Marigot, Dominica, August 20th, 2020…The Marigot Development Corporation (MDC), has secured financial awards of EC$3.6 million for 10 Dominican students, through its US Study Program – The Boarding School Section.
The program targets students under 17 years of age, who are eligible for US private boarding schools. It facilitates students in preparing for the boarding school exam (the SSAT), selecting schools, applying to the schools and obtaining financial awards. The program also provides support and guidance to students throughout boarding school and university as required.
This year 20 students received financial offers. Due however to the COVID-19 Pandemic, fundraising abilities of boarding schools were severely impacted, resulting in dampened financial offers to the students. As such, 7of the 20 students, determined that their financial offers were insufficient and another 3 students with satisfactory offers, because of the COVID-19 situation in the USA, decided not to pursue boarding school.
The COVID pandemic has really impacted the program this year. Given the great uncertainty in the education sector, families have had to assess a complex set of risks and make some tough decisions. It is understandable, that some parents chose to withdraw at this stage, as some of the boarding schools require in-person classes at the start of the 2020/2021 academic year. Luckily for the program, 7 of 10 students will be starting on-line classes this Fall.
Michael Pascal: Marigot Development Corporation Coordinator
It is not quite the experience that the program pursues for all our students. We are however optimistic that by January 2021 a level of normalcy will return to the education sector in the US and that from then, all student experiences will be in-person.
Michael Pascal: Marigot Development Corporation Coordinator
The program’s 2020 cohort who will be transitioning to boarding school are:
- Jaida Joseph
- Kernissa Robinson
- Ishmael Bruney
- Karla D’Amars,
- Sharra Alexie Rolle
- Ethan Yankey
- Beyonce Franci
- Merkayla John Baptiste
- T’keyah Alleyne
- Chriscel Breedy.
They hail from the Convent High School, St. Mary’s Academy, Orion School and the Dominica State College.
The new students will join nineteen (19) other students from the program currently attending US boarding schools.
They will attend the following schools:
- Ethel Walker School
- Ross School
- Saint Mary’s School
- Orme School
- Westover School
- Rabun Gap School
- Masters School
- Salem Academy
- The Storm King School.
The program would like to thank the very loyal parents and its supporting cast of;
- Ms. Sharon Philogene – English Instructor,
- Bro. James – Math Instructor
- Ms. Nadja O. Thomas – Interview Instructor.
Registration for the 2021 cohort will be from August 18thto 28th, 2020 and will be promoted on local radio and TV stations.
This article is copyright © 2020 DOM767
