Mrs. Glorina Williams-Cruz and Mrs. Charmaine Rogers
In what well might be considered a private ceremony, a small gathering met at the Teachers’ Resource Centre on the morning of Tuesday, August 7th to witness the presentation of this year’s Kimdra Smith-Webster Scholarship award to Ms. Tsani Rogers. Ms. Rogers is a recent graduate of the Albena Lake Hodge Comprehensive School where she excelled at 6th Form level with 4 CAPE passes — all “ones”.
The Colgate-Palmolive company of New Jersey is the company for which the late Kimdra Smith-Webster worked, and which sponsors the scholarship award. The presentation to Tsani was made on behalf of Colgate-Palmolive by Mrs.Glorina Williams-Cruz who resides in Tortola, and who is a trustee on the Board of the Kimdra Smith-Webster Scholarship Fund.
Present at the ceremony were Tsani’s parents, Mr. & Mrs. Foster Rogers; Mrs. Susan Smith, Education Officer Primary/Pre-Primary; and members of the press. Tsani was chosen as the recipient of the award from a field of six applicants. The award is generally made available to young students who are ambitious in pursuing tertiary studies in areas of science.
Prior to making the presentation, Mrs. Williams-Cruz noted: “The scholarship program itself is in its embryonic stage. However, we were particularly impressed with Tsani’s application. All applicants were great, but she distinguished herself from the pack. Tsani talked about the measures that she evaluates herself by and which cause her to understand exactly who she is and what she wants the world to see her as. Both her biography and the essay she submitted were exceptionally impressive.”
Mrs. Williams-Cruz continued: “Tsani, we know that you are shooting for the stars. You personify those qualities that Kimdra embodied. She was a brilliant scientist, and she would be very proud to know that you are receiving this check in her honor. I say this with a heavy heart, because when I see you on paper, you remind me of Kimdra’s qualities. So, I thank you for representing Anguilla, and I thank you for representing Kimdra so well. I am therefore happy to present you with this check.”
In receiving the award, Tsani expressed her heartfelt thanks to the scholarship board and to Colgate-Palmolive. Tsani’s parents, Foster and Charmaine Rogers also wished to put on record their heartfelt appreciation to Mrs. Williams-Cruz and Colgate-Palmolive for making the scholarship available.
The Kimdra Smith-Webster Scholarship is an achievement-based scholarship awarded to post-secondary students. Students are recognized for their capacity to lead and serve, as well as their commitment to making a significant impact on their schools and communities.
The successful candidate is granted $2,500 (USD) to assist in his or her academic studies. The first recipient of the coveted award was Ms. Zipporah Bryan-Bannister, an Anguillian Biology student now studying at Sheffield University in the United Kingdom.
