On Friday, October 30th, the fifth award of the Julian R. Harrigan Memorial Scholarship was bestowed upon Ms. Disa Lake of Long Bay, during a brief ceremony at the UWI Open Campus. Ms. Lake is an employee of the General Post Office and a devoted student of the UWI Open Campus, pursuing studies for a Bachelor of Science Degree in International Management, having matriculated in 2019.
The scholarship is a collaborative effort between the UWI Open Campus, Anguilla, and the UWI Alumni Association, Anguilla Chapter. It was launched in 2016 to pay ongoing tribute to the late Mr. Julian Harrigan who had pioneered the operations of the University of the West Indies — as a resident tutor and a local representative of the institution — during its formative years of conducting educational programmes on Anguilla.
For some seventeen years, Mr. Harrigan contributed to UWI’s mandate for higher education, and he had been the driving force behind the construction of the Open Campus building, on the Queen Elizabeth Avenue, which was completed in less than one year, between 1999 and 2000.
UWI’s Country Manager, Dr. Phyllis Fleming-Banks, highlighted the significance of the Julian R. Harrigan Memorial Scholarship Award: “It is remarkable that this building was one of the fastest built structures in Anguilla,” she said, “and it was all through the hard work and dedication of Julian R. Harrigan. In the year 2015, when we looked at all of the work that he had done — over some seventeen years — with him having such a passion for UWI’s presence in Anguilla, we decided to launch a scholarship award in his honour. The plaque that now stands in our lobby is a symbolic testament to Mr. Harrigan’ s dedication to UWI’s presence in Anguilla.”
“Over the past five years,” she continued, “in collaboration with the Alumni Association, we continue to honour Mr. Harrigan’s legacy and the work that he has done not only for the University of the West Indies Anguilla, but for Anguilla as a whole.”
UWI Alumni Association’s Committee Member, Mr. Stanley Reid, gave a synopsis of the Julian R. Harrigan Memorial Scholarship Fund: “This fund was established by the UWI open Campus, Anguilla, in collaboration with the Steering Committee of the UWI Alumni Association in honour of the late Julian R. Harrigan who was UWI’s first resident tutor in Anguilla. The fund is used to assist students pursuing studies in social work, youth development work or public administration. These areas were very dear to Mr. Harrigan’s heart. The scholarship is offered for one academic year in the sum of US$2,200. The scholarship is opened to both new and continuing students.”
He went to give the criteria for applicants to be considered by the Committee: “Applicants for the scholarship should be Anguillian. They must show verifiable financial need. Applicants must be enrolled at the UWI Open Campus Site. An applicant must carry the minimum number of credit hours necessary to be a full-time or part-time undergraduate student. Graduate students are not eligible for this scholarship. In addition, the application must be accompanied by a typed essay of 500 words or less explaining: ‘Why I Should Receive the Julian R. Harrigan Memorial Scholarship’”.
Dr. Fleming-Banks called for a moment of silence in the memory of the recently deceased, Mrs. Verna Fahie. The late Mrs. Fahie was an ardent Member of the Committee up to the time of her passing, as well as a dedicated donor to the scholarship fund. The award ceremony was attended by members of Julian Harrigan’s family, including his wife, Elenita, and sons, Jabari, Jamil and Aaron. His sister, Brenda Proctor, was also in attendance, as well as his brothers Quincy and Carl Harrigan. Carl gave remarks on the family’s behalf:
“On behalf of the family of the late Julian R. Harrigan, I wish to express congratulations to Ms. Disa Lake for being awarded the Julian R. Harrigan Memorial Scholarship for 2020/2021. As you may be aware, Julian Harrigan passed away on July 29th 2011. His contribution to social development and public administration was outstanding, and he played a vital role in the construction of this [Open Campus] building. For such reasons it was agreed that a scholarship fund be established in his honour to finance one year programmes for study at UWI.”
In expressions of gratitude, Mr. Harrigan noted: “The family would wish to thank the university of the West Indies for permitting this scholarship fund to be established in his name. Thanks also is expressed to Dr. Phyllis Fleming Banks, and the staff of the UWI Open Campus, Anguilla, as well as the UWI Alumni Association — Anguilla Chapter, for their work in ensuring that this programme is managed smoothly every year, and for selecting the recipient of the award on an annual basis.”
Upon receiving the award, Disa responded: “I would like to express how grateful I am to be this year’s recipient of the Julian R. Harrigan Memorial Scholarship. When I applied for school, this year, funding for me was a pressing issue. I prayed and asked God to make a way for me to begin school in September.”
In declaring her strong faith and hope, she claimed: “I really believed that God would answer my prayer, and within a few days, after my application for the scholarship, I received an email stating that I was successful as a recipient of the Julian R. Harrigan Scholarship Award. I was so elated and thankful to God and to the Committee. I’d like to say thanks once again.”
Disa’s boss at the General Post Office, was also on hand to congratulate her for her efforts and success in attaining the Scholarship. She testified about her wit, hard work, and resilience: “Disa is a very diligent worker. Once she sets her mind to a task, she gets it done.
“When she told me that she had completed her course at the Anguilla Community College, I encouraged her to continue her pursuits for higher education. I was therefore very happy when she told me she had applied for the scholarship. Then, when she told me eventually that she had gotten it, I was extremely happy for her. I know that she will do well, and indeed I wish her every success with her studies. I know she will make us proud.”
– Staff Reporter, James R. Harrigan
