16 UCCI students receive Peter N. Thompson Foundation scholarships

By Christopher Tobutt

Sixteen students at the University College of the Cayman Islands received scholarships to pursue their studies in liberal arts, social sciences and the sciences from the Peter N. Thompson Family Foundation. The scholarships, of up to 2,500 dollars for each student, are renewable for up to two years for an associates programme, and 4 years for a bachelors programme. they are paid from the Foundation to the UCCI, to cover tuition fees or other expenses involved with studying, provided that the students continue to attain specified academic goals. Five of the 16 students present were returning students, who have met the criteria for a renewed scholarship, while 11 of the students were receiving the scholarship for the first time. The scholarships are intended to help students who may be studying in areas including the liberal arts, social sciences and the sciences, or professions such as nursing.

Present were Dr. Stacy McAfee, UCCI President and CEO, Mark Ray, from the Ministry of Education, Mark Scotland, Chairman of the Board of Governors, and Foundation director Wayne Ross.

It was a very special occasion, because Peter A. Thompson, another one of the foundation’s directors, was able to join students and staff via a Zoom! link, with his wife, Patricia Thompson-Leonard. “The PNT Foundation awards are designed to recruit and support students who are driven to improve the Cayman Islands. We are very supportive of UCCI’s Educational Programmes and we congratulate each recipient for being selected today. My final words are what my wife and I tell our two daughters, study hard and be responsible, and try and enjoy your college experience as much as you can,” he said. Mr. Thompson also mentioned that there is another award designed to help students study overseas, called the Thompson Innovation Award.

Drawing from her own life experience, UCCI president, Dr. Stacy McAfee said, “As the daughter of a single mom, by the time I got to college, I relied on five scholarships to help me afford my education.

“I got to know Peter Thompson as well as Wayne Ross over a series of five months, when they approached me and said, ‘we are thinking that we might want to make an investment and we want to honour our father’s wishes and the legacy that he wanted to build through education.’ The story that we hear from the Thompson family about why they made this gift, and what they hope it will accomplish, is touching it is rewarding and it is an inspiration for others that they may consider making a similar gift as well.”

Mr. Mark Scotland, JP, Chairman of Board of Governors said, “A 500,000 dollar gift really is significant and we cannot thank the Thompson Foundation enough what a significant investment for building our nation. The only thing I would ask is that other organisations follow in the footsteps of the Thompson Foundation by entering into these partnerships too and come on board with us as well.”