GraceKennedy Foundation Awards Prestigious Carlton Alexander Memorial Bursaries to 22 Outstanding Students

The GraceKennedy Foundation (GKF) proudly continued its tradition of supporting education and celebrating academic excellence by awarding 22 children of GraceKennedy team members the prestigious Carlton Alexander Memorial Bursary for the 2024/25 academic year.

The recipients and their families were honoured at an awards ceremony held on 28 August at GraceKennedy’s headquarters in Downtown Kingston. Now in its 34th year, the annual bursary awards underscores GraceKennedy’s unwavering commitment to youth development in Jamaica.

This year, over J$2 million in bursaries were awarded. Bursaries ranged from J$65,000 for secondary students up to Grade 11, J$90,000 for sixth form students, to J$150,000 for tertiary-level awardees. The bursaries are renewable annually, contingent on the beneficiaries maintaining their high academic standards.

In his opening remarks, Philip Alexander, a Director of the GraceKennedy Foundation and son of the late Hon. S. Carlton Alexander, OJ—former Chairman and CEO of GraceKennedy for whom the bursaries are named—emphasised the significance of the event, describing it as a cherished tradition that embodies GK’s dedication to fostering a culture of excellence.

“As the son of Carlton Alexander, it fills me with immense pride to see how the GraceKennedy Foundation continues to make a profound impact on our community,” he remarked. “One of the pillars of the Foundation is our belief in the transformative power of education. Through these initiatives, we are not only investing in these students' academic endeavours but also in their personal growth, leadership potential, and ability to contribute meaningfully to society.”

Gail Moss-Solomon, General Counsel & Chief Corporate Secretary of GraceKennedy, also acknowledged Carlton Alexander’s unwavering commitment to education in Jamaica, “Carlton Alexander was not just a leader; he was a visionary who understood the life-changing power of education. He recognised that education is the key to unlocking that potential, and he dedicated his life to ensuring others had the opportunity to succeed.”

“Today, you stand here because you embody that same spirit of excellence and promise,” she continued, addressing the bursary recipients directly.

The Carlton Alexander Memorial Bursaries are highly competitive, with candidates evaluated based on academic performance, participation in extracurricular activities, and leadership potential. Mrs Crystal-Gayle Williams, Acting Operations Manager at the GraceKennedy Foundation, noted, “The Carlton Alexander Memorial Bursary Awards programme is designed to honour the most exceptional students. It’s based on merit, and it’s crucial that you strive to do your very best.”