Today, the Belize Bank held a handing-over ceremony for 25 recipients of their first annual secondary school scholarship program.
It's their first attempt at such a big venture, in which they are not only committed to pay all school fees, book, and tuition costs for these 25 students, they'll do it for an entire 4-year period.
7News attended the ceremony, which was held at the Whitfield Tower this morning and We got a chance to speak with some of the recipients.
Lyndon Guiseppi, CEO - BBC Holdings
"As we approach the 25th anniversary of the bank earlier this year in May we started contemplating what legacy would this August institution the Belize Bank leave when we are long and gone. What would be the impact of the Belize Bank on the society of Belize and as we discuss that issue, and as we ponder these things we felt that the greatest that the Belize Bank would leave for this country would be a legacy of education; access to primary, secondary and tertiary education. Against that background ladies and gentlemen a committee including Ms. Michael, myself and a number of other staff members decided that we were going to expand the scholarship program which we initiated for staff to include the wider Belizean society but particularly targeted at students entering the secondary school system."
"We felt that it's a travesty of justice when bright young people who can in fact go on to greater things and denied education simply because of affordability."
Scholarship receipient
"I feel honored especially to be here to accept this prestigious award and to be in the presence of everyone here. My grandfather got the news and he told me Tuesday and I actually jumped for joy. I know that now my parents and grandparents won't have to scrape up the little of change that they have to send me to school. It will be a big help to my family and to me."
Scholarship receipient
"I feel good because now my mom will save a lot of money and I just have to keep my good work. I feel good. I want to take out a doctorate degree and my biggest goal is to go to Harvard to study there."
The recipients are all graduates of primary school, who will move on to high school in the coming school year.
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