News Releases

UWIDEF’s new Manager leads the charge to IGNITE 2 Concert

For Release Upon Receipt - March 18, 2024

St. Augustine


 

[L-R] Dr. Sterling Frost O.R.T.T. Chairman of the UWI Development and Endowment Fund shakes hands with Mr. Kory Mendez Manager with responsibility for the business efficiency and innovative efforts of the UWI Development and Endowment Fund. 

 ST. AUGUSTINE, Trinidad and Tobago. Monday 18 March 2024 – The University of the West Indies Development and Endowment Fund’s (UWIDEF) newly minted manager Mr. Kory Mendez is leading the production of the Fund’s second annual fundraising concert – IGNITE 2. Mr. Mendez joined the UWIDEF at the start of 2024 as Manager with responsibility for the business efficiency and innovative efforts of the fund which provides scholarships and bursaries to deservingstudents of The UWI. Mendez brings leadership experience gained from numerous years in key leadership roles within multiple local culture based non-profit organizations. Mr. Mendez also led the production team for the inaugural IGNITE Concert in 2023.

 UWIDEF plans a series of fundraising events in 2024, the first being IGNITE 2 – Rekindle the Flame, a benefit concert at the National Academy for the Performing Arts (NAPA) on Sunday 24th March 2024, Palm Sunday from 6pm. Performing in this second edition are The Lydians, Southernaires Choir, Signal Hill Alumni Choir, the National Steel Symphony Orchestra of Trinidad and Tobago, The Shiv Shakti Dance Company, and The UWI’s own UWI Arts Chorale and Steel and renowned soloists, Edward Cumberbatch, Neval Chatelal and Quinton Neckles.

 At the 2023/2024 Presentation Ceremony, the UWIDEF presented a combined total of 210 awards,including ten (10) UWI Star Scholarships, recognizing students who displayed academic excellence and outstanding performance in co-curricular activities. It is through successful fundraising endeavours spanning several years, the UWIDEF has made a substantial impact on the lives of thousands of deserving UWI students. These efforts have played a pivotal role in transforming their university aspirations into reality, making a meaningful contribution to education and unlocking the potential within the future leaders of our region and by extension, the world.

 Leading the work of the UWIDEF is the Chairman and Board of Directors who generously contribute their time and expertise to advocate for student success through the organization's ongoing fundraising efforts.

 END

About The University of the West Indies

 The UWI has been and continues to be a pivotal force in every aspect of Caribbean development, residing at the center of all efforts to improve the well-being of people across the region for over 75 years.

 From a university college of London in Jamaica with 33 medical students in 1948, The UWI is today an internationally respected, global university with nearly 50,000 students and five campuses: Mona in Jamaica, St. Augustine in Trinidad and Tobago, Cave Hill in Barbados, Five Islands in Antigua and Barbuda and its Global Campus, and global centres in partnership with universities in North America, Latin America, Asia, Africa, and Europe.

 The UWI offers over 1000 certificate, diploma, undergraduate and postgraduate degree options in Culture, Creative and Performing Arts, Food and Agriculture, Engineering, Humanities and Education, Law, Medical Sciences, Science and Technology, Social Sciences, and Sport. As the Caribbean’s leading university, it possesses the largest pool of Caribbean intellect and expertise committed to confronting the critical issues of our region and the wider world.

 The UWI has been consistently ranked among the best in the world by the most reputable ranking agency, Times Higher Education (THE). Since The UWI’s 2018 debut in THE’s rankings, it has performed well in multiple schemes—among them including World University Rankings, Golden Age University Rankings (between 50 and 80 years old), Latin America Rankings, and the Impact Rankings for its response to the world’s biggest concerns, outlined in the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including Good Health and Well-being; Gender Equality and Climate Action.

 Learn more at www.uwi.edu   

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