PHILIPSBURG–Windward Islands Bank (WIB) has donated two scholarships for two males to enrol at University of St. Martin (USM) this fall.
The donation was in support of USM School of Continuing Education and Lifelong Learning (SCELL) and Youth Professional Network (YPN) campaign to increase male enrolment at the institution this year. Currently there are 37 males enrolled at USM and Youth Professional Network (YPN) has set a goal to increase this number to 57, enrolling 20 males to USM/UVI by August 1, with the help of businesses in St. Maarten.
SCELL said the male enrolment business challenge began on June 1 and will run continue until July 31. For the campaign, USM is requesting donations of US $500 to US $5,000 to provide males between the ages of 18 to 25 with their first semester scholarship to return to school in August 2016.
SCELL said all donations will be acknowledged at the end of the challenge and the winning business will receive “community and formal USM recognition.” All donating businesses will be invited to an awards ceremony scheduled for early August to present scholarships to the male recipients.
SCELL said WIB Managing Director Derek Downes “jumped aboard immediately” when he heard about the business challenge and made the donations.
“As the initial key sponsor of SCELL, I am very pleased with what they have done in St. Maarten and surrounding islands in such a short time. In six months, they have built partnerships with the largest companies on the island and supported citizens with their many innovative programmes,” Downes said. “SCELL’s impressive approach of providing businesses with solid trainings, supporting employees to return to school and building the USM Male enrolment is key to the success of St. Maarten as a whole and USM. SCELL is an organisation that is changing the face of our community with tangible, measurable results that I feel should be recognised and supported by all businesses, government and the community as a whole.”
Downed encouraged other businesses to participate in “this viable business challenge” and said WIB is pleased to be the first contributor to “this great cause.”
SCELL Founder Dr. Natasha Gittens said she founded YPN to support young men enrolled at USM with a “solid platform” to share their personal academic experiences with potential USM male students. “I believe this is a perfect formula to empower USM males to become mentors while simultaneously pursuing their academic dreams and encouraging others to pursue degrees at USM and UVI at USM. I am very grateful that WIB sees the importance of YPN and male enrolment.”
YPN President Javid Hurtault said education should be viewed as an ongoing personal development. “The more males on the island that pursue degrees, the better the St. Maarten community will become. We are asking the businesses big and small of St. Maarten to assist us with increasing male enrolment at USM, a move in the right direction for the community at large. We can make a difference with one scholarship at a time.”
Additional information on donating a scholarship to YPN and information or questions on how to enrol at USM, can be obtained by calling tel. 554-2437 or by visiting SCELL’s website at: http://scell.usmonline.onl/.
Source: Daily Herald
WIB gives 2 scholarships for male USM students
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