newsSeptember 29, 2025

Scholarship Opens Doors for Aspiring Mathematician

At 12 years old, Sutay Kameka, a bright and determined 2025 JN Foundation PEP Scholar, has her eyes firmly set on becoming a mathematician. Her love for numbers, combined with discipline and support from her mother, has already set her apart as one to watch.

The young scholar was among 14 students awarded scholarships by the JN Foundation after doing exceptionally well in the Primary Exit Profile (PEP). Sutay, who received the parish scholarship for St Thomas with an overall PEP score of 363.6, said the scholarship is a gift she describes as both exciting and life changing.

“I was very excited, to be honest. I was very thankful,” she said, her voice filled with both gratitude and determination.

The award will ease the financial strain on her mother while ensuring she has the resources to excel academically. “It will help my mom with, like, the books and stuff because I’m studying a lot of subjects… and it will help me pursue my dream of becoming a mathematician,” she explained.

Her results in the PEP examinations reflect her passion and natural talent. She scored an impressive 345 in mathematics, securing the Top in Math Award at her school. She also received top scores in social studies and the ability test, with a 97th percentile ranking.

Her placement at Ardenne High School in St Andrew was no accident. She was drawn to the school for its reputation, environment, and the fact that her close friend is already enrolled there. “Honestly, I like it there, and my close friend goes there… I was fascinated with the school’s motto ‘With God as guide, seek the best’,” she said.

Like many children preparing for PEP, she admitted the workload was her biggest challenge. “There’s too much to study,” she laughed, before quickly offering advice to students preparing for next year’s exams. “Just focus. Relax your brain and focus while the teacher is teaching.”

Her mother, Kemisha Ferron, a firefighter who raised her daughter on her own, shared how much this achievement means for their small family. “It has been an uphill struggle, but I ensure that her educational needs are met.”

For her, the scholarship is more than financial support; it is recognition of her daughter’s determination. “I know for sure it will mark her, as it rewards her hard work. She will have something to look back at and say, ‘Yes man, this is why I have to keep going.’ It will make a tremendous, positive change knowing that others see her, not just me as her mom,” she said proudly.

Ms Ferron recalled her daughter’s early promise, starting school at just one year and seven months at Aunty Pauline Childcare Centre. Since then, she has consistently excelled, always topping her class, becoming head girl at Yallahs Primary, and even competing in reading competitions with the Jamaica Library Service, where she placed second. “She’s the student that doesn’t back down from any challenge,” her mother said. “Up until today, I’ve not seen her lose that zeal.”

Outside the classroom, the young scholar enjoys crocheting, netball, and volleyball. A self-taught crocheter, she often turns to the internet to improve her craft. “It’s entertaining and relaxing,” she explained.

While most children her age may still be exploring what they want to do, she is already firm about her path. “I love maths, and I’ve always had a passion for it. I realised when I was younger, I used to always have high grades in maths, and I used to always love it. So, I just wanted to become a mathematician to pursue my dream.”

For her mother, education is the foundation of opportunity and character. “It starts from the get-go, from when the child can hold a pencil. Education paves the way for them to see a better life,” she said.

According toClaudine Allen, General Manager of the JN Foundation, supporting young achievers like Sutay is central to their mission. “We believe that every child, regardless of background, deserves the opportunity to pursue their dreams. This scholarship is not just about easing financial burdens—it’s about empowering students to excel and inspiring them to reach their full potential,” she said.

Since its launch in 1983, the JN Scholarship Programme has provided financial support to hundreds of students, enabling them to pursue their secondary education.

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grantfunding, newsSeptember 1, 2025

Against the Odds, Odain Murray Rises from Flanker to King’s College

When Odain Murray’s iPad lit up with the news at 6:35 a.m. on June 18 that he is the 2025 Chevening/JN Oliver F Clarke scholarship awardee, he froze. Then came the flood of emotions: elation, disbelief, and deep gratitude.

“I spent the first five minutes saying, ‘Thank you, God.’ “I just kept repeating it,” he recalled. The notification confirmed what he had been working towards for months.

For Mr Murray, who grew up in Flanker and Mount Salem, Montego Bay communities often associated with violence, the award is more than a personal achievement.

“Where I’m from, not a lot of persons finish high school, much less go on to do a first degree, much less Chevening,” he said. “It means I can show other young men from similar circumstances that it is possible. You can beat the odds, no matter where you come from,” he stressed.

Mr Murray’s journey has been anything but linear. The first in his family to earn both undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, he faced financial and emotional setbacks along the way. The death of his father during his second year of his undergraduate studies and financial challenges at The University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona forced him to drop out and find a job. Years later, driven by a growing interest in marketing, he returned to complete his studies, starting as an intern in UWI’s Marketing, Recruitment, and Communications Office.

From there, his rise was swift. He moved from student outreach and recruitment officer to assistant registrar-recruitment and now serves as acting director for marketing, recruitment, and communications at UWI Mona. His role sees him developing enrolment strategies, promoting the UWI Mona brand, and encouraging prospective students across the Caribbean and beyond to pursue higher education.

Photo Caption: Odain Murray (second right), 2025 Chevening/JN Oliver F Clarke scholarship takes a group photo with JN Group executives, Keith Senior (second left), assistant general manager, JN Group; Marie Stewart Lewin (right), executive, corporate communications and special assistant to the chief executive officer, JN Group and Kenisha Stewart, accounts manager, JN Money Services.

“Higher education allows me to give back,” Mr Murray said. “One of my proudest moments was when a student told me he was here because I had visited his school and explained how to apply. I didn’t even recognise him, but he recognised me. That’s the kind of impact I want to keep making.”

Outside the office, Mr Murray is a creative force- an actor, singer, and director who has represented Jamaica in England, Barbados, and Trinidad. Now, he is preparing to merge his marketing expertise, creative talent, and passion for education.

This September, he will take up studies at King’s College London, pursuing a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership and Management. The programme will allow him to blend the management principles from his MBA with leadership skills tailored to higher education.

“We need strong management in higher education if the sector is to thrive,” he explained. “This programme will also strengthen my leadership skills, especially as a relatively young director in the field.”

Mr Murray credits his late father, a Rastafarian, who was expelled from his home at 14 and did not finish high school, for instilling in him respect for education and a curious mind.

“He was adamant that our lives would be different. He made sure we valued learning,” he said. He also speaks fondly of his mother, who migrated when he was three years old, but remained emotionally and financially supportive throughout his education.

Photo Caption: Odain Murray (third left) takes a group photo with friends and colleagues (from left) Sandre Malcolm; Marjorie Bolero-Haughton, mentor; Jonathan Dwyer and Darian Reid.

The man for whom the Chevening Scholarship awarded to Mr Murray is named, shared a view similar to Mr Murray’s father about the importance of education. The late Oliver F. Clarke, who served as chairman of the JN Group for 38 non-consecutive years from 1977 to his death in 2020, believed in education as the foundation of the nation’s future, underscored JN Group chief executive officer, Earl Jarrett, as he congratulated Mr Murray on his achievement.

“He was a champion for good governance, and he was also a champion for education, because he recognised that education is the next best thing that one can do to achieve social mobility,” said Mr Jarrett.  

Mr Jarrett outlined that Mr Clarke strongly believed in providing people with support necessary to thrive and noted that he was integral to the establishment of the Governor-General’s Achievement Awards, which recognises Jamaicans who are excelling in academics or in the careers while contributing directly to the development of their locales.

“And you just heard that Mr Murray is from Mount Salem, a long journey to London, but that’s what progress is all about. And so, as you take those steps to improve your life and the life of all Jamaicans, remember what you are,” he encouraged Mr Murray.

Through a two-year Memorandum of Understanding between The Jamaica National Group and the British High Commission in Jamaica, the Chevening/JN Oliver F Clarke scholarship was established last year.

Mr Murray was selected from a pool of 90,000 applicants globally pursuing the specific course of study eligible for the Chevening/JN Oliver F Clarke scholarship. He is one of 17 successful Chevening scholarship applicants from Jamaica who will be pursuing one-year master’s degrees in the United Kingdom.

Commending Mr Murray on being selected the 2025 Oliver F. Clarke/ Chevening Scholar, Her Excellency Judith Slater, British High Commissioner to Jamaica, also emphasised the agency the scholarship provides to recipients and ultimately the country.  

“That’s the whole ethos of the Chevening scholarship: it helps people who have already achieved a great deal, and have started their careers, to go and do something which is going to help them to go even further and to do even more to advance Jamaica,” she said.

She also acknowledged the value added by The Jamaica National Group through its partnership with the British High Commission.

For students aspiring to a Chevening Scholarship, Murray’s advice is clear. “Make sure your programme aligns with Chevening’s goals and Jamaica’s development needs. Have tangible, short-term goals for when you return, and be authentic. Passion and authenticity are what make you stand out.”

With his sights set on transforming higher education in Jamaica, Mr Murray is determined that his Chevening journey will not end in London.

“This scholarship is a stepping stone,” he said. “When I come back, I want to use what I’ve learnt to make higher education more accessible, more relevant, and more impactful for Jamaica and the wider Caribbean.”

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newsSeptember 1, 2025

Seniors Certified!

St Thomas Seniors Graduate from Computer Training Programme

There was excitement at the normally quiet St Thomas Parish Library as seven proud seniors received certificates of completion of a computer training programme, which was designed for them.

Their smiles, laughter, and sense of accomplishment told a story bigger than technology, it was about accomplishment, resilience, growth, and the joy of lifelong learning.

Among them was 73-year-old Constance Worrell, who now proudly displays her certificate in her living room as a reminder that “age should never hold you back.”

“When I started the programme, I was excited, not nervous,” Ms Worrell shared. “I wanted to refresh my memory, catch up with technology, and be in the know. Things have changed so much since I was working, and I didn’t want to be left behind.”

Like her fellow graduates, Ms Worrell entered the training with curiosity and determination. Over several weeks, the seniors tackled everything from basic computer operations and email management, to typing, file organisation, and even using WhatsApp.

For some, the simplest tasks, such as cutting and pasting text, were milestones. For others like Miss Worrell, inserting pictures into a document was the toughest challenge. “But I was determined,” she laughed. “With trial and error, I got it.”

That determination, coupled with the support of staff and peers, kept the seniors motivated. “The instructors made us feel so comfortable,” Ms Worrell said. “We had fun while learning. Everybody was jovial, and at no time did you feel inadequate.”

Photo Caption: Constance Worrell (third left) and Shana-Lee Coley-Smith, librarian at the St Thomas Parish Library take a group photo with the graduates of the computer training programme.

The Jamaica Library Service (JLS), which spearheaded the initiative, which was made possible through the donation of computers by the JN Foundation and the JN Circle, was intentional about creating a supportive and engaging environment.

“The seniors had dedicated staff members, hands-on practice, and strong peer support that kept them motivated and engaged,” explained Shana-Lee Coley-Smith, librarian at the St Thomas Parish Library.

“They were elated to graduate, and many expressed a desire for even more training.”

Norman Hinds, president of the JN Circle Morant Bay chapter which identified the need and coordinated the donation of the computers, expressed delight that the community was not only benefiting from the donation, but that the gift was resonating in various ways.

“We were happy to support this initiative because technology should not leave anyone behind, especially our seniors. By equipping them with both the tools and the training, weare not just empowering individuals but strengthening families and communities as well. As now the seniors can use the technology to keep in-touch with their families and friends,” he said.

The JN Circle is a global network of JN members and customers who leverage the JN Group’s resources to serve as advocates and community change agents. With 17 chapters spanning all 14 parishes and active groups in Toronto, Canada, and London, England, the JN Circle continues to make meaningful contributions to community development.

Beyond the skills learned, the social aspect of the programme stood out for participants. Seniors from different clubs and communities came together, building new friendships and enjoying the camaraderie of group learning.

“It helped us to socialise and get to know each other,” Ms Worrell noted. “We encouraged one another, and it made the learning more enjoyable.”

The impact is already evident in their daily lives. Graduates reported feeling more confident browsing the internet, managing emails, creating documents, and using messaging apps to stay connected with loved ones. For Ms Worrell, that meant sending her children in the United Kingdom a photo of her certificate, a moment that filled them with pride.

Still, she and her classmates are eager for more. Having had their first taste of digital empowerment, they want to keep going. “I’m not 100 per cent there yet, but it has helped me an awful lot,” Ms Worrell admitted. She looks forward to applying her skills to committee work once her tablet is back in service.

For the Jamaica Library Service, the success of this cohort underscores the importance of investing in vulnerable groups. “When seniors gain confidence and independence through technology, the entire community benefits,” said Mrs Coley-Smith. “It strengthens connections, reduces isolation, and empowers them to remain active participants in society.”

And if there’s one message that Ms Worrel wants to leave with other seniors, it is don’t let age stand in the way. “We don’t do age in my senior citizens’ group,” she said firmly. “You are as old as you feel. Don’t lock yourself away in the house, try new things, even if it’s just once. And don’t just mix with your age group; younger generations will lift your spirits.”

For these seven seniors, graduation was more than the end of a course, it was the beginning of a new chapter. With certificates in hand and confidence in their stride, they are proof that it’s never too late to learn, to connect, and to grow.

“I feel wonderful,” Ms Worrell said with a smile that mirrored the sentiments of her classmates. “This programme has shown us all that age should never hold you back.”

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