Adrianna Knowles, a Ministry of Tourism Cacique Award Scholarship recipient at The College of The Bahamas (COB), traveled to New York last June to compete in a sustainable tourism competition; In fall 2013, Phylicia Romer and Myran Sands lived and studied in Mexico on a study abroad opportunity, made possible through the Santander Study Abroad scholarship.

A growing number of students at COB are taking advantage of opportunities for international exposure and to enrich their academic experiences as a result of corporate donors and private sponsors.

"Being afforded the scholarship has done so much more than allowed me to advance myself academically, I've grown as a person [and] I've grown as a cultural activist," said Romer, reflecting on her cultural immersion experience that included taking courses at La Universidad Internacional (The International University) and living with a family in Mexico.

"Being exposed to another culture, that is completely different from your own, being exposed to a way of thinking, that is completely different from what you are accustomed to, has opened my mind to so much more," she said.

Romer, along with other COB students, recently got the chance to thank their benefactors at a specially organized "Meet The Students" reception at COB's Oakes Field campus. Held every academic year, the reception gives the students who benefit from private support the opportunity to interact, network and share their experiences with donors.

Also at the event, representatives from Scotiabank (Bahamas) Ltd. presented their fifth installment of $100,000 towards scholarships and the Study Abroad Programme at COB.

Giving to support COB by funding scholarships, endowments and study abroad experiences is a crucial step that is building a better academy, better communities and a better country.

There is an undeniable nexus between private support and the public good, according to the Acting President of The College of The Bahamas Dr. Earla Carey-Baines. She said COB could not achieve its goal of supporting and driving national development, which is the goal of providing a quality college education to as many Bahamians as possible, without the support of the donors.

"Through their vision and generosity we're able to change the lives of many young Bahamians, who are able to achieve the dream of a college education here at home," said Dr. Carey-Baines.

"It is because of this our students, who represent a variety of majors, are able to pursue studies that would lead to better lives for themselves and their families.

This investment in them represents an investment in our future." COB has been moving deliberately towards its transition to become The University of The Bahamas. Creating a university requires enduring partnerships from public as well as private partners.

According to Janet Johnson, director of Maritime Tourism at the Ministry of Tourism, and liaison for the Cacique Awards Scholarship, funding this scholarship is important in order to develop a cadre of students who consider tourism as a career opportunity.

"We want to be able to assist the best and the brightest to achieve their objectives and to hopefully bring those skills into the Ministry of Tourism, but if they don't, tourism is everybody's business, so wherever they decide to go, we feel that they will make a contribution and keep in mind the tenants of the scholarship we provide," she explained.

Johnson also represented the Basil Lawrence Ivan Johnson Scholarship, established in honor of her late father. "Our father was very much a person who believed in education and he especially loved English.

In the evenings, up until close to the time that he died, he would labor at doing crossword puzzles. We thought because he was so committed to the English language and loved it so, it would be really good to sponsor a kid who was interested in English," she said.

This is the kind of giving that COB welcomes in order to extend access to tertiary education to increasing numbers of students and prepare them to participate as global citizens.

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