The Social Security Scholarship Program
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 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 RobertE. Manning M.B.E. University Scholarship and the StanleyAmory 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.
To date the Social Security Board has awarded one hundred and forty (140) Secondary Scholarships, two (2) full Scholarships for University, eighteen (18) cases of University Financial Assistance and one (1) Technical Scholarship at the tertiary level.