Students from the BTC Scholars Programme at the College of the Bahamas joined in to give back at BTC’s 2nd Annual School Aid event at Mario’s Bowling and Entertainment Centre.
The ten students, who received academic scholarships from the telecommunications company, teamed up with BTC iVolunteers, community leaders, educational speakers, and health and grooming professionals, to prepare 400 students from Social Services, Urban Renewal, Families of All Murder Victims (FOAM), and BTC’s adopted Old Bight Mission Home for the upcoming school year.
The COB scholars served as chaperones and mentors to the young students as BTC treated the children to an array of services and supplies. A grooming station gave boys fresh new haircuts and shapeups while girls got manicures. Elsewhere, dental and health screenings were also offered.
A bookstore was set-up where each child could select a book of their choice to take home and every child left with a BTC backpack filled with school supplies and a $35.00 grocery voucher.
The children and parents were not the only ones to receive gifts however. As a vote of gratitude, and a reward for their excellent performance in the first year of the scholarship programme, BTC awarded each of the scholars with a $250 gift certificate to defray the costs of books and supplies.
BTC Scholar Kenique Pinder, who is a senior in COB’s Psychology programme said she was excited when BTC approached her about BTC School Aid as working with children is her calling.
“I couldn’t wait to get here this morning,” said Miss Pinder. “My passion is kids. Ever since my BTC scholarship allowed me to remain at COB I have been pursuing a career in child psychology, so I have had a blast working with the children here today.”
Adrian Culmer, who is also a BTC Scholar and is a 3rd year student in COB’s Computer and Application Programming Faculty, said that he also enjoys working with children but his main motivation to give back is thankfulness for what he has been given.
“BTC gave so much to me, having this BTC scholarship has empowered me to be able to focus on my education rather than worry about tuition,” said Mr. Culmer. “So I definitely want to pass that on and give back to these kids.”
Mr. Culmer also left a few words of advice for the children at the event who may want to excel in academia and earn a scholarship as he has done.
“Good grades don’t come easily; you have to be persistent and work toward them. Have discipline, keep focused, and always put God first, those are my keys to success.”
Miss Pinder, Mr. Culmer, and eight other students were selected in 2013 to receive scholarships via the BTC Scholars Programme. The $250,000 programme was established to provide higher education for academically qualified, but financially challenged, COB students who have graduated from a public high school in New Providence, Grand Bahama, or any of the Family Islands.
Indira Collie, Manager of Internal Communication at BTC and lead organiser of the School Aid event said that she is happy that the BTC Scholars share their sponsor’s generosity and appreciation for the importance of education, but is not surprised.
“At BTC we recognize that education is key,” stated Mrs. Collie. “We are more than happy to invest in the development of these school age youngsters at BTC School Aid, just as we were happy to invest in the futures of our BTC Scholars a year ago. The fact that our scholars recognise the value of education and have multiplied what we have given to them by giving again to these children today is a testament to the calibre of students COB chose for our programme and the crucial role that corporate citizens like BTC can play in uplifting a community.”
BTC Scholar Adrian Culmer (l) and BTC CEO Leon Williams (r) give H.E. Governor General Dame Marguerite Pindling a tour of the 2nd Annual School Aid Event at Mario’s Bowling and Entertainment Palace.
