GraceKennedy announces two new scholarships

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

AS part of GraceKennedy's 90th anniversary celebrations, group chief executive officer, Don Wehby, has announced the establishment of two tertiary scholarships in honour of Rafael Diaz and Douglas Orane, former CEOs of the company.

The Rafael Diaz Scholarship will be awarded annually to a business student attending the University of the West Indies (UWI). Candidates will be considered based on their outstanding academic performance, combined with a high level of social awareness and community involvement. Throughout Rafael Diaz's tenure he upheld that private enterprise had a responsibility to contribute to national development.

Shortly after his appointment in 1989, he established the Carlton Alexander Memorial Fund which supports the Carlton Alexander Chair in Management Studies to the UWI; an annual scholarship to graduates of Jamaica College tenable at the UWI and the University of Technology in alternate years and bursaries to dependents of GraceKennedy staff.

"It is therefore fitting, as the company celebrates this important milestone, that Rafael Diaz' legacy be acknowledged and honoured by creating this scholarship in his name," Wehby said.

The Douglas Orane Scholarship will be awarded to an outstanding student pursuing science, technology or engineering and will be tenable annually at the University of the West Indies or the University of Technology or Northern Caribbean University.

Candidates should reflect a consistent involvement in social/community activities; have recognised leadership abilities; and manifest creative energy and curiosity. Douglas Orane has passionately articulated, on a number of occasions, that investing in education is critical for the development of Jamaica as a nation. The criteria reflect what he views as most important to our society at this time. This scholarship is to honour and recognise his continued devotion to GraceKennedy and Jamaica.

The scholarships will be administered by the GraceKennedy Foundation and the application process will open in May of this year.