For Anguillians, the numbers 18 North, 63 West are instantly recognisable. They are the coordinates that locate our little island on the map. Now, those same coordinates are taking on a new meaning – one rooted in opportunity.
On Thursday, July 23, 2026, educators, government officials, business leaders, supporters and community members gathered at Sipps Wine & Sky Bar as 18 North 63 West officially launched its non-profit organisation, beginning what its founders hope will become a long-term investment in Anguilla’s future. While the organisation itself was founded in 2025, the evening marked its formal introduction to Anguilla, offering a closer look at its vision to remove financial barriers, provide career guidance and invest in the island’s greatest resource — its people.
Welcoming guests, board member Tina Bryan explained that the organisation’s very name was chosen to reflect identity and purpose.
“It speaks to our location, our identity, our heritage and our home,” she said, describing the organisation as one created to invest in Anguillian students through education, opportunity and personal development.
“Our focus is on empowering students and creating pathways for their success by giving them the resources, knowledge and skills to thrive.”
That idea of giving back was echoed throughout the evening, but nowhere more personally than in the remarks of founder and Chief Executive Officer Lariscia Julion, whose passion for Anguilla shaped the creation of the organisation.
“I wanted to create a platform that could be used to give back to Anguilla,” she told those gathered. “Anguilla is where I was born and raised, and it has shaped me into the person I am today.”
Julion spoke candidly about watching talented young people face financial hurdles while pursuing higher education, believing that too often ability is limited by circumstance rather than ambition.
“There is just so much potential and talent in Anguilla,” she said. “Sometimes students don’t have the opportunity financially to pursue a higher education. I’m hoping that this non-profit can help reduce that barrier a little bit so they can come back, uplift the community and raise Anguilla.”
For Julion, the organisation is not simply about awarding scholarships. “It’s really just about Anguilla as a whole,” she said.
That philosophy extends well beyond financial assistance. Vice Chair Mark Bryan explained that while scholarships remain a cornerstone of the organisation’s work, the wider goal is to guide students through what can often be an overwhelming journey towards higher education and career development.
“We believe that when students are abroad they should not be limited by finance,” Bryan said. “They should be focused on assignments, homework and projects – not worrying about money.”
Unlike many scholarship programmes that restrict funding to tuition, 18 North 63 West’s scholarships are awarded directly to students, allowing them to use the funds where they are needed most, whether for tuition, books, accommodation or travel.
Bryan also highlighted one of the organisation’s proudest milestones so far — the awarding of its inaugural US$5,000 scholarship to Anguillian student Kordell Smith, who has since graduated with first-class honours in Computer Science from the University of Buckingham in England and now serves as the Government of Anguilla’s Chief Digital and Information Officer.
“Our role in that success was only a small part,” Bryan noted, “but it’s an example of why investing in students matters.”
Looking ahead, the organisation plans to expand beyond scholarships by introducing university coaching, career exploration resources and mentoring programmes designed to help students navigate everything from applications and entrance requirements to career planning.
Rather than leaving young people to piece information together from multiple sources, the vision is to create one accessible hub where students can receive practical guidance, explore career pathways and connect with mentors who can help shape their future.
“It’s about all of us,” Bryan reminded the audience.
That sense of shared responsibility was reinforced by Treasurer Margie Hodge, who encouraged individuals, businesses and organisations to become part of the journey through donations, sponsorships, mentoring and volunteering.
“All funds raised directly support the scholarship programme and its recipients,” Hodge emphasised, noting that contributions also help provide educational resources, technology and student support services.
The organisation also recognised its growing network of supporters, including corporate sponsor Nagico Insurance, whose representative described education as one of the greatest investments any community can make.
“When we invest in students, we invest in tomorrow’s leaders, professionals, entrepreneurs and changemakers,” she said. “Their success becomes our collective success.”
Community partners including Spyglass Villa, Ocean Echo and Sipps Wine & Sky Bar were also acknowledged for helping make the organisation’s fundraising efforts and official launch possible.
Although the evening celebrated a new chapter, there was a sense that this was only the beginning.
When asked what inspired the lengthy journey of establishing the non-profit, Julion’s answer remained refreshingly simple.
“It was all about giving back to Anguilla and paying it forward,” she said. “Creating a non-profit was just a platform that we could use to do that.”
The scholarship is open to Anguillian citizens who are currently enrolled at any university or other tertiary institution. Applicants are required to provide proof of citizenship, along with their college transcripts. Applications for this year’s scholarship remain open until Friday, July 31, 2026, with the next recipient expected to be announced in August 2026.
For an island that has long understood the meaning of 18 North and 63 West, those familiar coordinates may now come to represent something even more significant — not simply where Anguilla is found on the map, but where its future begins.
By Janissa Fleming
