BTL awards students
In keeping with its motto “Building the community through our support of Education, Sport and Culture,” the Belize Telecommunication Limited has been awarding primary school students with secondary school scholarships for the past ten years. This year was no exception and News Five was invited to the 2000 edition where twenty-five more students were awarded. Dionne Chamberlain, BTL’s sales manager says the telephone company takes great pride in investing in the country’s future leaders and the students say they are only too happy to have been chosen.
Dionne Chamberlain, Sales Manager, BTL
“We had the applications and over a hundred and twenty-five came in and we had to break it down according to the percentages they got in the PSE, plus the financial need of the family. After that, we broke it down to fifty people and actually conducted interviews with each and every one of them. The children had to express themselves and tell us why they thought they needed it and at the same time, how convincing they were as to how hard they were willing to work at the scholarship. At the same time, the support that the parents give also gave us an indication of how good an environment it was for the child to actually make it in high school. From that we chose twenty-five recipients, who could actually prove that they would be able to make it during high school and actually make something of themselves without an opportunity like this that they wouldn’t have had without our sponsored programme.”
Kieshan Bernard, Former Recipient
“I had a hard time. My grades were always fluctuating too like some of the kids. But I tried hard to try pass and I graduated.”
Kayley Edwards, Recipient
“Well, I feel very thankful towards BTL for giving me the scholarship, because at first my mother didn’t want to apply for it, but I continued to ask her and ask her and finally she decided to get it. When she applied I was very happy. When I received the letter, I was on vacation and my mother called me and when she told me, I was so happy I was jumping up and down saying “I got It, I got it.” So I am very thankful to BTL for giving me this wonderful scholarship, because without it, I don’t know what I would have done.”
Shane Williams, Recipient
“It was hard even getting the application. I was going through some rough times and I didn’t think that I would get it, and I felt so bad, I was worrying all day. I asked God for help and God came through for me, so I thank God for that and BTL as well.”
The recipients not only receive scholarships, but BTL also provides them with summer jobs depending on their need. The scholarship programme is the brainchild of the company’s Chief Executive Officer, Ediberto Tesucum.
