Treasure Beach Foundation is absolutely delighted to announce the winners of the scholarships for the 2008-2009 school year.

The winners were selected by our Board of Directors based upon the students’ academic averages from their last two years at Sandy Bank Primary School; the detailed essays they wrote in response to 15 different questions; in-depth recommendations from Sandy Bank; and their GSAT scores. The essays told us a lot about each student: their motivation, imagination, problem-solving ability, and character. The schools’s recommendations meant a lot because the staff has known these students for many years and has developed a close relationship with each one.

These scholarships reflect the Board’s opinions on which students are most likely to succeed as they progress through high school—and hopefully beyond. It was exceedingly difficult for us to determine the winners, and we regret that we could not award scholarships to even more students.

Treasure Beach Foundation scholarships are quite inclusive and valuable because they cover not only school fees—but also transport, uniforms, books and supplies, and lunches.

Three full scholarships and three half scholarships were awarded.

Tajera Vernon of Great Bay will become a student at Hampton School with a full scholarship from Treasure Beach Foundation. Tajera wants to be a physician, hopefully working with a charitable organization. She enjoys math and science most in school. Tajera’s teachers said she has “great potential to excel academically” and she “strives to do well at all times.” She has ranked first or second in her class at Sandy Bank for the past two years, and her GSAT scores were exemplary.

Another full scholarship, the Stuart Duggan Memorial Scholarship, was awarded to Shannalee Ebanks of Great Bay. She will be attending Black River High. She is described as “highly motivated, ambitious, intelligent, considerate, and respectful.” Shanalee’s teachers said “she strives to perform well in school at all times.” Her favorite subjects are math and social studies. Even though she finds science difficult, she is doing her best in that subject and hopes to become a doctor.

An additional full scholarship goes to Shane Parchment of Billy’s Bay who will be attending Munro College. He is an animal lover whose favorite subjects are science and math; he wants to become a veterinarian. If he could be the teacher for a day, he would want to teach the students “respect, both for themselves and others.” Shane’s teachers feel he has high academic ability and is very “pleasant, courteous, honest, and ambitious”; they also believe he has the potential to become a role model for others.

Kemelia Lyons of Sandy Bank District will become a student at St. Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) next fall and is the recipient of a half scholarship. She is interested in becoming a pediatrician and most enjoys math and science. She feels competing for her scholarship has encouraged her to do the best she can. Her school recommendation includes such descriptors as well-focused, highly motivated, and honest; her teachers have said she “approaches her work with a sense of purpose” and is a “budding teacher” because she uses her break time to teach concepts to other students.

Stephano Hynes from Sandy Bank District will also receive a half scholarship. He will be attending Munro College. His favorite subject is social studies, and his next favorite is math. Though Stefano doesn’t yet have a specific career in mind, he wants to receive a “solid education” so he can get a good job and provide for his family and himself. His teachers feel he has the “ability to excel academically” and “promotes peace.”

Shandapaul Strachan (more commonly known as Buju) of Lewis Town will be attending Black River High on a half scholarship in the fall. His teachers tell us he is “quite intelligent, courteous, shows willingness to do his school work, and tries to maintain good standards.” He most enjoys math and social studies. He has numerous goals; these include having a family who has a better life than he has had—and helping the poor, sick, and elderly; he would also like to be a chess grandmaster.



left to right: Shanalee Ebanks, Stephano Hynes, Shane Parchment, Shandapaul (“Buju”) Strachan, Kemelia Lyons, and Tajera Vernon.

Hearty congratulations to all the winners. We applaud you for your outstanding efforts and accomplishments. And we applaud the fine staff at Sandy Bank Primary School for their dedicated work with these students. We also offer congratulations to the families of the winners because we know that each of them has made sacrifices and has worked diligently to inspire a respect for the value of education.

For those unfamiliar with the Jamaican educational system, even public school attendees have few of their costs covered by the government; this makes education virtually unaffordable for many families in the Treasure Beach area. The cost of attending high school for one year (including all expenses) starts at about $2,000 U.S. In a place such as Treasure Beach where most who are employed cannot rely on a full-time, continuous salary—and many others are able to find only occasional part-time work, or must depend upon the uncertainties of fishing or whether or not they are able to sell their produce, one can imagine the difficulties of providing a good education for their children. However, having a good education is a necessity for most employment, especially the newer jobs. The necessity for a good education—but the inability to afford it—is a cycle that Treasure Beach Foundation hopes to help break.

Anyone who has it in their heart to help a deserving student succeed is encouraged to donate to Treasure Beach Foundation. Our overhead expenses are minimal, and all work for the Foundation is done on a volunteer basis; this means the vast majority of your contribution goes directly to the children. Online donations are welcome in any amount; they can be made by going to www.rainbowtreevillas.com/foundation and are tax-deductible to the full extent of the law in both the U.S. and U.K.

We are currently selling raffle tickets for a week at beautiful Doubloon Villa. 100% of the proceeds of this raffle will go toward our Scholarship Fund. Buying one or more tickets supports these students and gives you an opportunity to win a week’s stay for up to six people at Doubloon.

congratulations to my niece Tajera and my cousin Shanalee. Good job guys, so proud of you both. This is such a blessing, wish you all the best in your future endeavors. Hope to see you soon Taj,luv ya.

Auntie Dadrie

Congratulations to all!

Congrats to my cousin shane parchment,you go boy the sky is the limit.

I just want to say thank you to the Treasure Beach Foundation for awarding a scholarship to my daughter Tajera Vernon. I would also like to thank her teachers for their hard work and dedication. Taj I am so proud of you.Keep up the good work. I love you.

congratulations Tajera on being one of the scholarship recipients.All your hard work and determination has paid off and now that you are off to your dream school (Hampton School) i hope you will continue to do your best.

Congratulation to my cusin Shanalee and stephano
and kimelia,and all you harding working young student, i am so happy for you all note that hard work bring you this far keep on working harder and all the best.


taneisha

Amazing. Absolutely amazing. The way I figure, there are 17 students on scholarship. If that's not NEWS, what is? C'mon, people, support Treasure Beach Foundation. Buy a raffle ticket. Buy five of them. Donate. Do something. This is for the people and community we so admire and respect and love.

Great job T/Beach Foundation and Teachers; congrats students and BIG-UP to Great Bay parents .

Dear friends of Treasure Beach Foundation and the Stuart Duggan Memorial Scholarship. I am delighted to hear of this year’s scholarship awards and, as Stuart Duggan’s mother, I am particularly delighted to know that Shanalee Ebanks has been awarded Stuart’s Memorial Scholarship for 2008.

Congratulations to Shanalee and her fellow winners for working so hard and for being such a credit to their families, friends and to Sandy Bank School. I wish you all every success in the future and hope to meet Shanalee – and catch up with last year’s inspirational winner, Samantha Dicker - when I come out to Treasure Beach later this year.

So many friends of my dear Stuart and myself have been extra generous and supportive of the Memorial Scholarship and the work of Treasure Beach Foundation. I cannot say how much it means to me to remember him in this way. You are all helping to give these children the education that they so richly deserve and which Stuart so wanted for them. I thank you all from the bottom of my heart.

Congratulations to all the hardworking students who've been awarded scholorships this year!Keep up the good work!Many thanks to the T/Beach Foundation as well.

Many congratulations to Shane and Shandapaul, and of course all the other students as well. I couldn't be more proud of grade six!
Miss you all
Miss Adrienne

The process that Treasure Beach Foundation uses to evaluate the students is taken very seriously by the Board members. It is a process that looks at the individual applicants in multiple ways, and the results require the consensus of Board members after many meetings and conversations. I have noticed over the past three years that the quality of applications have improved, as well as the overall grade averages. It shows that the students are aware that our Scholarship Program offers a great opportunity for them, and the competition is getting tougher.
I want to congratulate all who have participated in the program, and follow with great interest the progress of our winners after they move on. I feel like I have a vested interest in their futures, and that is a good feeling.

As a member of the Treasure Beach Foundation Board of Directors, I want to congratulate all of this year's scholarship winners. If you do your part and continue to do well academically, we will do everything we can to continue to support you.

A hearty congratulations to all the recipients of the full and half scholarships. You each earned this reward and I wish you continued successes due to your hard work and diligence.

To the Treasure Beach Foundation, a sincere THANK YOU for all the time, effort, thought, consideration and money you all have put into this wonderful scholarship fund. I wish I could accurately describe the broadness of the smiles I saw yesterday when the winners were announced. As I wrote to someone on the board of directors this morning, pride is a beautiful thing when well earned and these students, thanks to your stringent criteria, earned the pride they felt yesterday.

Wishing all involved, indluding all who purchased raffle tickets and made donations, continued success!

Congratulations to all the students who worked hard, kept focused and perservered. It is difficult to reach your dreams but you can do it! And also to the Treasure Beach Foundation - a big thank you for organizing and providing this opportunity.

As one of the founders of the Stuart Duggan Memorial Scholarship and the owner of Doubloon Villa, I would also like to extend heartfelt congratulations to all the scholarship winners and, indeed, to all those children who worked so hard for their GSAT results and made their families and teachers proud.

It wasn’t without a tear in my eye that I learnt of Shanalee Ebanks winning my great friend Stuart’s memorial award this year. I have every confidence that she will follow in the inspiring footsteps of last year’s winner, Samantha Dicker. Stuart really would have been greatly impressed by you both.

Now, for those of you who have yet to make a contribution to Treasure Beach Foundation’s scholarship program, don’t forget that there is still time to buy a raffle ticket or five! An extra-specially warm welcome and an unforgettable vacation at Doubloon Villa are absolutely assured!

Congratulations to all! I am so excited to see your names as scholarship winners and know that you will take every opportunity to excel! I will always remember you
With love, Miss Jess

Congratulations to Shanalee and Kemelia.I hope you will continue to work hard,because as you see hard work does pays off.

Aloha and congratulations to the outstanding scholarship winners!
Best wishes,
Joe and Patti Shannon

Heartfelt congratulations to everyone, especially to Tajera Vernon and Shane Parchment.
Best wishes for a lifetime of learning, success and happiness.

congratulation Taj and Shanalee i'm proud of you both and the full scholarship sound good so i'll see you soon taj . luv antie kal

Congrats to all the students who passed their GSAT exams this year and especially to the scholarship recipients. Special thanks to the T/Beach Foundation and the Stuart Duggan Memorial Fund for the tremendous work they do in making these scholarships a reality. Thanks too to the well wishers who continue to assist us with their contributions. Speaking as a parent whose child received a scholarship, you can only imagine how much you have reduced the stress in my life. Please keep up the good work.

The Principal.
Once again all our students have done us proud by their overall performance in the GSAT examination.We are even more proud that of the twenty eight of them who sat this examination six of them were given scholarships by the Treasure Beach Foundation. This year the competition was much harder but these students gave their all and the teacher really put them through the pace.I know of the hard work that all the teachers put in to make these students succeed.To the Directors of the Treasure Beach Foundation a BIG THANK YOU on behalf of the Principal and Staff, Parents and Students of the Sandy Bank Primary School.You are all helping in making a difference in the lives of these students and in the community in general.THANK YOU to Mrs.Diana Duggan,her family and friends for their contributions to the Sturat Duggan Memorial Scholarship. We know that wherever he is he must be happy for the great effort that is made in keeping his memory alive.THANKS to all those of you who have bought tickets and will buy tickets for the Villa raffle towards this worthy cause. You can all rest assure that every dollar made will be well spent under the watchfull eye of Karen Kennedy the master mind of this great venture.Doubloon Villa is a great place to spend a great vacation.THANKS Judy for making your villa available for this cause.

Congratulation to Buju, Well done and keep up the good work.

Are there individual photos of the winners? I think I recognize one of the boys and would like to see a closeup photo of him.

Congratulations to all! You all have worked very hard. Your parents must be so happy and proud of you! Warm wishes especially to Shane, Laura and Aman! Shane is just glowing in his photograph. I'm so proud to know you!

If you want to see photos of each of the winners, please go to: http://www.rainbowtreevillas.com/foundation.html.

Congratulatin to my brother Buju on obtaining the scholorship to Munro College. I am really proud of you, and may God continue to bless and guide you in your studies.

Brilliant programme. Congratulations to all involved!

I want to congratulate every single student who participated in this year's Treasure Beach Foundation's Educational Scholarship Application and Process. Every single one of you are winners!! To the scholarship students, each of you are to be commended... Be sure to reach for the stars and use your special educational gift wisely. Education is your key to your successful future. Study hard and make your family, your friends and your community always proud of you. Respect Always!!

Congratulations to all the students who were successful in the GSAT Exams!!! Thanks to all the teachers at the Sandy Bank Primary School who have worked so hard to prepare the students. Special gratitude to the Treasure Beach Foundation and all the other sponsors for their invaluable contribution. God bless you!

Congratulations to each and every scholarship winner! You are all outstanding.

Milt and I are especially proud to see Shane Parchment's name on this distinguished list. We have known Shane since we started visiting Billy's Bay in 2002 and have watched him grow into a really fine young man and a bruiser of a football player! Congratulations Shane! We hope to see you and hear about Munro College when we visit again next winter.

Congratulations "Buju" for a job well done, keep up the good work and you will go far.
Love you Valrie, Bones, Rudy, Justin and D'nean

A hearty congratulations to all my GSAT placed students at The Sandy Bank Primary School. You have all done well and I am proud of you all. However, I am extremely proud of the scholarship winners. Well done my babies, it seems like it was only yesterday I was teaching you in grade two. I am so proud I would cry. All the best in the future Mrs. Montague.

Am quite glad this Forum is again working. There had been some stats on the GSAT results of Sandy Bank versus the parish or country. I cannot find them or even know where to look. Who has them to put here again?

congratulation tajera i am proud of u,keep up the good work love u

I have most of the figures and shall post them tomorrow.

As I recall, one reason these were posted had to do with someone having made a comment suggesting Sandy Bank Primary was doing a less-than-admirable job teaching the Treasure Beach students.

I do not have the GSAT figures for the parish of St. Elizabeth; however, I have the figures for Jamaica as a whole and the figures for Sandy Bank Primary.

Six different subjects are contained in the two-day GSAT (Grade Six Achievement Test) for the grade six students. The results of these exams determine in what high school they get placed. (We at Treasure Beach Foundation use the results in deciding who is awarded a scholarship, but there are many other criteria we use in addition to the exam grades. In fact, our Board has carefully reviewed each applicant prior to when we receive the exam scores; that is why we are able to then award the scholarships so quickly: the GSATs are the only missing piece of the “puzzle.”)

Sandy Bank Primary versus Jamaican National Averages:
• Mathematics – Sandy Bank 4% higher
• Science – Sandy Bank 23% higher
• Social Studies – Sandy Bank 11% higher
• Language Arts – Sandy Bank 14% higher
• Communications Tasks – 13% higher
• Overall – 13% higher

Treasure Beach Foundation Scholarships (for Sandy Bank Primary Students) versus Jamaican National Averages:
• Mathematics – 59% higher
• Science – 56% higher
• Social Studies – 57% higher
• Language Arts – 53% higher
• Communications Tasks – 37% higher
• Overall – 53% higher

In summary, while there is always room for improvement, the students at Sandy Bank Primary are doing quite well.

A warm and hearty congratulations to all the students who did exceptionally well in the GSAT,especially the scholarship awardees.I am really proud of you.Continue doing what you do best......... making us proud!I would also like to encourage you to follow the wise words of your past school's motto..........."Aim High".

Isn't Kimberlee a past scholarship winner? I am wondering how all the past winners are doing with their studies. It would also be good to hear some thoughts from those who have recently been selected for scholarships.

I would like to know about the scholarship winners are doing also. I am very interested in education in Treasure Beach.

Stefano
I Stefano would like to say thanks to the Treasure Beach Foundation for making me a scholarship recepiant. The scholarship that I have obtained has given me the drive to work harder and I will do my best through my high school career.It has made an impact in our lives. My parents are truly grateful for the big help from this scholarship.Thank you again for making this possible for me.

Shane Parchment
I am one of the proud student who have received a scholarship.I just want to say thanks to the Treasure Beach Foundation and all the sponsors who made it possible for me to receive a full scholarship.I also want to send a special thank you to Mrs Kennedy and all the teachers I can assure you that I will go to Munro College and do my best because I am very grateful for this opportunity and I will not waste it.

Shandapaul
Dear Members of the Treasure Beach Foundation,
I would like to thank you and all those who have contributed to the Sandy Bank Primary School Scholarship Fund.I am grateful for the Scholarship to Black River High School. I will try to do my best to keep up my studies so I can continue to earn your trust and support in the years to come. I would like to thank all my teachers,especially Miss Zane for taking her weekends off to teach extra classes on Saturdays.

Tajera.
I would like to extend a heart-warming thank you to The Treasure Beach Foundation for awarding me this prestigiouu scholarship. Your contribution towards financing my education on a higher levl will enable me to pursue my goals and thus play an integral part in the development of my country.Although I have worked hard, I couldn't have done it without the help and encouragement my teachers, especially Miss Zane and for that I am eternally grateful. I now look forward to a new school and all that it will have to offer.I can assure the Treasure beach Foundation and all well wishers that I will work to the best of my ability.I will ensure that my academic achivements will be of the highest standard. Again, I thank you all and may the Lord in his richest mercies bless you all.

Kemelia.
I, Kemelia lyons would like to convey my deepest and most gracious gratitude to the Treasure Beach Foundation for making me a scholarship recipiant. My family and I are truly grateful for it, as this will make a great impact on our lives. I will do my utmost best to make everyone one proud and not regret this decision.I would like to thank my friends, family, my teacher Miss Zane and all my other teachers for believing in me but most of all I would like to thank God for helping me to be successful.Once again, I'll say thanks for my spectacular opportunity and I will strive for success throughout my high school years.

Shannalee
I, Shannalee Ebanks would like to say thanks to the Duggan family and the Treasure Beach Foundation for awarding me the Sturat Duggan scholarship for 2008. I will work to the best of my ability to maintain good grades and to achieve more in life. The scholarship really means a lot to me and will help me to work even harder.I know that I couldn't have done it without the help of my family, friends and especially my teachers. Once again, I want to say thanks for the scholarship that you have awarded me. May God continue to bless you all.

Wow, those are some of the nicest postings I've read on this forum in a long time.

Thanks to all of you for taking the time to write them. It encourages me to purchase more raffle tickets next year.

Blessing to each one of you!

To the new Treasure Beach Foundation scholarship winners: Thank you so much for your kind words. May each of you take full advantage of the wonderful opportunities and challenges that await you as you enter high school. We are expecting great things from each of you—and know you have the ability and determination to go far in life.

Hoping for a bright future for all the scholarship winners, their friends and families.

Good job guys!!!
And tajera i'll see you at Hampton in september!

Proud of you all as I am of Usain.

Best.

Such a great accomplishment on the part of each of these students. I echo the other sentiments of congratulations.

Good luck, Shane. You do us all proud!