Press Release - Thrift Club Academic Awards 2024:
Shaping the Future, One Scholar at a Time

In a heartfelt ceremony celebrating academic excellence and community involvement, the Barbados Public Workers’ Co-operative Credit Union Limited’s (BPWCCUL) Thrift Club proudly presented cash awards totaling $63,200 to 43 outstanding students across four categories at the annual Thrift Club Academic Awards Ceremony. This year's event, held under the theme Shaping the Future, One Scholar at a Time, showcased the Credit Union's continued commitment to investing in the future of its young members and scholars.

The students were awarded cash prizes in recognition of their exceptional academic achievements across four categories: Common Entrance Examination (CEE), Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC), Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations (CAPE), and the Ralph Boyce Scholarship, which supports students enrolled at any University of the West Indies campus. These awards aim to inspire and empower the next generation of leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators, both for the Credit Union movement and the nation of Barbados.

The ceremony, which took place on September 8, 2024, would also have traditionally acknowledged young Credit Union members who were recipients of Barbados Government awards of excellence, scholarships and exhibitions but these were not included this year due to the official announcement still pending.

Community Relations Officer, Stacy Mottley, encouraged attendees to consider additional scholarship offers available from BPWCCUL, such as the Verta Coppin Memorial Scholarship for students enrolled at the Samuel Jackman Prescod Polytechnic Institute (SJPI), the H. Delisle Hurley Memorial Scholarship for Barbados Community College students, and the Overcomer Scholarship for secondary school leavers. She also highlighted the Credit Union’s Sports and Arts Award, urging everyone to spread the word about these valuable opportunities, noting the Credit Union’s eagerness to see more young members benefit from them in the future.

The Thrift Club also took the opportunity to honor the invaluable contributions of teacher volunteers from the Thrift Club School Savers Programme. Their dedication and commitment have been vital in advancing the Credit Union's mission of promoting financial literacy and responsibility among school-aged youth.

BPWCCUL Board President, Bro. Mark Hope, delivered a warm welcome, expressing pride in the organization’s role in supporting the academic and personal growth of young people. He offered words of advice to the awardees, saying, “I want to caution you that you have not arrived at your destination.  Apart from the academics, there will be a whole new world to embrace—new activities, methods of teaching, subjects, etc. Now is not the time to relax but to start working harder.”

The keynote address was delivered by Ms. Ashley Lashley, founder of the Ashley Lashley Foundation and a renowned Barbadian youth advocate. Ms. Lashley shared words of inspiration, urging students to continue shaping their future through determination, resilience, and education.

The BPWCCUL extends its heartfelt congratulations to all the awardees and expresses its sincere gratitude to the teacher volunteers for their ongoing dedication to the Thrift Club’s mission.

CSEC Awardees with Credit Union officials

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CAPE Category Awardees with Credit Union Officials

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Common Entrance Awardees

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Ralph Boyce Scholarship Awardees - UWI

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