The Tribune

SAINT Mary’s University and the Ministry of Education have announced a renewable four-year scholarship aimed at deserving Bahamian Grade 12 public high school students. It is the only Bahamian scholarship of its type with a Canadian university.

The scholarship is equally funded by the university and the ministry, with each organisation providing CAD$12,000 per year for four years for a total value of CAD$96,000.

The first recipient will begin classes at the Halifax, Nova Scotia based-university in September, 2017.

“We were very happy to find such a fitting way to honour the history we have shared together with this great region and to celebrate our ever-growing Bahamian student alumni population” said Dr Robert Summerby-Murray, President and Vice-Chancellor of Saint Mary’s University. “We’re very proud of the hundreds of Bahamian Santamarians over the years who have returned to help contribute to the growth of their communities.”

The Memorandum of Understanding between Saint Mary’s and the Ministry of Education was signed on Monday by Dr Summerby-Murray and Jerome Fitzgerald, Minister of Education, Science and Technology.

“We recognise we cannot grow our economy without a well-educated population, so we have been seeking to develop scholarships for deserving public high school students,” said Mr Fitzgerald. “The partnership we have created together with Saint Mary’s University provides opportunities where they might not exist otherwise.”

One scholarship will be awarded per year. The student will be jointly selected by Saint Mary’s and the ministry’s Scholarships and Educational Loans Division.

Saint Mary’s University welcomes over 50 Bahamian students a year, adding to its flourishing base of international students on campus. “It is so great to see this scholarship come to fruition and we look forward to expanding upon the great relationships we have in the region,” Marie Braswell, Director of Admissions and Recruitment for Saint Mary’s University, said.

Founded in 1802, Saint Mary’s University is a modern, urban university with more than 7,300 full and part-time students. Saint Mary’s has developed a reputation for diversity with international students comprising 30 per cent of enrollment. It has the internationally renowned Sobey School of Business and award-winning Arts and Science Faculties.