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Recipients of the Peter N. Thomson Family Foundation – UCCI Scholarship were announced Wednesday (Oct. 28) in a ceremony at the University College of the Cayman Islands (UCCI). The foundation awarded scholarships to 16 young Caymanians, allowing them to pursue their associate or bachelor’s degrees at UCCI without having to worry about the financial cost.

The foundation’s scholarship program is designed to recruit and support students who are driven to improve the Cayman Islands in areas including, but not limited to, liberal arts, social sciences and/or the sciences. Each scholar receives up to CI$2,500 financial aid to cover tuition, fees, books, and supplies.

The scholarships are renewable each year up to a two-year period for associate degrees or up to a four-year period for a bachelor’s degree. The scholarship is available for students in need of financial aid. Such students are required to maintain a minimum 2.5 grade point average (GPA) at the bachelor’s level and a 2.25 GPA at the associate’s level as they complete their studies.

The late Peter N. Thomson’s vision was to promote education in Cayman and in the Bahamas. His son, Peter A. Thomson, former Caribbean Utilities Company CEO, and daughter, Patricia Thomson-Leonard, have taken on the mission to deliver on their father’s dream. In 2018, they launched the foundation and in 2019 selected UCCI as an institution they wanted to support.

“Today we announce our second group of Peter N. Thomson scholars, some of our most distinguished students at the University College of the Cayman Islands,” said UCCI President and CEO Stacy McAfee. “The accomplishments of the students being honored today are impressive. What is also impressive is the breadth of studies they are pursuing.”

Subject areas being pursued by the students include engineering, computer science, social work, literary studies, hospitality management and nursing.

Joining the event via a Zoom connection, foundation director, Peter A. Thomson told the recipients they should appreciate attending a college where classes were being held face to face.

“You are very fortunate at UCCI that you can study in a classroom and interface with your fellow students and make friends,” Thomson said. “Our advice is study hard and be responsible and try to enjoy your college experience as much as you can.”

Wayne Ross, also a director for the foundation, said the organization plans to continue to stay in touch with and support students once they graduate and begin pursuing their careers.

The foundation’s support, said Mark Ray, Acting Deputy Chief Officer for the Ministry of Education, who spoke on behalf of Minister Juliana O’Connor-Connolly, is an important supplement to the scholarship support government provides.  

“The Ministry of Education recognizes the financial burdens that some of our students may face,” Ray said. “These partnerships, such as the one with the Peter N. Thomson Foundation, supplement our efforts to provide Caymanian youth with the opportunity to acquire tertiary education.  

The Peter N Thomson - UCCI Spring 2020 Scholars are: Somali Thompson, Johnathan Page, Tison Maitland-Ebanks, Michael James Mullings, Mya Dunkley, Arriela Downs White, Nathaniel Forbes, Jaheim Glidden-Welcome, Sade Parchment, Josannah Watson, Israel Carrazana, Katherine Scott, Fioni Linwood, Kimberly Perry, Chelsea Frederick and Timothy Wesley.

For more information on the scholarship, please visit UCCI’s website at https://www.ucci.edu.ky/PNT/scholarship or call the UCCI Student Life office at 623-0530 to apply for next term’s scholarship.