Ten students receive Eileen Paul Scholarships from SLHTA’s Tourism Enhancement Fund
(Castries, Saint Lucia – August 20th 2024)- Ten deserving students have received a valuable head start on their secondary school journey through the Saint Lucia Hospitality and Tourism Association (SLHTA) Tourism Enhancement Fund’s (TEF) latest scholarship awards.
Established on October 11th 2021, the Eileen Paul Scholarship Fund provides financial support to secondary school students, whose parents are employed in the tourism industry. The scholarship is named in honour of Eileen Paul, who was the heart and soul of the SLHTA, having served the organisation for over forty years.
Scholarship holders receive a grant of EC$2000.00 annually for 5 years, once they maintain a grade point average of 70%.
This year’s recipients were honoured during a ceremony on Friday, August 16th, 2024, at the Sandals Grande St. Lucian.
They are:
- Sariah O’Neil: Soufriere Comprehensive Secondary School
- Donte Charles: Leon Hess Comprehensive Secondary School
- Caleb James: Leon Hess Comprehensive Secondary School
- Kyree Clovis: Soufriere Comprehensive Secondary School
- Silvie-Marie Salvador: St Joseph’s Convent
- Viniah Louis: Soufriere Comprehensive Secondary School
- Arabella Charles: St Joseph’s Convent
- Izzabella Frederick: Entrepot Secondary School
- Javaun William: Leon Hess Comprehensive Secondary School and
- Tina Brown: St Joseph’s Convent
Programme Manager of the SLHTA’s TEF Donette Ismael, is always excited for this time of year. Ismael said, “Eileen Paul always wanted to create a scholarship programme for line team members; heart of house team members, who would not otherwise be able to get these opportunities. For a child to be able to get one of our scholarships, they have to have a 70 average and above. And what we do Ms. Amos, our Project Officer because she loves working with people, always follows up with all of our recipients. We follow up with them, we meet with the parents, we meet with the students. And even when a child may not be able to maintain the average, we always inquire and work with the families to find out the reason why, and how as an SLHTA we may be able to assist and be able to retain the students on our programme.”
TEF Chairman Winston Anderson
TEF Chairman Winston Anderson encouraged the students to do their best, pointing to the limitless opportunities in the growing hospitality sector. He stated, “Most importantly for us is focusing on our youth, and ensuring that we continue to support their development in a number of programmes that we do, whether it be the after-school, scholarships, mental well-being, and the list goes on. We do a lot of work in the communities to ensure that our youngsters are well taken care of. And as I said earlier on in my speech, you are in fact our future and every time that we do something in the communities, at the schools or with you, we walk away being more inspired, being more eager and being more excited to continue helping and supporting your future.”
Guardian Garieus Jn. Baptiste lauded SLHTA and TEF for the timely initiative. He said, “I would like to take this opportunity to say a special thank you to the SLHTA on behalf of the students, their parents and guardians, and by extension the communities that they are from. I am certain that this contribution will go a long way in assisting them. As he [TEF Chairman] said, the children are the future and today it has shown that the SLHTA has a special interest in our children. I’m hoping that this gesture continues!”
An emotional Sariah O’Neil said that she is excited to begin secondary school and promised to put her best foot forward. “I just wanted to say thank you to all those who sponsored the scholarship. Thank you for believing in our potential, and investing in all of our futures!”
To date over 40 students have received an Eileen Paul Scholarship, with a total of over EC $165,000 disbursed.
The SLHTA’s TEF thanks all contributing companies and visitors for investing in Saint Lucia’s youth!
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