Students win private school scholarships

(CNS): Daniel Nicholson and Drew Milgate have been awarded specialist scholarships to attend the Cayman International School and Cayman Prep and High School respectively with a focus on maths and science. The Minds Inspired local High School Scholarship which is funded by Dart is now in its second year. Daniel and Drew have been awarded full tuition costs, for four years, at the schools they chose and will also benefit from the creation of a college fund, a mentoring programme and other activities to support them. Applications were received from students attending both private and public schools, officials said, from every private and public school in the Cayman Islands, making the competition fierce.

Daniel and Drew were described as outstanding young scholars who completed a rigorous testing and interview process.

Dart said the interview process ensures integrity of the outcome by keeping the identities of the applicants anonymous to the selection committee. Their names were only released internally when the final decision had been made.

Mark VanDevelde, Chief Executive Office at Dart congratulated the two new recipients. “The caliber of the finalists was impressive. Their character, tenacity and professionalism – especially at this young age – stood out and this makes Daniel and Drew’s accomplishment even more notable. These young Caymanians are our future leaders, and that gives me a great sense of confidence for the future of our country,” he said

The other three finalists: Alexander Slocock, Jacie Mascarenhas and Haley Wilhelm who, along with the two scholarship recipients, received the new Apple iPad presented in recognition of their hard work during the selection process.

Glenda McTaggart, Manager, Learning and Development at Dart Enterprises Ltd. Said she was looking forward to welcoming Daniel and Drew to the Minds Inspired programme and to introducing them to last year’s winners – David Forbes and Ethan Whittaker who are taking full advantage of the scholarships benefits

The Minds Inspired Programme also recognises the important role played by the students’ schools and so a grant of CI$1,000 will be awarded to the math and science departments of Cayman International School and Cayman Prep and High School at the first assembly of the 2013-14 academic school year.