Record Haul of Scholarships from Ariel Rosado Foundation
The Ariel Rosado Foundation, established in the memory of the fallen cyclist turned legal practitioner, has increased the number of scholarships it awards to students for the fifth year in succession. This year, the foundation has approved funding for a total of forty six scholarships comprised as follows: ten primary school students to learn to sail with the Belize Sailing Association; thirty-four secondary school scholarships covering the full cost of fees and books; and two tuition scholarships to Galen University in Cayo. The scholarship awards were formally presented at the Radisson Fort George Hotel on Saturday morning and News Five’s Aaron Humes was there.
Aaron Humes Reporting:
Teenager Heidy Canales of Belama Phase Four, Belize City, is the first two-time scholarship recipient from the Ariel Rosado Foundation. She completed her high school education this year at Pallotti High School with honors, placing among the top three in her class. She now moves on to Galen University, the first child in her single-parent family to reach that far. But as she told the audience at the Radisson Hotel, it was never easy.
Heidy Canales
Heidy Canales, Scholarship Recipient
“There were nights where I stayed up late to prepare myself for assessment that I was going to have the other day. Also there were nights that I would stay up late doing my assignments and projects. What I also used to do was to do my assignments as they were given to me, so that it wasn’t overwhelming for me. As a student, you have to set your mind that you want to succeed and become someone great in life. You also need to set goals in your life for your future. For you to accomplish these goals you need to work hard toward them. It won’t be easy but at the end it will be worth it.”
The life story of guest speaker for the occasion, Assistant Commissioner of Police Chester Williams, is no less inspiring. He grew up with a single mother working in the banana industry, but is now one of the most senior and recognized police officers in Belize and recently completed a law degree. He summarized his life lessons dished out to today’s recipients.
Chester Williams
ACP Chester Williams, Guest Speaker
“Life is a journey and a difficult journey at times, and many of us may come from a certain background that would not be conducive to us becoming successful; but we are not to allow the conditions under which we are to dictate who or what we may become in life, that despite whatever adversities you may be going through, that there is always a way that you can rise above. And basically for them to understand that they can rise above as well. Secondly, they are to ensure that they associate themselves with persons who will guide them and guide them right, and not persons who will try to see them fail or people who will set them up to do things that they should not be doing.”
Williams observed that as the times change in education, so does what is needed to stay ahead. He also had a word for the valued role of parents.
ACP Chester Williams
“The importance of education today – back ten, fifteen years ago, a high school diploma today is worth what a primary school certificate was then. When you apply for a job, regardless of what the job may be, the least they are asking you for is a high school diploma, so it is important that they try to complete their high school education, and try to go beyond that. And again t o the parents, my message to them was to find ways and means to keep their child motivated; they cannot expect that the child will do it on their own, but rather with the assistance of the parents – and the parents’ assistance does not necessarily have to be academically – just to ensure that the home is conducive for the child to be able to study, and ensure that you give the child’s education the priority that it deserves, because at the end of the day, that child’s success will be determined by how that child is treated at home.”
Aaron Humes reporting for News Five.
The scholarships are a mix of foundation-sponsored awards from their fundraising and dedicated sponsored scholarships. Recipients attend schools ranging from Corozal Community College in the north, to Toledo Community College in the south.
