Ms. Makaiah Hodge was formally awarded the 2023 Kimdra Smith-Webster Scholarship on Tuesday, 12th September 2023. The presentation occurred at the main office of the Department of Education in The Valley where Ms. Aurjul Wilson, local representative of the Kimdra Smith-Webster Foundation, along with the Chief Education Officer, Mr. Bren Romney, met to congratulate Ms. Hodge and officially hand over the scholarship grant of $2,500 US Dollars.
Mr. Romney opened the proceedings, welcoming everyone and thanking the Kimdra Smith-Webster Foundation for its commitment to providing financial support to Anguillian students in tertiary education. Launched in 2017, in memory of a gifted daughter of Anguilla, the Kimdra Smith-Webster Scholarship seeks to promote some of the principles embodied in its namesake including academic excellence and the capacity to lead and serve. The Foundation is run by a small board led by Kimdra’s brother, Mr. Ken Smith.
In giving a brief history of the foundation and the scholarship, Ms. Wilson noted that the award ceremony was always a particularly bittersweet moment as she was not only Kimdra Smith-Webster’s aunt but also her godmother. She spoke of Kimdra’s personality and various achievements particularly in science.
Traditionally, the scholarship was meant to be awarded to students in the sciences as this was the field in which Kimdra Smith-Webster had excelled. However, Ms. Wilson noted that the Foundation was most concerned to ensure that a deserving Anguillan student that fulfilled the key eligibility requirements should benefit. She congratulated Makaiah and encouraged her to be willing to extend a hand of support to others throughout her life.
This year’s award is the sixth since the scholarship’s inauguration. Ms. Makaiah Hodge, the most recent recipient, is currently enrolled in the second year of a BSc Accounting degree at the University of the West Indies Open Campus, Anguilla.
Makaiah delivered a short speech expressing her gratitude to the Foundation saying, “The award will lighten my financial burden and fuel my drive to excel.” She noted the importance of having support of all kinds whether financial, family or friends. She recognised her parents, Ms. Marcia Baptiste and Mr. George Mac Hodge, for their encouragement and thanked her ‘support team’ comprising her cousin, Ms. Sheila Hodge and colleague and friend Ms. Reneicia Romney, who accompanied her to the scholarship award ceremony.
However, Makaiah asserted that perhaps even more fundamental than support was self-belief. She recalled when she had joined the Youth Exposure Programme with the Department of Youth and Culture. Others had thought that it would lead nowhere but she believed in herself and her ability to succeed. The Youth Exposure programme led to an internship with the Inland Revenue Department and Makaiah was eventually hired as a Cashier. She worked hard and since then, has been promoted to Collections Officer. Makaiah also works part time with a supermarket and at Kaaiyla Pizza which is a family business.
Her professional goal is to become an auditor and she is willing to put in the effort and to keep believing in her ability to succeed. Makaiah concluded her speech by saying that applying for and winning the Kimdra Smith-Webster Scholarship “is a reminder that self-belief can lead to remarkable opportunities.”
The Department of Education and the Kimdra Smith-Webster Foundation wish Ms. Makaiah Hodge every success in her studies, personal and professional life.
For more information on the Kimdra Smith Webster Scholarship visit the Foundation’s website at kimdrasmith websterfoundation.com.
