In 1997, many of you reading this will know that a young Englishman by the name of Stuart Duggan arrived in Treasure Beach. A well-respected civil servant in the UK, he had decided to take up a new life challenge in Jamaica and settled in the Great Bay area of Treasure Beach.

With his honest and hardworking approach to life, he truly appreciated the Treasure Beach community, and they welcomed him as a family would. He particularly loved the local children, but he was concerned that some of them were missing out on the education they deserved because it was just too expensive.

In April 2006, Stuart suffered a massive and totally unexpected heart attack which took his life. His premature death at the age of 40 shocked everyone, not least the loving, caring woman that Stuart had married only months earlier, Shirley Genus of Great Bay.

After Stuart's death, however, an idea emerged amongst his family and friends that there was a way in which Stuart's memory could live on. This idea today becomes a reality.

Therefore, it is with absolute pleasure that the family and friends of the late Stuart Duggan now announce the launch of The Stuart Duggan Memorial Scholarship.

Working hand-in-hand with Treasure Beach Foundation, this scholarship will be awarded for the first time to a student graduating from Sandy Bank Primary School in June 2007. It will be governed and administered by the criteria already established by Treasure Beach Foundation.

Like the other Treasure Beach Foundation scholarships, it will cover school tuition and fees, transportation, uniforms, books, school supplies and lunches. It will be a full scholarship, and will be valued at more than $2,000 (U.S.); the exact amount will depend upon which high school the recipient attends. As with other Treasure Beach Foundation scholarships, we intend to provide ongoing support to the winner as he or she continues through school.

We also have every intention of awarding another such scholarship in 2008 and subsequent years so that we can give long-term thanks to the Treasure Beach community which gave so much support and love to Stuart.

If you knew Stuart and/or feel you would like to make a donation towards this scholarship, in whatever amount, then details of how you can do this can be found at: www.rainbowtreevillas.com/foundation.

We believe that this is a very positive way of celebrating Stuart's life and are absolutely convinced that this is something of which he would thoroughly approve. Any contribution you can give will be most definitely appreciated, not least by a truly talented and deserving scholarship winner.

We are so very delighted about this scholarship. It is a wonderful tribute to a wonderful man. Plus, this means that we will be able to award an additional scholarship in June 2007.

The Stuart Duggan Memorial Scholarship would not have been possible without the dedication and cooperation of many people, coordinating from three different countries. In particular, I would like to thank Stuart’s family – especially his mother, Diana Duggan; his wife, Shirley Genus-Duggan; and his aunt, Pam Partridge. Special thanks also are extended to both Rebecca Wiersma and Judy Hanley.

Now, kind readers, please go to the page and make a donation. Any amount will be dearly appreciated.

I've just read this posting plus the information on the webpage linked to it. Am sorry I never met Stuart as he sounded like a truly wonderful person. This is a lovely thing to be doing in his memory and a lovely thing to be doing for the children. I could not be more impressed with the scholarship program.

Big up to all involved with this!

Counting this new scholarship, how many scholarships will be awarded in June, 2007? Will Treasure Beach Foundation decide who gets all the scholarships, including the one in Stuart's memory? (It's fine with me; I am merely curious.)

Answers to questions:

* This scholarship will be in addition to the ones already budgeted for by Treasure Beach Foundation. Until the scholarships are announced, only our Board of Directors knows the exact number we plan to award. (Hint: Last year we awarded five.)

* Yes, Treasure Beach Foundation determines who gets all the scholarships, including the Stuart Duggan Memorial Scholarship. Stuart's family is aware of our criteria, and they believe that it is only fair we use the same criteria to award the scholarship in his memory.

WOW! MEMORIES..........MEMORIES. I am truly honoured to have known a winner and could not be happier to have been married to him and then to have his HIS community, family and friends elevate and honour him in such wonderful manner.... tears!!!....lost for words......... He loved Treasure Beach (sometimes i think more than he loved me..... HA!). As friend and companion, i am also honoured and thank all the stake holders.

I am truly happy that this wonderful venture will be taking place in honour of a man who truly deserves to be remembered in such a manner.On behalf of the teachers, parents and students of the Sandy Bank Primary School I say a big THANK YOU.Stuart would have been very pleased to know that a child will benefit form something as wonderful as this.I am sure that any child who gets this scholorship will make the best use of it. Again thanks to everyone involved in this wonderful venture.

The fundraising flyers are being printed this week and will be distributed immediately to all the contacts of Stuart's family and friends, mostly in the UK. We are so determined to make this a lasting memorial, a scholarship that can be awarded year after year.

We will, of course, keep you all posted on our progress!

You might want to put some of those flyers in hotels and guesthouses and restaurants in Treasure Beach. Would probably be good if Treasure Beach Foundation did the same; I figure they'll be awarding 10 or so scholarships come this June, and I can't imagine they also don't need donations.

Great idea, Emily. I'll make sure I send a stock over to Treasure Beach. If there are any hotel/guesthouse/restaurant owners reading this who can and want to help, just send me an email to judy@hanleypr.com.

Many thanks!

i never know stewart but by reading the forum i can see all the good things that has been said about him and this is such a great thing to do in his honor and it is also helping the kids i must give each and every one that is involve a very big applaud keep up the good work and god bless you all.

Treasure Beach Foundation should have brochures, but we don't. (We will -- one of these days, I promise.) For right now, info is available at www.RainbowTreeVillas.com/foundation.

Also, Emily, we will not be awarding 10 new scholarships this June. We will definitely, to some extent, continue to support the five winners from 2006. And, we will be awarding several new scholarships for 2007 (including the one for Stuart); the number is undetermined at this time.