Prime Minister Announces Polytechnic University Scholarship Recipients
September 20, 2007
St. John's, Antigua
Prime Minsiter the Hon. Baldwin Spencer on Thursday announced the recipients of the 2007 Silver Jubilee Independence Scholarships to pursue studies at Polytechnic University in Brooklyn New York.
“The Silver Jubilee Scholarship Committee, having examined the qualifications and interviewed all of the applicants have recommended six students to pursue degree studies in one of the most prestigious research universities in the United States and I am confident that each individual will make Antigua and Barbuda Proud,” said Prime Minister Spencer.
The six students selected include Island Scholar Maurica Lewis who will be pursuing studies in Chemical and Biological Engineering. The other recipients are Nicholaus Rogers and Adrian Gordon who are working towards degrees in Bio-Molecular Science; Kurt Williams - Business and Technology Management, Orrin Phillip - Computer Engineering and Jamel Pelle - Mechanical/Aerospace Engineering.
Prime Minister Spencer said that the continued growth and development of Antigua and Barbuda is heavily dependent on how best his government empowers the nation's young people educationally.
“Developing the intellectual aptitude of our youth, by giving them opportunities to pursue tertiary studies in some of the top universities around the world is a major guiding principle of my government. We are totally committed to this policy,” said Prime Minister Spencer.
Chairperson of the Silver Jubilee Independence Scholarship Committee, Maurice Merchant said that there were over fifty applications for the six scholarships that were available for the 2007-2008 Academic Year.
“We received such an overwhelming response to the Polytechnic scholarships that the committee decided to recommend to the Honourable Prime Minister that an additional six students be selected to commence studies during the Spring Semester. This announcement the Prime Minister will make shortly,” Merchant said.
“We are heavily thankful to the Honourable Prime Minister for having devised this programme and to Ambassador Ashe for working tirelessly in ensuring that it succeeds,” Merchant noted.
Ms. Anne Jonas, another member of the Scholarship Committee said that the programme devised by the Honourable Prime Minister is a novel programme which significantly compliments the scholarship programme offered by the Board of Education. “It allows for more young Antiguans and Barbudans to get an opportunity to gain degrees at some of the top universities around the world. It's a sure way of empowering our people.”
Founded in 1854, Polytechnic is second oldest private engineering school in the United States. Among its graduates and faculty are Nobel laureates, notable inventors, world class scientists and successful entrepreneurs.
The University is also known for being responsible for the development of Teflon pots and pan and the microwave oven. It has also produced three Noble Prize Winners.
The Scholarship Committee is also expected to release the names of the Scholarship recipients who are already pursuing studies in China. It will also announce shortly the successful candidates who will gain scholarships to study in Morocco, Malaysia, the UWI and Egypt.
