26 benefit from scholarships courtesy of MoBay Rotary bikeathon

Saturday, November 21, 2009 7:02 AM

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Western News

BY PAUL A REID Observer West writer

Thursday, November 05, 2009

MONTEGO BAY, St James - Twenty-six students from high schools, community colleges and vocational institutions were last Thursday presented with bursaries and grants totalling over $400,000, the proceeds from May's Rotary Club of Montego Bay East Bikeathon, at the Sunset Beach Resort.

The club says that unlike previous years when there was one major recipient, the organisers decided, in this year's 14th disbursement, to provide scholarships to several persons.

Dawn Campbell of Sam Sharpe Teacher's College (left) receives her bursary from Thadia Hemmings of Wysinco, one of the sponsors of the Rotary Club of Montego Bay East's Bikeathon '09 at the Scholarship Awards presentation ceremony held at SunSet Beach Resort last week.(Photo: Paul Reid)

The committee had received "an overwhelming demand" for scholarships as over 50 persons had applied.

Thirty-three were shortlisted from which the 26 were eventually chosen based on their academic records, community and school involvement as well as level of need.

Tahalia Small, chairman of the bikeathon committee, said there were plans next year to stage the event over two weekends with one stage being held in Kingston. There are also hopes that international riders will be invited to participate.

Small said they were hoping to make over $1 million next year when the event would be moved to the new Whitter Village Shopping Centre in Ironshore, scheduled to open in December.

The bikeathon, which included a run and a walk component this year, was held on May 31 in Ironshore.