The Tribune

THE Cat Island Sailing Club Association has awarded five students with scholarships to attend the Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute (BTVI).

President of the association, Pat Strachan, believes that the club should be known beyond being a group of people organising a regatta, as a group that ought to do things for the Cat Island community which leaves a lasting impression and helps it to grow.

“When you educate an individual, you cannot take that away,” Mr Strachan said. “We hope the recipients will return and help to rebuild Cat Island. We want them to help in the development of Cat Island.”

The recipients include Annfernique Stubbs, Office Assistant major; Kiana Brown, Cosmetology; Dario Russell, Welding; and Quincy Cepoudy and Kentone Brown, Electrical Installation. They have each been awarded $500 scholarships.

BTVI’s president, Dr Robert W Robertson, thanked Mr Strachan and the association for its assistance and urged the scholarship recipients to take advantage of the opportunity.

A 2014 recipient of the award and Electrical Installation major, Arley Merzius, attended the presentations, encouraging his fellow students to remain focused and not to take the scholarship for granted.

“I am grateful for the scholarship from the Cat Island Sailing Association. It shows that it cares for the further development of the island and its young people. It also proves that they have confidence in BTVI,” said Mr Merzius, who recently landed a job at Bahamas Power and Light.

This is the third consecutive year that the association has provided scholarships to Cat Island natives, with the help of the Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC).