News Releases

UWI Fete – 25 years of giving back

For Release Upon Receipt - March 13, 2015

St. Augustine


Pioneering event provides bursaries to 200 deserving students 

ST. AUGUSTINE, Trinidad and Tobago – Last Thursday, March 5, 2015, The University of the West Indies Development and Endowment Fund (UWIDEF) hosted the Award Ceremony for its 2014/2015 Bursaries. The proceeds from UWI Fete 2015, the cornerstone of UWIDEF for the past 25 years, saw the award of 200 bursaries to deserving UWI students across all seven faculties of the institution.

Since inception, the fete as well as the UWI Golf Classic has facilitated the award of more than 3,000 bursaries by UWIDEF. This year’s Award Ceremony also facilitated the launch of the Trevor Boopsingh Scholarship for students in the Petroleum Engineering Programme. The National Gas Company of Trinidad and Tobago (NGC), as part of their commitment to invest in education, has committed to donating $1 million to the fund annually for a period of five years. Pro Vice-Chancellor and Campus Principal, Professor Clement Sankat commended NGC for their commitment, saying “the partnership between academia and industry is central to our efforts of fostering a well-informed and educated society at all levels.”

Professor Sankat added that the success of The UWI Development and Endowment Fund is largely due to the steadfast dedication of the Committee, chaired by Mr. Ronald Harford. He noted that it is through their work that the UWIDEF continues to provide the young people of Trinidad and Tobago and the region with opportunities for higher education despite the challenging economic environment nationally, regionally and internationally. He also saluted the patrons for their continued support of the fete, which is set to return in January 2016.

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About The UWI Development and Endowment Fund

The University of the West Indies Development & Endowment Fund is committed to support the advancement of the University of the West Indies, as the Caribbean region's leading intellectual centre of teaching and research. Acting as a “bridge” between the University and the wider community, the Fund will provide monetary and other support for the University's programmes to facilitate the unlocking of West Indian potential and ensuring continued growth and development within the region.

UWI Fete and the UWI Golf Challenge provide the funds necessary to grant bursaries to deserving students. Over the past 25 years more than 3000 bursaries have been awarded by the fund. In 2015, the fund distributed 200 bursaries to deserving students.

 

About UWI Fete

UWI Fete is the cornerstone of The University of the West Indies’ (UWI) Development and Endowment Fund.

UWI Fete, the brainchild of Professor Max Richards, then Principal of the Campus, started in 1990. It was the first public “all inclusive” Carnival Fete and the contribution for admission was $100.00. Patrons were greeted with the welcome drink of Brandy Alexander, socialised with colleagues and feted on the tennis court to the music of one band and one DJ.

About The UWI

Since its inception in 1948, The University of the West Indies (UWI) has evolved from a fledgling college in Jamaica with 33 students to a full-fledged, regional University with well over 40,000 students. Today, UWI is the largest, most longstanding higher education provider in the Commonwealth Caribbean, with four campuses in Barbados, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and the Open Campus. The UWI has faculty and students from more than 40 countries and collaborative links with 160 universities globally; it offers undergraduate and postgraduate degree options in Food & Agriculture, Engineering, Humanities & Education, Law, Medical Sciences, Science and Technology and Social Sciences. UWI’s seven priority focal areas are linked closely to the priorities identified by CARICOM and take into account such over-arching areas of concern to the region as environmental issues, health and wellness, gender equity and the critical importance of innovation. Website: www.uwi.edu

 

(Please note that the proper name of the university is The University of the West Indies, inclusive of the “The”, hence The UWI.)

 

 

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