UGBC announces recipients of two full scholarships

Sep 01, 2011 News

Professor Daizal Samad, Director of the University of Guyana Berbice Campus (UGBC) has announced the recipients of two full scholarships for new-entry students to the institution.
The Aubrey Blackman Scholarship and the Ned Sookhoo Memorial Scholarship were awarded to Ferial Pestano and Bhim Ramkissoon, respectively. Pestano, a female student of J. C. Chandisingh Secondary School and Ramkissoon, a male student of Skeldon Line Path Secondary, did well at the recent CXC examinations. Pestano has enrolled for the Diploma in Biology while Ramkissoon is registered for Social Work.
Professor Samad explained that the scholarships were granted by his friends Mr. Aubrey Blackman and Mr. Henry Sookhoo, whom the professor met while on vacation in New York City earlier this year. Both sponsors are Berbicians who now reside in New York. The scholarships are worth G$127,000 per year.
Professor Samad expressed his gratitude to the two gentlemen whom he said have make a significant difference to the lives of the two young people.

The two recipients of the scholarships with Professor Samad

“These two Guyanese are helping in ways beyond mere words; they are putting their money where it matters most. Mr. Blackman and Mr. Sookhoo have followed the sublime examples of Mr. Hemraj Kissoon of A H & L Kissoon and Mr. Sattaur Gafoor of Gafoor and Sons who granted three scholarships to UGBC students last year. I am optimistic that other private individuals and businesses will come forward with more of these kinds of gestures.”
The three main criteria were performance at the CXC, financial need, and attitude.
Professor Samad said that it was expected that these two students will work towards excellence in their studies. However, it is also expected that they play a central role in the many outreach activities of the Campus.
“They should set the standards and play a part in the development of UGBC and in the upliftment of our community generally. Of course, failure to maintain a good grade point average could result in the loss of the scholarship. They need to be consistent in their studies and in the contributions to the lives of real people,” the Professor emphasised.
He added that UGBC has been blessed with the support of Religious and Social groups, businesses, and individuals. “This is just the most recent in a long list of such gestures for our Campus. In turn, UGBC is centrally involved in almost all aspects of life in Berbice. I suspect that in giving to the community, we here at UGBC get in return. This is what partnership is all about; this is what UGBC is all about.”
Professor Samad said that there were several applicants for the scholarships which were formally announced at UGBC’s Extra-Ordinary Orientation opening ceremony where the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh and West Indies cricketer Devendra Bishoo were present and gave brief remarks. Also in attendance was Mr. Zulfikar Mustapha, Chairman of Region 6.
Almost 400 new students and their parents were present at the UGBC Extra-Ordinary Orientation.