MONTEGO BAY, St James — Saddled with nearly $300,000 in unpaid school fees from last year, things were looking bleak for dental student Raddai Eccleston as he was heading into the fourth year of his studies at the University of Technology, Jamaica (UTech).

“I had a balance of $295,000 and I really didn’t know where I was going to get the money from,” Eccleston told the Jamaica Observer.

Then his luck changed. He was awarded a scholarship through the Howard Ward Benefit Foundation.

“Right now I can actually be able to go back and I don’t have to be selling some stuff on school like various candies and all those things to raise money,” he added.

Eccleston said financial constraints have made it challenging as he works towards his dream of becoming a dentist.

“I cannot afford a place to stay so I sleep on my friend’s couch by his apartment to make ends meet,” he explained.

His mother has been taking out loans to help him and he has also had to reach out to others for help.

“I call on various family members even though I don’t like doing it,” he said.

Now he has a little breathing room.

On Tuesday, August 12, he joined 35 other students — 20 at tertiary level and 20 from high school— in receiving bursaries. The maximum amount allotted to any one student is $300,000.

“It’s a blessing to be honest,” said Eccleston.

Receiving the scholarship was even sweeter as he almost missed the opportunity.

“A friend of mine sent me the scholarship information and I applied on the last day. My birthday, June 28 was the deadline,” Eccleston related.

“The e-mail was not submitting and I went up to Ward’s Power Tools and gave them,” he said.

He is especially happy about the relief the scholarship has brought for his mother who is now going through a rough patch.

“This scholarship helped out my mother big time because I am the last of five children so I really appreciate this,” Eccleston said.

He is hoping he will get a chance to adequately express his gratitude to the man behind Howard Ward Benefit Foundation.

“That is why I even want to speak to Howard Ward alone to tell him what it really means to me,” said Eccleston.

A total of $6.5 million in scholarships was awarded by the foundation. The funds were raised by staging MoBay Night Run in April.

Also among the recipients is second time beneficiary, Jade Cohall-Cunningham. She is also a dental student who is having challenges paying her fees.

“I’m indeed elated to be a recipient again and this scholarship has really aided me in my journey at UTech because I study dentistry and each year it’s $2.5 million,” she said.

“They have provided the financial support that I need so I don’t have to constantly worry about parts of my tuition. I am indeed grateful,” Cohall-Cunningham added.

She urged others to emulate the work being done by Howard Ward Benefit Foundation.

“I implore persons to contribute, give back, [urge] sponsors to chip in and help students just like myself,” she said.