Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Jamaica Information Service (JIS), Donna-Marie Rowe (2nd right), and Jamaica National Building Society (JNBS) Group Communications Executive, Carmen Tipling (2nd left), look on as JNBS School Savers Programme Co-ordinator, Diana Cunningham, affixes a JNBS pin to the shirt of scholarship recipient, Conroy Yearde. Occasion was the JNBS scholarship award reception held today (Sept.13) at the company's head office on Constant Spring Road in Kingston.

Thirty-six outstanding secondary and tertiary-level students were today (Sept. 13) presented with scholarships, bursaries and books grants by the Jamaica National Building Society (JNBS).

Of the recipients were 27 secondary school students, comprising employees' children and the country's top performers in the 2009 Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT). They received five-year scholarships to cover tuition and other expenses.

The nine tertiary students received full tuition, bursaries and book grants to complete studies at the island three universities - University of the West Indies (UWI), University of Technology (UTech), and Northern Caribbean University (NCU).

Speaking at the scholarship award reception held at JNBS' head office on Constant Spring Road, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Jamaica Information Service (JIS), Donna-Marie Rowe, encouraged the recipients to commit to their studies and to continue to strive for excellence in all that they do.

She reminded them to never succumb to mediocrity, or to be content with just getting by and fitting in with the crowd.

Noting that "education is preparation for life", she said "it is acquiring life skills in addition to academics. Academics are important but character building is critical to the education process."

The CEO noted that while a good education is critical, it is important to use the knowledge gained to serve others and help transform the society.

"Changing or transforming our society should be the focus of our educational pursuits, making a difference.in the service of fellow citizens," she said.

Mrs. Rowe encouraged parents to continue to instill good values and attitudes in their children.

"It is not so much what you do for your children but what you have taught them to do for themselves that will make them successful human beings," she stated, urging them to share their life experience with their children in ways that create "teachable moments."

"Parents, help your children to relate what they are studying to life, living and the world around us," she added.

The JIS CEO also lauded JNBS for honouring the students, who have excelled in their academic pursuits.

Assistant General Manager at JNBS, Llewelyn Bailey, in the meantime, charged the recipients to work hard and maintain excellent grades, in order to ensure that the scholarship is renewed every year.

He noted that the scholarship is a way of "giving you wings. It is a commitment on our part to be there with you throughout school by renewing these scholarships each year."

Scholarship recipient, Whitney Baker, in expressing gratitude, implored students to work hard and not to waste their time in school.

"I am not saying that you should only study and don't have fun", she said, advising that time management is critical in the process.

Whitney, who currently attends the Hampton School for Girls, is GSAT parish awardee for St. Elizabeth.