Jamaica

Scholarship

Masters in Tourism & Hospitality

University of the West Indies, Mona, Jamaica

In September 2007, I attended my first class at the University of the West Indies, Mona, Jamaica.   Though excited to be enrolled as a post graduate student, swirling through my mind was my inability to cover the cost for my course of study.   Particularly challenged because I am from a low socio-economic background coupled with other complex factors such as; my commitment to the Student Loan Bureau for my undergraduate degree and my financial obligations to my young family. For me, this was a formidable task.

Having won a scholarship from the CTO Foundation, gave me not only access to higher education but helped me to achieved something that once seemed prohibitive and laborious.  The financial support I received also helped me to stay on course and completed my study in a shorter time.  To the CTO Foundation, I am forever grateful.

To be a student is one thing, but to be a scholarly student is a great thing.  A Scholar as defined by Dictionary.com is “a learned or erudite person especially one who has profound knowledge of a particular subject.” Having won a scholarship from the CTO Foundation exemplified some of these special characteristics in me.  I have worked diligently not only academically but in other facet of my life to achieve my lifelong aspirations.  Many attributes untied together make up a scholar.

Having won a scholarship from the CTO Foundation prepared me for new directions, questions and insights. Graduate School introduced me to the realities of academic work. As a graduate student, I have been allowed a great deal of satisfaction in teaching, engaging with bright young people who also inspired me.  I also believe that by disseminating knowledge to these bright minds I also aid in the development and growth of the tourism sector.   Graduate School has also helped me to acquire new knowledge through research and I look forward to more research opportunities for the continued development of the sector.

I remain a proud CTO Foundation Scholarship Recipient.

I am currently employed as a Technical Officer at the University of Technology in Jamaica.  My major responsibilities are managing the Food and Baking Laboratories in the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management which include but not limited to; develop an institute rules for the laboratories, schedule classes, demonstrate specialized, new or difficult techniques to staff and students, collaborate with research groups and graduate students on research projects, assist with special projects, prepare budgets of various laboratories and monitor expenditures against budgets, to name a few.

I am currently pursuing a Master of Arts in Education at the University of the West Indies, Mona, Jamaica.

Year of Scholarship

2008