The Morant Bay High School Alumni Association, (MBHSAA) New York chapter has contributed just over US$100 thousand dollars (JA$8.4 million) over the past 25 years to support various projects at their alma mater. This was disclosed by the President of MBHSAA New York chapter, Charles Murray while addressing the association’s 25th anniversary dinner dance and awards banquet on Saturday, November 5, 2011 at the Eastwood Manor Banquet Hall in the Bronx, New York.
Murray disclosed that US$30 thousand was used to refurbish and equip the science laboratory, with two thousand dollars going towards the salary of the coach between 2003 and 2005. An additional US$20 thousand was spent to complete the state of the art science lab and to purchase 12 computers which contributed to the significant increase in the number of students who successfully sat and passed the CXC and GCE computer technology examinations.
The MBHSAA president said that to date; the organisation has provided 26 scholarships to students at a total cost of US$39 thousand dollars. He added that an additional US$15 thousand was used to renovate the school’s playfield.
more support
Murray told the over 500 past students and friends gathered at the Eastwood Manor that the organisation could not have achieved what it has over past twenty-five years without their support. He said that during the coming years the association would need even more support, as there are plans to build a needed state of the art library for the school.
In her message to mark the occasion, Jamaica’s Ambassador to the United States, Audrey Marks, lauded the organization for its hard work and dedication to the growth and personal development of the students at Morant Bay High. “I think it is commendable that your chapter has been providing scholarships and financial assistance, in addition to contributing to the physical plant of your alma mater. It is heart-warming to note that even though many of you graduated years ago, you have continued to contribute and give back to your school,” said Ambassador Marks.
“I salute this significant milestone of the 50th anniversary of the Morant Bay High School and the 25th anniversary of MBHS’ Alumni Association as the continuation of a sterling Jamaican tradition of educational institutions serving the children in St Thomas by offering quality education.”
The Jamaican Envoy commended the association on behalf of the government, people of Jamaica and the citizens of St Thomas for their twenty-five years of outstanding service.
To commemorate the 25th anniversary of the organisation, MBHSAA presented four Excellence Awards to honour the accomplishments of past students who have excelled in their chosen field of Endeavour. In the field of law, the award went to Judge of the Supreme Court of Jamaica, Justice Glenworth Brown while the Deputy Governor of the Bank of Jamaica (BOJ), Myrtle Halsall received the award in the field of Economics.
honoured
In Science, the Excellence Award was awarded to Researcher at the University of Toronto, Canada, Dr Kamaluddin Addur-Rashid with Olympian Juliet Cuthbert being honoured in the field of Sports.
Community awards were also presented to the Director of the Lincoln Breast Center and Chief of Breast Surgery at the Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center, Dr Sydney McCalla, Member of Parliament for Eastern St. Thomas, Dr Fenton Ferguson and Founder of the Association’s New York chapter, Robert Ritchie .
Among the special guests at the dinner dance were Presidents of MBHSAA Jamaica chapter, Wayne White, Rupert Edwards, Toronto chapter, Michael McNeil Atlanta chapter, President of the Philadelphia Trade Council and past student, Dr Harold Mignot, Ms Jamaica USA 2011 Caprie Nugent and representing MBHS, senior teacher Nicole Holness.
