Scholarship recipient Keon Reece (centre) is pictured alongside Terence C. Gumbs, Compliance Officer at GraceKennedy Money Services (BVI) Limited, and Dr Ronald A. Brunton, Vice President of Academic Affairs at H. Lavity Stoutt Community College. Photo:GKMS

The scholarship initiative underscores a shared commitment to fostering academic excellence and nurturing the next generation of business, financial, and economic leaders within the territory.

Upon receiving this prestigious award, Keon Reece expressed profound appreciation for the opportunity and the network of support that helped him achieve it “I feel extremely honoured and grateful”, Reece said. “This award means a lot to me, and I’m thankful to God and to everyone who supported me.” 

According to a press release, Reece secured the highly competitive award after meeting the rigorous criteria established for the programme. Designed to support driven, high-performing students who are serious about their academic and professional development, the scholarship required applicants to maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA, submit a personal essay, and provide strong recommendations from lecturers or mentors within the Business & Entrepreneurship Department.

Scholarship core pillar of corporate responsibility 

GKMS CEO Margaret Campbell Stated, “At GKMS, we believe that empowering academic talent is the single greatest investment we can make in our collective future.”

For GraceKennedy Money Services, the scholarship represents a core pillar of its corporate responsibility, empowering communities through education by awarding US $1,000 each to top-performing students, the release added.

“Keon’s dedication to the field of Finance mirrors our own drive for excellence. By removing financial barriers, we aim to give bright, deserving students the platform they need to innovate, lead, and drive economic growth right here in the Virgin Islands,” opined Campbell.

Reece perfect scholarship candidate

Meantime, Dr Ronald A. Brunton, Vice President of Academic Affairs at HLSCC, highlighted the profound impact of such corporate partnerships, stating, “Education remains one of the most powerful tools for transforming lives and strengthening communities. Through this new scholarship initiative, GKMS has demonstrated a meaningful commitment not only to supporting individual students, but also to strengthening the future economic and entrepreneurial capacity of the Virgin Islands.”

Dr Brunton further noted that Reece perfectly embodies the spirit of the award, adding, “The awarding of the GKMS Scholarship to Mr Keon Reece reflects both the company’s investment in educational advancement and its confidence in the potential of our emerging leaders. Mr Reece’s dedication, perseverance, and academic accomplishments exemplify the values that this scholarship seeks to promote.”

The entire College community joins in celebrating Reece’s milestone, viewing his success as a testament to the power of determination and hard work.

"On behalf of the College community, we extend warm congratulations to Mr Reece for his outstanding efforts and academic achievements," Dr Brunton added. "We are confident that he will continue to make meaningful contributions to the development of the Virgin Islands. We also commend GKMS for its vision and partnership in supporting the educational aspirations of our students and investing in the next generation of leaders."