BASSETERRE, St.Kitts (Friday 6th September 2019)-Over the past weekend, eight students in St. Kitts-Nevis entering high school for the first time were officially welcomed as the newest recipients of the Warren C. Tyson Memorial Scholarship Award provided by TDC Group of Companies Ltd.
The 2019 Recipients of the Warren C. Tyson Memorial Scholarship Award provided by TDC Group of Companies Ltd. Seen with (L to R) TDC Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Earle Kelly, Group Senior Human Resources Officer Gloria Esdaille and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education William Hodge 
The 2019 Recipients of the Financial Services Academic Excellence Award seen with General Manager of TDC Financial Services Ltd. Steve Farier (right end) and TDC Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Earle Kelly and Manager of TDC Financial Services Ltd. (Nevis branch) Keesha Jones
The 38th annual induction ceremony was held on Friday 30th August at the TDC Training Room at its head office on Fort Street.
The 2019 awardees are: Sannica Hull (Tucker Clarke Primary School)-Basseterre High School, Shaniqua Edmeade (Cayon Primary)-Cayon High School, Kialan Morton (Sandy Point Primary)-Charles E. Mills Secondary, Jenissa Taylor (Edgar T. Morris Primary)-Saddlers Secondary, Jae Greene (Irish Town Primary)-Verchilds High and Destiny Parris (Beach Allen Primary)- Washington Archibald High from St.Kitts as well as Earl Jeffers (St.Thomas Primary) Charlestown Secondary, Sasha Browne (Violet O. Jeffers-Nicholls Primary) Gingerland Secondary from Nevis.
Additionally, that day, the eight runners-up in the programme received the TDC Financial Services Academic Excellence Award namely: Nathalie Providence (Ivor Walters Primary)-Charlestown Secondary and Alyssa Gajor (St.James Primary) from Nevis as well as Sadejah Marsham (Dr. William Connor Primary)- Basseterre High, Colis Duke (Joshua O. Williams Primary)-Cayon High, Zalika Liburd (Newtown Ground Primary-Charles E. Mills Secondary, Juvencia Finch (Estridge Primary)-Saddlers Secondary, Kaemona Veira (Tyrell Williams Primary)-Verchilds High and C-Quanie Carey (Deane-Glasford Primary)- Washington Archibald High from St.Kitts.
At the ceremony, each student received a scholarship certificate.
Group Senior Human Resources Officer Gloria Esdaille said the programme is named in honour of the first chairman of the TDC Group of companies.
“His belief was one that realised the importance of learning and development and most sincerely sought to ensure that his colleagues had opportunities for advancement which would renowned to the success of the company.”
Esdaille Robinson spotlighted the motto: “We at TDC are molding young minds for the future.”
She highlighted that the scholarship award “provides each student with financial assistance as well as counselling, training and work experience over a seven year period, supporting you from first form through to the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College and or the Nevis Sixth Form College.”
Esdaille Robinson went on further to outline that the programme “has expanded its reach to also highlight and award the achievements of our runner-up students who will receive a one-time gift package of essential school supplies [provided by] TDC Financial Services Ltd. formerly known as FINCO.”
According to her, the most deserving students are selected based on the criteria of the programme.
“Note keenly, we don’t just give you money, we help you to manage your allotted finances while making wise decisions over each academic year. We don’t just accept the pass marks of 55 % and 65%, we say challenge yourselves, be excellent and attain 75% and above and we will hold you to it. We don’t just put you to work, we ensure that you are guided in displaying appropriate behaviour whole learning to function at work, interacting with staff and assisting customers. We ensure that the total development of the child because we care. To be successful, you must finish the programme.”
TDC Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Earle Kelly pointed out that the programme is “based on academic excellence and need-not want; those kids who are bright but they lack the financial resource, those are the ones who qualify.”
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education William Hodge described the programme as being “excellent” and endorsed it based on reasoning from Esdaille-Robinson’s presentation.
He applauded the counseling aspect “because many of our young people need that type of guidance and it’s not just guidance, it’s career guidance so that they can direct you in the path you want to go on leaving school.”
In relation to the on the job experience, Williams told that “ this is a vital component of this programme…when I come into TDC-because I’m always in TDC-…and I like when I see the young students serving the customers, displaying good customer service. That is something that we as Kittitians have been criticised for not having good customer service so we want to commend TDC for assuring that you batch of young people begin to get some training in customer service.
He also praised the mentorship aspect regarding the ‘big brother big sister type of relationship with TDC staff members.
The Education Ministry official thanked TDC and said his ministry recommits to “working in this partnership for the benefit of you young persons.”