Tristar Insurance Brokers & Agents Ltd. has pledged to invest more than $50,000 into education through the Tristar Education Optimization Program (TEOP).
TEOP is a pilot program designed to provide targeted corporate mentorship and financial support to Government High School (GHS) for the 2015/2016 school year. Thirty students in grades 11 and 12 were recently inducted into the program at the official launch event held at the British Colonial Hilton hotel.
"Under the theme 'I am the change', our goal is to influence a new generation of leaders in our communities through education and character building programs," stated Harold Antor, CEO of Tristar Insurance Brokers & Agents Ltd.
TEOP will provide a 360-degree approach to mentorship. This will include sponsored leadership initiatives with mentorship from successful Bahamian professionals. Financial support by way of investments in the school's technological resources will also be made. Further, students will have the opportunity to participate in summer work study and career training at Tristar's offices.
At the culmination of the program, one TEOP member will receive a four-year scholarship to attend The College of The Bahamas and entry into the prestigious President Scholar's Program.
"The Ministry of Education welcomes Tristar's partnership to help develop the next generation of leaders," stated Joel Lewis, acting deputy director of school management, Ministry of Education. "We fully endorse this initiative and encourage the students to capitalize on this opportunity. This is the experience of a lifetime."
Commencing November 11, the TEOP teams will meet every Wednesday at Government High School from 3:15 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. to engage in presentations, debates and character building activities.
Leaders in the business, medical and education fields have pledged to serve as mentors in the program. Mentors include Stacey Dean, Michael Diggiss, Dr. Carnille Farquharson, Deon Knowles, Livingston Malcolm, Nicholas McDonald, Anastarcia Palacious, Montino Roberts and Shantel Saunders.
"Tristar is doing a wonderful thing because we can't do it alone," stated Eloise Whyms, principal, Government High School. "This year GHS celebrates 90 years. When we go back in history, you will see that in times when we were successful, it was because everyone played a role in bringing up the children."
Government High School was selected by an independent selection and advisory committee as the beneficiary of the pilot TEOP program after beating out four other public schools. The advisory committee is comprised of business and education leaders including Davinia Blair, director of development, alumni relations and development, The College of The Bahamas; Elma Garraway, former Ministry of Education permanent secretary; Andrew Roberts, HR director, John Bull and Debra Symonette, financial controller, Super Value.
TEOP is yet another pillar in Tristar's corporate architecture which demonstrates community commitment. It supplements Tristar's Broker Development Program launched in 2014, designed to identify and train the next cadre of insurance sales executives and entrepreneurs. Several success stories are already emerging from the Broker Development Program.
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