Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute (BTVI) students Dion Mackey, Piaget Cleare and Rodney Cleare are being afforded the opportunity to further their studies in Canada on an Emerging Leaders in the Americas Program (ELAP) scholarship, continuing the program that began in 2009.
Mackey, an information technology major who is also president of the BTVI Gaming Club, will be heading to Fanshawe College in January. He is anxious to discover what Fanshawe has to offer, but also about meeting up with BTVI 2016 graduate Gerrard Russell, who is furthering his education at the same school.
Piaget Cleare, an electronics engineering major, said he is grateful to have been given the opportunity to study abroad. He will attend Holland College.
Rodney Cleare, who is also an electronics engineering major, is presently on a waiting list for the exchange program, but is hopeful that he will be able to take advantage of the study abroad program in the spring at Holland College.
A former resident of Canada, BTVI President Dr. Robert W. Robertson was able to give the students insight on what to expect with the weather and what Canada has to offer. He encouraged them to enjoy the experience and return ready to encourage future exchange students. He also encouraged them to wear warm clothes.
The young men will be continuing a program that started eight years ago. Last year, BTVI student Jonathan Harris-Smith studied information technology at Fanshawe College; Lynderia Clarke and Renel Pierre studied electrical installation at Vancouver Island University; and Cordelia Dean and Mystique Stevenson took the computer systems technician program at Fanshawe College.
The scholarships granted by the Canadian government provide Latin America and Caribbean students with short-term exchange opportunities at the undergraduate and graduate levels. The study abroad program requires students to return to BTVI to complete their studies following the experience.

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