As the Anguilla Community College celebrated College Week with a series of activities, the institution announced on Tuesday, October 20, the establishment of a new scholarship fund from the family of the late Lillian Violet Richardson formerly of Sandy Ground. She was a renowned baker – a contribution to Anguilla which her family wants to perpetuate.
The family has accordingly decided to provide financial assistance to a student who attended the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School, enrolled in the Associate Degree in Food and Beverage at the Community College and received the highest marks in baking.
Funding for the scholarship was made possible by the late Lillian Richardson’s daughter, Mrs. Jonice A. Louden, her children and grandchildren. Mrs. Louden is the wife of Professor Delroy Louden, President of the Community College. A retired person, her qualifications include a Registered Nurse and Certified Midwife; a BSc (Hons.) degree and MSc degree in Sociology from the University of the West Indies, Mona, Jamaica; and a Post Graduate Diploma in Regulatory Law Administration (High Honours) from Seneca College in Canada.
Chief Minister, Mr. Victor Banks; Minister of Education, Mr. McNiel Rogers; Director of Tourism, Mrs. Candis Niles; Mrs. Lilly Moses, Executive Director of the Anguilla Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Ministerial Assistant, Mrs. Evalie Bradley; and Mr. Rodney Rey, Chairman of the College’s Board of Directors, spoke during the launch of the scholarship fund. They commended and thanked the family for their contribution to education in Anguilla, on behalf of their loved one.
Mrs. Louden presented the family’s first scholarship cheque of US$5,000, for the revolving fund, to Dr. Leroy Hill, Dean of the College and Mr. Rey. She expressed much pleasure in awarding the scholarship in the hope that it would be of continuing value and opportunity to the recipients in the years to come. Mrs. Louden was also thanked by Mr. Neville Hamilton who presented her with a bouquet of flowers on behalf of the Community College.
The invited guests heard about the life and work of the late Mrs. Lillian Richardson, and some of the family’ reasons for honouring her memory, through the scholarship, in an address by Mrs. Evalie Bradley. She described her has having been a very industrious and stern disciplinarian, kind and caring. Mrs. Bradley went on: “Recognising the academic, technical and education deficits in her home country, her daughter, Mrs. Louden, and other members of her family, felt it fit to honour her memory – and the social contribution she has made to Anguilla – by establishing this scholarship fund. It is indeed a very fitting and noble tribute to her heritage and legacy presently and for generations to come.”
The Lillian Violet Richardson Scholarship is an addition to a number of existing awards at the Anguilla Community College. The other scholarships are the Anguilla Chamber of Commerce Business Studies; the Tom Wright Scholarship in Technical and Vocational Studies; the Teacher Noonie Scholarship in Early Childhood Education; and the Melville and Ermine Louden Technical and Vocational Studies.
