The Social Security Board Scholarship Programme began in 1983 when the Social Security Board decided to make a valuable independence gift to the Government and People of the fledgling nation. The BOARD was of the view that the scholarships would be most meaningful to persons who would have difficulty keeping up with the financial demands associated with a secondary education.  Therefore, need and academic prowess were the specified criteria for the scholarships. Initially, children had to demonstrate their ability in the first and second forms and the scholarship was offered from the third form for three years. One scholarship was granted annually to a student to attend each of the public high schools in the Federation.  

In 1989 a formal Scholarship Committee was established to administer the program and to make appropriate recommendations to the BOARD. At that time, care was taken to have a suitable member of the public at large as well as the Education Departments on St. Kitts and Nevis represented on the Committee.  Presently the Committee comprises: Ms. Eslyn Swanston - Board Member (as Chairperson); Mr. Frank Farrell, Board Member; Mrs. Sephlin Lawrence, Mr. Steve Wrensford and Mr. Vernel Powell from the Management of Social Security; three representatives form the Education Departments on St. Kitts and Nevis - Mr. Patrick Welcome, Mrs. Blondell Franks and Mrs. Jennifer Hodge; Mrs. Olivia Edgecombe-Howell, Representative from the School of Continuing Studies of the University of the West Indies; along with Mrs. Dorothy Clarke, with Staff Member Mrs. Trevere Swanston as Secretary.     

Since 1989 the value of the scholarship has increased from $300 to $500 for 2nd, 4th and 5th form students and $750 for 1st and 3rd form students to enable the recipients to cope with the increasing cost of books and uniforms.  For similar reasons, the period of the scholarship was extended from three to five years. Secondary Scholarships were now being awarded upon entering Secondary School.

Mr. Mark Brantley of Nevis was among the first awardees in 1983. He made laudable use of the opportunity. Later, he pursued a law degree and currently holds the position of Leader of the Opposition in the Federal Parliament. Many are the other Secondary Scholarship holders who have excelled and are making their varied contributions to national development, whose names are too numerous to mention.   

In 1994 the Board extended the program to award full tertiary scholarships.   Ms. Maritza Bowry was the first recipient in 1994; Mr. Colin Cannonier the second in 1996. From 1999, instead of giving a full tertiary scholarship to one person at a time, the Social Security Board decided to increase the number of recipients and began to offer partial scholarships to four students attending the University of the West Indies. Persons who had completed the first year at the UWI Centre on St. Kitts were given preference.  Each was given a grant of $30,000 to facilitate their studies.  The first recipients were Ms. Wanda Pinney and Mr. Warren Moving of Nevis and Mr. Curt Lewis and Ms. Janelle Lewis of St. Kitts. They pursued studies at the University of the West Indies and graduated in 2001.   

In 2007, the Board again extended the program to include a technical scholarship when Mr. Mark Caesar was the first awardee to pursue a degree in Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration at the Ferris State University in Michigan, USA. He is required to return to teach the skill at the College on St. Kitts.

As of 2007 the Social Security Scholarships have been officially designated as The Susanna Lee High School Scholarship, the Robert E. Manning M.B.E. University Scholarship and the Stanley Amory Technical Scholarship.

In August 2008, four students were again awarded University Financial Assistance to pursue studies at the University of the West Indies and the University of the Virgin Islands. They include Ms. Dacil Heyliger who is pursuing studies in Business Administration at UVI, Mr. Eavin Parry who is pursuing studies in Land Management at UWI, Mr. Randel Thompson who is pursuing studies in Biochemistry at UVI and Mr. Davin Francis who is pursuing studies in Psychology at the UVI.