UNICOMER’s Courts donates 10 high school scholarships

Earlier in the newscast we told you about the thirteen scholarships that the Belize Bank has given to well deserving students. UNICOMER, the parent company of Courts Belize also gave ten scholarships to intelligent young Belizeans today. Duane Moody joined the kids who will now attend high school courtesy of Courts.

Duane Moody, Reporting

Ten students—four each from Belize City and San Ignacio and one from Orange Walk and Belmopan—received full four-year scholarships to attend a high school of their choice. It was courtesy of Courts Belize Limited and today, the 2013 scholarship program held a brief ceremony to honor the students.

Kovenka Rodriguez-James, Marketing Officer, Unicomer (Belize) Limited

Kovenka Rodriguez-James

“We got over a hundred applications. We went through them based on their financial need and of course their academic achievements. We’ve been doing it ever since Court’s inception maybe on a smaller stage; however, as the years went by, we improved. Last year we gave five and this year we increased it doubled to ten. So we are very happy to be giving away ten full scholarships this year. We saw the need and it gives us the opportunity to assist the very needed and we are always a good corporate citizen and we are always willing to assist in all areas.”

And the scholarship recipients were even more ecstatic that the financial burden has been lifted from their families.

Nelly Novelo

Nelly Novelo, Scholarship Recipient

“Excited and honored…very exciting.”

Reporter

“What does it mean for you? I mean four years that you won’t have to worry about your books and your fees and all of that?”

Nelly Novelo

“It’s one step closer to my dream and just making everything easier for my education. I will be going to Belmopan Comprehensive High School and I want to study information technology.”

Reporter

“What’s your vision for the future? What do you want to be when yoru older?”

Nelly Novelo

“An entrepreneur miss; owning my own business in computer tech.”

Alrin Turton

Alrin Turton, Scholarship Recipient

“Right now I am real happy for receiving the scholarship because not anybody can get them cause the people who picked us really had to think and I was lucky to be one of them.”

Reporter

“Tell us about the hard work that you put in to get your good grades and now be able to receive this scholarship.”

Alrin Turton

“All I did was study and listen to my parents and teachers and I got it.”

Reporter

And now that you have it, is that what you’ll continue to do for the next four years and make courts as well as your parents proud?”

Alrin Turton

“Yes.”

Since its inception in 1995, Courts Belize Limited has been providing scholarships—both partial and full—to over a hundred persons says Managing Director of Unicomer, Keith Slater.

Keith Slater

Keith Slater, Managing Director, Unicomer (Belize) Limited

“Courts is a brand that is recognized in the whole region; we’ve been in the Caribbean since 1959 actually. And wherever we go, we integrate with the community as soon as possible. And that involves using local manufacturers and things like that. And this part of the process is where we get to give back to our customers through a means that some of them just can’t reach which is obviously education. Very, very important and we find this as one of the best vehicles to use to really get something tangible back to them. A lot of people are struggling for very little money at times and this really helps them out a long way. These programs are designed to really try and get into the community to make a difference in its own way. We are always doing something. Education is one thing; we do a lot of work with the environment as well and things that are going to make a positive impact on the country.”

Duane Moody for News Five.