The CTO Foundation, the scholarship programme of the Caribbean Tourism Organization, has granted scholarships and study grants to seven Caribbean nationals pursuing tourism and hospitality studies or language training, within or outside of the region.
Winners of the 2002 CTO Foundation scholarships are Ms. Kay Richardson of Barbados, who was awarded the American Airlines Scholarship and Mr. Terrence Rojas of Trinidad and Tobago, who received the Michael Manley Scholarship.  Ms. Richardson will study for an MSc in Air Transportation Management at Cranfield University in Bedfordshire, United Kingdom, while Mr. Rojas will study for an MSc in e-Tourism at the University of Surrey, School of Management Studies for the Service Sector in Guildford, Surrey.
“I am really excited that CTO would give me the opportunity to further my studies in an area that I am interested in,” said Richardson on being told that she had secured the scholarship. “I’m looking forward to it.”
Mr. Rojas said he felt “incredibly blessed and honoured” to be given the opportunity to gain “new learning” that would allow him to assist in filling the gap in technology and capacity development in the industry.
“I look forward to the experience, to viewing the region and its needs from without and to returning and making my contribution,” Mr. Rojas said.
Study grants have been awarded to Deborah Trotman of Barbados to study Spanish at the Don Quijote Institute, Salamanca, Spain; Anesha Caruth of Tobago to continue studies for an Associate Degree in Tourism Management at the Tobago Campus of the Trinidad and Tobago Hospitality and Tourism Institute; Devorath Elcock of the US Virgin Islands to study Spanish at the Language Institute of St. Croix; Shermaine McMeo of Grenada to continue studies for an Associate Degree in Travel and Tourism at the Barbados Community College, Hospitality Institute and Roche Mahon of Trinidad and Tobago to continue a BSc Degree programme in Tourism Management at the UWI, Bahamas.
“All the awardees displayed extraordinary commitment to the pursuit of excellence and confident knowledge of their chosen areas of study. They are truly deserving of the awards,” said Bonita Morgan, CTO’s Director of Human Resource Development.
The CTO Foundation, set up in 1997, is registered in the New York State, USA, as a Not-for-Profit Corporation, established exclusively for charitable and educational purposes. Its main aim is to provide scholarships and study grants to students and industry personnel who are Caribbean nationals from CTO member countries who want to undertake studies in the areas of tourism, hospitality and language training. The Foundation supports individuals who demonstrate high levels of academic achievement and leadership potential and who express a strong interest in contributing to Caribbean tourism.
Since 1997, the Foundation has provided 11 major scholarships and 31 study grants, amounting to just over US$250, 000, to deserving Caribbean nationals. Major CTO Foundation sponsors include American Express, American Airlines, Interval International, the CTO Chapters worldwide and numerous CTO allied members.
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