On Tuesday afternoon in the library at H. Lavity Stoutt Community College, more than 40 people gathered to witness the official launch of the James Harris Scholarship Programme.
The initiative, which will start by supporting one student each year in the college’s Business and Computer Studies Department, is spearheaded by the Rotary Club of Central Tortola in memory of Mr. Harris, a founding member of the club.
“There’s an old saying that behind every dark cloud there’s a silver lining,” said Vance Lewis, a past district governor of Rotary District 7020, as he opened the press conference on Tuesday.
“When we lost James, we never knew that this would be one of the positive results.”
Mr. Harris, who worked as an accountant at BDO, died suddenly on Nov. 21, 2023.
At the press conference, speakers said his commitment to service and his work with Virgin Islands youths made the scholarship a natural extension of his legacy.
“James embodied the true spirit of a Rotarian: one who serves with passion, leads with integrity and uplifts others grown within dedication,” said Annill Daniel, the Rotary club’s president.
HLSCC President Richard Georges thanked the Rotarians for the “incredible gesture” of support.
“It’s not just for this year,” he said. “It’s an ongoing commitment.”
The scholarship, which will be awarded once per year at the start, will cover tuition and fees, officials said at the press conference.
It will be open to belongers, who attend the college tuition-free, as well as non-belongers, according to Mr. Lewis.
Asked by the media about Rotarians’ initial contribution to the programme, Mr. Lewis responded, “It depends. So essentially, belongers [will get] a certain amount; residents who are non-belongers [will get] a certain amount. Whatever it is, we are committed.”
To be eligible, applicants must be enrolled in HLSCC’s Business and Computer Studies Programme, and they must maintain a grade point average of at least 3.0 and have a 95-percent attendance record. Applications must also include a personal character reference and an acceptance letter from HLSCC.
‘Incredible gesture’
The programme will be administered by the James Harris Scholarship Committee, which was developed in partnership with HLSCC to ensure the initiative’s sustainability and impact, officials said.
Mr. Lewis said the committee’s vision is tied closely to Mr. Harris’s own aspirations.
“With the late James’s vocation in accounting, and knowing of his efforts at the time of his untimely passing to acquire the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants [certification], their thinking was to develop an associate’s programme at the college, which serves as a steppingstone towards a larger accounting qualification.”
Mr. Georges also encouraged others to find a way to contribute.
“We may not have the means at a Rotary club to establish a scholarship, but we can volunteer,” he said. “We can speak. Like many people, we can make sure we can take advantage of opportunities at the college and elsewhere to ensure we are building a better territory for us all.”
Other speakers included Education, Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Sharie de Castro, herself an HLSCC alumna, and Dana Lewis-Ambrose, head of the Business and Computer Studies Department at HLSCC.
Following the speeches, Mr. Lewis invited all the speakers to gather for a photo with a large cheque symbolising the launch of the scholarship. Mr. Harris’s mother also joined the group.
