B.T.L. awards high school scholarships
Once synonymous with efficiency, profitability and reliable service, the name B.T.L. is today more likely to elicit images of corporate controversy. But while Jeffrey Prosser, Michael Ashcroft, Said Musa and their supporting players make the lawyers rich and Belizeans poor, the telecommunications company itself, like a good old Timex watch, just keeps on ticking… while helping others to do the same. News 5’s Jacqueline Woods has more.
Jacqueline Woods, Reporting
Since Belize Telecommunications Limited introduced its high school scholarship programme in 1991, approximately two hundred and seventy-five students have been given the opportunity to pursue a secondary education. Today, eighteen more students were awarded with a four-year scholarship to attend a high school of their choice.
Suzette Tillett, Public Relations Manager, B.T.L.
“Well for the past fourteen years, as the company has contributed, we have seen a lot of graduates and as well we have seen that on a whole a family gets improved when a scholarship is awarded. So it is something that the company is proud of and we want to continue, because we see the need for it. Every year we have more students coming on board, we see the need for mentorship; we see the need to have that student be a part of our programme.”
For the Torres family, whose daughter Giselle is one of this year’s recipients, the award gave their child the chance of a lifetime.
Tito Torres, Father of Scholarship Recipient
“In our case, we really thank them for the opportunity they are giving us to go ahead with our daughter?s education. And I hope in that the future she is going to show us and prove to them that it?s really worth it.”
These young men and women were chosen from a total of three hundred applicants.
Suzette Tillett
“Well the requirements for getting the scholarship is not only based on the P.S.E. results and so forth. This year especially, we based mostly on how the student has done for the past three years of primary school and based on that, as well as their need and if they show aptitude, if they show that they are somebody who is a pusher in school, those are the kind of criteria we look for. In order to maintain the scholarship, we ask that students remain at least five points above the average of their school and good behaviour and all that stuff. And of course we provide some type of mentorship to ensure students maintain the grades they are supposed to.”
Not all the students awarded in the past have stayed in the programme, but don’t tell that to twelve year old Jose Vasquez, who says he will make his parents and B.T.L. proud!
Jose Vasquez, 2005 B.T.L. Scholarship Recipient
?I think that this is excellent because they are giving us, they are helping us to pursue our dreams that sometimes maybe our parents couldn?t pay for the college and they are helping us. This is excellent. They are helping us with a lot.”
To date B.T.L. has invested close to one million dollars in the high school scholarship programme. Jacqueline Woods for News Five.
In addition to the high school scholarship programme, B.T.L.’s other educational efforts include its Stay In School Campaign, Internet to School Programme, Learn ‘N Phone initiative, and the Stay in School Jam.
