BOIPB scholars encouraged to strengthen family island communities

BOIPB scholars encouraged to strengthen family island communities
Kerry Fountain, Executive Director BOIPB (centre), along with the seven BOIPB scholarship students.

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – The Bahama Out Islands Promotion Board (BOIPB) is urging University of The Bahamas (UB) students who are the beneficiaries of its endowed scholarships to envision their place in the distinct and dynamic economics of the Family Islands.

The 11 students were the specially invited guests of the BOIPB during its first Directors and General Membership Meeting of 2019 held recently at Baha Mar.

BOIPB Executive Director Kerry Fountain noted that the meeting presented a valuable opportunity.

“It was a great opportunity to invite these students to come not only to be recognized, but to see what type of business opportunities there are in their islands to explore even before they graduate,” he explained.

He encouraged the students to take the information shared and “fly with it” to be the best in their respective courses of study.

During the meeting, Tourism Director General Mrs. Joy Jibrilu also presented the new marketing campaign for the Ministry of Tourism, entitled “Fly Away”, which features renowned Bahamian musical icon Lenny Kravitz.

Director of Financial Aid and Scholarships at UB Cheryl Carey was commended for initiating the BOIPB endowment which provides scholarship opportunities for Family Island students who have relocated to New Providence and Grand Bahama to attend UB.  Also in attendance from UB were Mrs. Remelda Moxey, Dean, Business, Hospitality and Tourism Studies and Ms. Bridgett Murray, Director of Industry Training.

“I am always happy whenever I get an opportunity to speak and interact with these students. My job is to make sure that they succeed by ensuring that lack of finances doesn’t hinder the completion of their studies,” noted Ms. Carey.

The BOIPB scholars include seven students at UB’s Oakes Field Campus and four at UB-North in Grand Bahama.  They include: Kazi Johnson, Business major from Harbour Island; Clerell Ramsey, Human Resource Management major from the Berry Islands; Shannon Lightbourne, Psychology major from Long Island; Shante Simmons, Family and Consumer Science major from San Salavador; Lekeitra Robinson, Secondary Spanish Education major and Micah Russell, Tourism majors both from Andros; and Conrad Davis, Electrical Engineering Technology major from Abaco.

Through its endowed scholarships programme, the BOIPB aims to strengthen the professional skills in the Family Islands and specifically in the hotel and tourism sector.