The Esmie L. Walters Scholarship
In honor of Ms. Esmie L. Walters, an essay competition has been established, in her name, as a way of recognizing her commitment to education. This scholarship is valued at $30,000 JMD and will be awarded to a student with the best essay.
Two other prizes of $12,000 and $8,000 will also be awarded to the second and third place winners.
1ST PRIZE: $30,000 JMD
2ND PRIZE: $12,000 JMD
3RD PRIZE: $ 8,000 JMD
ESSAY:
Jamaica is currently plagued by several social issues that affect minors. Unfortunately, many of these issues are described as ‘old news’. Two categories of these social issues are Education and Values, and evidence exists that there is a relationship between the two. A few examples are noted below:
- Education - academic shortcomings, guidance, illiteracy, personal commitment, truancy
- Values - anti-social behavior, ethics, personal responsibility, self-control, negative peer pressure
SCENARIO
You were awarded a 3-month summer internship working with a non-profit organization and given a challenging, but high profile project to do. Upon completion you will present your proposal to the organization’s Board of Directors. If your proposal is accepted you will have the opportunity to lead the project team after completing your studies.
- What is the relationship between the categories Education and Values; can one exist without the other? Why?
- Are the issues in these categories getting better or worse in Jamaica? What is the rationale for your response?
- Which of these two categories need urgent attention in your high school and why?
- Also, design a 5 year multi-stage plan to eradicate the social issues that are suffocating students in Jamaica.
Your ideas must be realistic, and the results viable and long-lasting. Feel free to use historical data or create plausible hypotheticals. Judges will look for essays that explicitly convey the ideas of the writer, and where these ideas are logically organized.
ELIGIBILITY
- Open to all high school students in Jamaica for the 2014/2015 academic year, excluding prior winners
- Submit completed application form and essays via email to [email protected] by June 30, 2014
- Application form is located at the bottom right hand corner below
- Essays must be no less than 1,500 and no more than 2,000 words in length
- Essays must be written by students
- Students are limited to one (1) essay submission
Finalist will receive further correspondence from the organization and winners will be announced at our Annual Awards Banquet on August 3, 2014 in Kingston, Jamaica. The organization reserves the right to disqualify any essay found to be in violation of our guidelines without any notification to you.
| High School Scholarship Application Form |
