Ariel Rosado Hosts Scholarship Award Ceremony

The Ariel Rosado Memorial Education Foundation held its fourth annual scholarship award ceremony at the Lion’s Den in Belize City.  Proudly, it announced that the number of scholarships granted to students from across the country has been growing year by year. 2015 then looks like a bumper year. Duane Moody reports.

Duane Moody, Reporting

When it first started, the Ariel Rosado Memorial Education Foundation provided much needed assistance to primary school students to further their education. Thereafter, ten students were granted scholarships to learn how to sail under the guidance of the Belize Sailing Association; seventeen secondary school students received scholarships covering payment for fees and books and three others got tuition scholarships to Galen University in Central Farm. Now, the foundation is taking that number up to forty-eight with twenty new secondary schools, three at the university level and twenty-five sailing scholarships.

Salvador Awe

Salvador Awe, Secretary, Ariel Rosado Memorial Education Foundation

“This is the culmination of the year’s work that we do and it is really the highlight of the year because we actually see the fruits of our labor. We have awarded thirty-odd scholarships to very deserving youth and if you saw some of the earlier footage, you will see that they are well spoken….most of them are doing very well in school…in fact some of them are topping their classes. Mind you, these are children who might not have had the opportunity to even go to high school and now they are successful in doing it and we are very happy and honored to be a part of their success.”

Joining two others at Galen University is Janice Dawson of Belize City. Dawson will be pursuing a degree in Economics come August.

Janice Dawson,

Janice Dawson, Scholarship recipient

“I very grateful and without the scholarship I know that we mi wah have a lot of stressful getting around and finding the finance to get that money cause it’s no little bit of money to get a degree dah Galen. So I am very appreciative for the opportunity. I feel very humble and thankful to an organization like the Ariel Rosado Foundation.”

Heidi Canales, a third form high school student is getting her scholarship extended for another year. She has been at the top of her class.

Heidi Canales, Scholarship Recipient

“I feel very proud because they are helping students that do need the scholarship so that they can continue studying.”

Duane Moody

“Your case, talk to us about that.”

Heidi Canales

Heidi Canales

“Well; I feel proud because if it wasn’t for them, I would not be studying maybe. And so I am really proud.”

Duane Moody

“We understand that you are doing well and you are a repeat scholarship awardee.”

Heidi Canales

“Yes, I have been doing very well at school. I came in first in first form and in second form I came in first again.”

Duane Moody

“What advice would you have for other recipients?”

Heidi Canales

“I would advise them to continue studying hard so that they can make the foundation proud.”

Aside from the annual ride as its major fundraiser for the scholarship program, corporate partners are also key in its mandate says the Foundation’s Secretary, Salvador Awe.

Salvador Awe

“We have fourteen dedicated people who provide scholarships for these kids. I don’t remember all their names right off, but what I can say is that the support that we’ve gotten from the business community has been commendable. We are welcomed and people generally donate what they can donate and it goes a long way as you can see with all the scholarship recipients that we have.”

Duane Moody for News Five.