Each year, the Caribbean Bottling Company (Bahamas) Ltd. selects one exceptionally bright primary school student to receive the Carleton W. Williams Scholarship. The six year award, which allows the recipient to pursue their studies at the high school of their choice, has allowed eight other talented, young Bahamian students to continue their education. The Carleton Williams Scholarship Committee always faces the extremely difficult task of choosing just one recipient, but after a long deliberation about the talented and bright group of sixth graders, Maliyah Edgecombe was chosen to receive a full, 6-year scholarship to the Bishop Michael Eldon School in Grand Bahama.
After narrowing down the applicants and meeting the finalists via Zoom video chats, the scholarship committee (which included Nikia Wells, CBC Communications Marketing Manager and Gabriella Suighi, CBC Activations Marketing Manager) chose Maliyah as the recipient because of her stellar grades, glowing recommendations, extracurricular interest in soccer, swimming, dance and playing the piano, as well as her confidence, that is well beyond her years.
“We were once again delighted to interview such bright and ambitious candidates” noted Suighi. “Choosing just one scholarship winner is a great and difficult task. After much deliberation, I am ecstatic to award this scholarship opportunity to Maliyah and look forward to the great things she will go on to accomplish”.
Eleven year old Malaya currently attends the Hugh Campbell Primary School, where she has consistently maintained an “A” average. She dreams of one day becoming an Oncologist, to help others, after several family members tragically passed away from cancer.
When Maliyah’s mother, Sophia Edgecombe, got the good news she was overwhelmed with joy. She gleefully exclaimed, “Thank you! I have no words. I am so grateful. Thank you Jesus.”
Each year, the scholarship review panel alternates between selecting a student from the Garvin Tynes Primary School in New Providence and a student from Grand Bahaha. Maliyah will join last year’s winner, Angela Sands, 2019 recipient Gabriel Hall, 2018 recipients Kennedi Knowles and Anajah Culmer, 2017 recipient Kailena Pinder, and 2016 scholarship winners, D’Ron & T’Ron Strapp.
The scholarship, which was started in 2016, was named after the previous owner and Chairman of the Caribbean Bottling Company, Carleton W. Williams. Not only was Williams a leader and pioneer in the Bahamian business community, he also actively supported the efforts of a number of local charities as a donor and board member, and was committed to nurturing the growth and development of young Bahamians, through education. His dedication to community, culture, youth and the advancement of the Bahamian business community earned him awards from the Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire awarded by Her Majesty the Queen of England, Businessman of the Year from the Chamber of Commerce, the Paul Harris Fellow from The Rotary Club, and the Salvation Army Others Award.
Williams passed away in February 2021, but his legacy will undoubtedly live on in the young scholars who have received the annual scholarship to continue their education, at the high school of their choice. Despite a challenging year for many, and navigating a new educational experience in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Angela, Gabriel, Kennedi, Anajah, Kailena, D’ron and T’ron have continued to excel academically and personally.
