SSB's annual scholarship award ceremony took place this morning at the Biltmore where dozens of students, parents and other supporters were in attendance as scholarships were handed out to students heading to high school, sixth form and vocational institutions. Jomarie Lanza was there:
80 students, from high school, sixth form and vocational institutions received a life changing opportunity this morning from SSB's scholarship program. For the past 23 years SSB has changed the dynamic in many Belizean households that often struggle to meet tuition demands.
Their CEO says that SSB recognizes the value of education in order to better the lives of its members.
Deborah Ruiz, CEO SBB
"I think it's an important occasion to recognize that education is an important role in our day to day lives and the economy and for personal development and the social security board is pleased to award these 80 scholarships today from both the high school to associate level and for vocational studies for these students from all across the country. So we really appreciate that the families were able to come out today to personally receive the scholarship award."
"Well you know our scholarship program is all online so the student would make their application online and we would get on occasions well over three hundred applications a year so we have a committee of various stakeholders who would review the application and see which ones are most deserving, reviewing everything and that is how it is awarded no. We try to look at all the submissions across the country and you know sometimes the vocational students may not complete their applications properly and so we reach out and make sure the applications are completed to time and on occasion we saw that there's a last minute rush and it's usually because the students are unable to get some documentation and when we call why your application hasn't gone through we see you started the process two weeks ago so what's the delay? And then we see how we can assist the student to work with the school to get the documentation for the deadline which was June 21st that we were able to review."
And after these parents and students signed and sealed their futures we got a chance to speak with two of the recipients, an aspiring Lawyer, and a Chef already in the making.
Laurie Davis, High school scholarship, recipient
"My mom was happy for me to receive a scholarship because she didn't know how she was going to pay for it, but I'm glad I got the scholarship so she doesn't have to worry."
"I wasn't really expecting to get a scholarship, but I am happy and grateful for the opportunity."
Jo-
"How Will this help you achieve what you are working in school?"
Laurie Davis, High school scholarship, recipient
"I am working towards being a lawyer."
Fernando Landero, Vocational technical scholarship recipient
"Well it's something that I wasn't expecting, but when the opportunity came to apply for the scholarship, I took the advantage and will just waited a few days and after that I received the email from Social Security informing me that I have received this scholarship and well that was something that made me really happy about it because it's a very big help to receive something like that yes."
"I am currently attending Cayo CET in the San Ignacio town and I am under the program of food management, and I am studying to become a chef and I am currently focusing on that. I am doing school and work so it's a challenge but at the same time I'm trying to focus a lot more on school so that I can get this done."
Reporter-
"Would you say this has been a life-changing experience for you?"
Fernando Landero, Vocational technical scholarship recipient
"It actually is. I believe it's also for many of us that received the scholarship because at times we struggle as young adults and whenever these opportunities come, we do have to take advantage of it."
