In an announcement by the UWI Board for Undergraduate Studies, 20 Jamaican nationals are named among the beneficiaries of prestigious UWI Open Scholarships awarded to new undergraduate students for the academic year 2010/2011.

The Jamaican Open Scholars are Stephen Barnes, Andre Bascoe, Jhoelle Beckford, Knakita Bent, Shantel Brissett, Melissa Campbell, Monique Colquhoun, Novia Cotterel, Shenae Cunningham, Matthew Davis, Roxanne Ffrench, Jody-Ann Gaff, Jeremy Hall, Aston Hamilton, Auvarhenne Howell, Danya Marshall, Paul McFarlane, Kharif Thomas, Krystn Trowers and Tone Wilson. Of these, six are pursuing studies in the Medical Sciences; six are enrolled in the Faculty of Pure & Applied Sciences, five in Law and three in Social Sciences.

These high achievers share the spotlight with counterparts from Anguilla, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, The Bahamas and Trinidad & Tobago, who were selected from approximately 900 applicants from across UWI’s 15 Caribbean member countries.

In making the pronouncement, Pro Vice Chancellor and Chair of the Board for Undergraduate Studies, Professor Alvin Wint said “It is a proud occasion at The University of the West Indies. We believe that our investment in each Open Scholar will make a difference and help us secure our region’s future.”

The net value of this year’s Open Scholarship awards is approximately US $1.1 million. The scholarships will cover the cost of tuition (where applicable), living expenses, books and incidentals and will be renewed based on the scholar’s maintenance of a minimum GPA of 3.0 throughout their course of study.

The UWI Open Scholarships are awarded annually to Caribbean nationals on the basis of high academic achievement at the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) or equivalent examinations, demonstrated leadership in co-curricular activities and/or community service.