Nine-time world champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, on Friday (November 26, 2021), awarded five student-athletes from schools across Jamaica with full annual scholarships to cover tuition, uniforms, books, and other school supplies. These five recipients bring to 55 the number of students who have benefitted from academic scholarships from the Pocket Rocket Foundation since its inception in 2012.
The recipients are St Jago High’s Tafada Wright, Manchester High’s Kimesha Beckford, Holmwood Technical’s Anecia Taylor, St. Andrew High’s Olivia Peterkin, and Wolmer’s Boys’, Malachi King.
“The mandate of the foundation has always been simple – to financially support Jamaican student-athletes through their high school education. I had the good fortune of being supported through my high school years by a very kind woman by the name of Jeanne Coke of the Wolmer’s Old Girls’ Association and I want to pass that torch on to our current and upcoming student-athletes,” Fraser Pryce said.
She continued, “The challenges of the past two years have made it quite difficult but we remain committed to the work of the foundation and the impact we hope to have. With that, I must thank all the organizations and individuals, especially my sponsors, who continue to support us to ensure that we can continue to support our youths.”
At the handover ceremony held at the Wolmer’s Girls’ High School, each second to fifth form student received a cheque for $50,000 with sixth form students receiving $60,000. They also received grocery baskets from Fraser-Pryce’s long-time sponsor, GraceKennedy Limited as well as Sangster’s Book store and Hi-Lo Supermarket vouchers, each valued at $10,000, and call credit courtesy of Digicel Jamaica.
“I am extremely excited at the Foundation’s ability to not only fulfill the agenda outlined in our mandate but increase the offerings for 2022. I thank Digicel for the additional tokens of book vouchers and Hi-Lo supermarket vouchers for the recipients given the reality of cost of living and food prices. This gesture goes a really long way for the families of these students.”- Fraser-Pryce said.
The scholarship announcement comes on the heels of a hugely successful Pocket Rocket Foundation fundraising event held in Miramar, Florida on November 16, 2021, hosted by the Commissioner of Miramar, Alexandra P. Davis. In addition to raising funds for the foundation through an auction, Fraser-Pryce received the key to the City of Miramar from the Mayor of Miramar, Wayne Messam, and a second key from Commissioner Dale VC Holness from the Broward County Board of County Commissioners.
The Consulate General of Jamaica, Mr Oliver Mair also presented Fraser-Pryce with a Lifetime Achievement Award, and November 16th was declared as the Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce day by Commissioner Alexandra P. Davis.
Scholarships are awarded based on exemplary performance in both academics and athletics.
