5 Questions with Keneisha and Delmar: Founders of All About Scholarships

No two persons are more aware than the All About Scholarships founders that two heads are always better than one. Keneisha ____ and Delmar Squire are university students who have made it their mission to help other students on this small, but powerful island, unlock their greatest academic potential. They have helped transform the seemingly daunting and lengthy scholarship application process into one that highlights the importance of what this type of financial assistance can offer to students who could not fund their tertiary-level education without it. The hard work and dedication they put into this initiative allow many students to improve their living standards through education, make their families proud, and contribute to the betterment and development of the country.

Tell us about your educational experience.

Keneisha’s Response:

I attended The Queen’s School where I obtained 9 grade 1s in CSEC, 4 CAPE unit 1s (two 1s and two 2s), and 4 CAPE unit 2s (three grade 1s and one grade 2). I was also awarded The Queen’s School’s Excellent Performance Award, the Jamaica Association of Principals of Secondary Schools (JAPPS) CXC National Award, and the Association of Principals and Vice Principals (APVP) CAPE High Achiever Award for my high achievements at the CSEC & CAPE levels. Also, I served as the head girl of The Queen’s School and have served on the National Secondary Students’ Council. Currently, I am pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Pure and Applied Biochemistry, while minoring in management studies at the UWI, Mona. While at UWI, I have also been the recipient of the NCB Foundation Scholarship National Champion Award.

Delmar’s Response:

My alma mater is Calabar High School, where I completed my studies up to the CAPE level. I have 8 CSEC, 5 Unit 1 CAPE, and 5 Unit 2 CAPE passes. I also received recognition from the Association of Principals and Vice Principals twice for my outstanding achievements and have been recognized by the Governor General for my hard work and dedication. I am a medical student at UWI, Mona. Since being enrolled at UWI, I have received the Sagicor Foundation and Burger King Open scholarships.

What would you say is your main motivational factor?

Keneisha’s Response:

My main motivational factor is my desire to have a positive impact on others. I am driven by the idea that my actions can create a better future for myself and those around me. I firmly believe that education is a basic right and an effective means of empowering individuals, which drives me to provide meaningful information that can help students overcome hurdles standing between them and higher education. The satisfaction of knowing that I am making a difference in the world and improving the lives of others is what motivates me to keep pushing forward and striving for success.

Delmar’s Response:

As a medical student, I am driven by the desire to positively affect the lives of others through healthcare. My mantra is "Aspire to inspire", and I strive to be a role model for others. I am also passionate about education and believe that knowledge can be a powerful tool for change. This motivates me to help aspiring students from disadvantaged backgrounds achieve their academic goals. Ultimately, my main motivational factor is the opportunity to use my skills and knowledge to make a difference in the world, while inspiring others to do the same.

How did you come up with the name “All about Scholarships”?

In May 2020, after seeing the struggles our peers faced when applying for scholarships during the Covid-19 pandemic, we launched the All About Scholarships initiative to guide students through the scholarship application process. We wanted our initiative’s name to be simple, so we went with what we were all about – scholarships.

What is the major goal of your initiative “All About Scholarships”?

Our ultimate goal is to become Jamaica’s top-rated platform for helping students overcome their financial hurdles by acquiring the funding needed to further their education, all while moulding them into well-rounded youth and propelling Jamaica toward accomplishing SDG 4 - Quality Education.

What are the major services offered by “All about Scholarship” and how can college and university students access these services?

All About Scholarships offers the following services:

• Consultations to aid with the scholarship search and application process - In these consultations we match students to scholarships fit for their course of study & providing application assistance where necessary.

• Virtual and face-to-face seminars – We host discussions about the scholarship search, application, essay & interview processes.

• Essay reviews – We offer 1-on-1 scholarship essay reviews.

• Scholarship alerts – We frequently post scholarship news and updates.

• Scholarship resources – We provide a scholarship guide and database to assist students with navigating the various processes involved with scholarship applications.

• J1 Work & Travel assistance – We assist students with finding available J1 summer work and travel opportunities in the USA, that will help them fund their education in Jamaica.

• Eduloan assistance – We assist students with their lengthy loan application processes.

Students interested in accessing our services and resources can follow us on Instagram @allaboutscholarshipsja or email us at @allaboutscholarshipsja@gmail.com.