THE St Mary Education Trust (SMET), a registered charity for the furtherance of education of the island’s youth, awarded over $3 million in scholarships to 11 promising Jamaican students pursuing tertiary education on September 20.

The scholarships, a combination of the Sydney A Phillips Scholarships (SAPS) and Jamaica Producers Group’s Ernest Johnston Memorial Bursary (EJMB), aim to support and empower the next generation of leaders, particularly those from the company’s home parish of St Mary.

Students who are chosen to receive scholarships exhibit outstanding intelligence and character, with a strong drive to accomplish their academic aspirations. SAPS recipients, who must be from the parish of St Mary, are granted awards amounting to $300,000 per year throughout the entirety of their undergraduate degree, contingent upon their sustained academic excellence. Similarly, each academic year, a Jamaican student specialising in agriculture, shipping, or business-related fields is selected for the EJMB, receiving an annual grant of $300,000, which can be renewed for up to three years, provided the student maintains a commendable academic record.

For over two decades, the SAPS and the EJMB have played a pivotal role in supporting numerous students on their journey towards tertiary education. These initiatives have been made possible through the generous contributions of dedicated donors.

Speaking at the award ceremony, Lisa McGregor-Johnston, chair of SMET and head of corporate services at the Jamaica Producers Group Ltd, said the SMET scholarship programme is a cornerstone of Jamaica Producers’ commitment to community development and education.

“This programme has been transformative, providing opportunities for deserving students to access quality education and unlock their full potential. The impact has been profound: scholars have excelled in various fields contributing to Jamaica’s workforce and social fabric,” she said.

This year’s cohort consisted of five new and six continuing scholarship and bursary recipients — two 2024 EJMB awardees, and nine SAPS awardees. This year’s new recipients are pursuing degrees in fields such as plant sciences, radiography, nursing and marine engineering across institutions including the College of Agriculture, Science and Education (CASE), The University of the West Indies, the Caribbean Maritime University and Brown’s Town Community College.

Elizabeth Phillips, chair of the Sydney A Phillips Trust and director of the SMET, shared some of the history of SAPS, in particular, noting that this is their 31st batch of scholarship students since inception, and that in those 31 years over $26 million has been invested into scholarships.

“When we started out, we didn’t know where we’d go, but we knew the impact we wanted to have. In those 31 years, we have grown from strength to strength and it has been a joy to see not only the growth of the trust, but the growth of each student as they go on to really make an impact on Jamaica’s future.”

In his remarks to the awardees, Charles Johnston, trustee of the EJMB and chairman of Jamaica Producers Group, reminded the recipients that “education is a powerful tool for transformation — not just for yourselves, but for your families, communities and society as a whole”.

He urged the scholars to use this scholarship as a springboard to make a positive impact and to create their legacy.

Jada-Lee Lindsay is a proud continuing recipient of the EJMB. She is currently pursuing her BSc in Plant Sciences at CASE. A graduate of Titchfield High, Jada-Lee is entering her third year in her degree programme at CASE, with the goal of becoming an agronomist and owning and operating her own farm in the future.

“These awards represent more than just financial assistance; they are a testament to the team’s belief in our abilities and for that I’m incredibly grateful. We all are! It paves the way for our educational and personal development,“ she said.

“Without having to worry about financial constraints, I can really focus on succeeding academically and going for my goals to make a positive impact on this world.”