CTO Foundation awards over US$40 000 in scholarships, grants

Fifteen Caribbean nationals are set to benefit from a boost to their academic and professional pursuits with support from the Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO)’s scholarship programme, the CTO Foundation.

This year, the Foundation has already awarded over US $40 000 in scholarship and grants to students from ten CTO member countries: Barbados, the Bahamas, Bermuda, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Martinique, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and St. Lucia.

The CTO director responsible for regional human resource development Bonita Morgan, stated, “We at the CTO have recognised that it is becoming increasingly difficult for persons wanting to further their studies to access the necessary resources to do so.

“The Foundation is very pleased that it is able to give continuous support to individuals who are well-deserving of the kind of assistance needed to help further themselves academically and professionally,” she added.

A funding resource for tourism and hospitality career development, educational programmes and lifelong learning, the CTO Foundation supports Caribbean nationals who are committed to a career in tourism and hospitality by providing financial assistance to support their education and professional development at the certificate, diploma, associates, first degree and post graduate levels, as well as language training for persons already working in the tourism sector.

Scholarships of up to US$7 600 were awarded to three students pursuing studies in tourism and hospitality management at the Masters level, nine students received study grants of up to US$2 000 each, while one received just over US$2 100 through a special scholarship in the name of the late Audrey Palmer Hawks, the former director general of the Caribbean Tourism Association, the precursor to the CTO.

“The Foundation seeks persons who are well-rounded,” Morgan said, noting: “We particularly look for those who have demonstrated their brilliance not only in a classroom setting but also in extra-curricular activities outside of the formal learning environment. This element we believe forms an essential part in deciding which applicants will be selected for the scholarship awards.”