may also qualify after having earned a 3-year diploma from an accredited post-secondary college. The word college usually denotes institutions which do not grant at least a bachelor's degree. Universities are typically the only degree-granting institutions; however, many colleges have been creating joint programs with universities, and thus are able to offer some students more than a college diploma.

Question to Karen and others in-the know:
In the history of the TBF scholarship program, what "rough" percentage of those graduates have garnered scholarships to higher education?
Do you have a general feel or breakdown of the percentage of your scholars, who have earned scholarships to universities; how many remain in Jamaica for higher education; how many study abroad versus how many remain in Jamaica after the completion of higher studies, and how many take their talents to other countries for employment after graduation.

In essence, does the TBF follow your scholars' "eventualities" for some period of time after their major education has been completed. It seems as though that "follow up" would provide worthy anecdotes and be a good "marketing" strategy for continued interest in the Foundation.

We started awarding scholarships for the school year starting in the fall of 2006. So far, none of the students in the program has yet entered university. So the accurate (not rough) answer to your question about what percentage of our graduates has garnered a scholarship for tertiary education is zero. (We do have one student who will soon be applying to universities.)

We believe many of our students are worthy of a university scholarship, but the driving influences for those will be their parents and the principals of their high schools. We are, however, pleased to offer advice to any student if and when we are asked.

This is a program for HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS and was never intended to provide for college or university. A full scholarship costs more than $2,000 a year. American. That means a full scholarship for 5-7 years is worth $10,000 to $14,000. It is extremely generous.