ST. LUCIA – The Organization of American States (OAS), through its Department of Human Development, has awarded five (5) Scholarships to Saint Lucian nationals for the 2007-2008 academic year, with a value of some US$20,000 each.
Four of the scholarships are at the graduate level for study towards a Master’s degree. One recipient, Kimari Storey, will be pursuing a Master’s in International Trade Policy at the University of the West Indies.
The other three (3) recipients – Arthur Antoine, Leila Andrew and Antoninus Thomas – will also be studying towards a Master’s Degree in the area of engineering and education at universities in the United States and Canada, under the OAS- Placed Mechanism.
The lone recipient of a fellowship at the undergraduate level is Aliker Compton, who is pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in criminal justice at the John Jay College in the United States.
These scholarships were awarded following the revamping of the OAS’ fellowship program in 2006/2007. The scholarship selection process operated on the following basis:
• It was governed by the Manual of Procedures for the Scholarship and Training Program of the OAS.
• There was a limit of 34 self-placed scholarships. There was no limit for OAS-placed scholarships beyond the limit set by the budget to prevent a financial over commitment.
• Each Member State would receive no less than two scholarships.
• No Member State could receive in its universities more than 40% of the total number of scholarship recipients for graduate studies.
• A maximum limit of US$30,000 was established on the total cost per scholarship per academic year.
Commenting on the scholarship awards, OAS Representative in Saint Lucia, Paul Spencer, stated that supporting the development of Saint Lucia’s human capacity is “one of the most tangible ways in which the OAS can assist the country in its quest for socio-economic advancement.” Mr. Spencer further stated that the Organization’s fellowship program is perhaps “the single largest component of its technical assistance to member states.”
OAS fellowship applications for the 2008-2009 academic year should be sent to the Training Division, Ministry of the Public Service, from where forms can be obtained, as early as possible, but before January 31, 2008.
Additional information on the fellowship program can be obtained at: http://www.oas.educoas.org
