CB Group Chief Operating Officer Matthew Lyn had a somewhat backhandedly optimistic instruction for the ed-shirted Scholarship awardees gathered for the launch of the 6th annual Cb Group/UWI 5K RunWalk and Smart Eggs Kids K, held Tuesday morning at the UWI Regional Headquarters in Kingston.
"Be flexible, be open to opportunities that may lie outside of your degree focus or your major. Keep an open mind," hs said i n congratulating the beneficiaries. The company, Mr Lyn, said, believed thoroughly in education as the primary vehicle for national development and thus was proud and pleased to be associated with the event, which he said, was now - after 5 stagings - finding its rhythm.
In typical self-effacing fashion the CB Group COO paid tribute to what he called "the huge team at CB behind the event" and also recognized the other "investing partners" including National Baking, the Port Authority, LASCO Jamaica, Rainforest Seafoods, Visual Vibe, Mayberry Investments, iPrint Digital, the European Union,The RJR Gleaner Communications Group, the Jamaica Pegasus Running Events, Limited, News Talk, SunBloc Awning and Tents, Sun City radio and Newstalk 93 FM
Responding on behalf of the recipients Sports Psychology student Shimona Nelson spoke of the challenges facing her both as a student and an athlete, one who has actually made it to national representation in netball and volleyball. By removing the financial burden, the CB Group award, she said, has made it much easier for her to apply herself in the dual role of student-athlete.The launch also saw a video with comments and testimonials from the 2017 awardees.
Speaking on behalf of the UWI, Ambassador Richard Bernal praised the event and the various team members involved noting that not only did it promote a healthy lifestyle, it offered the opportunity for talented young Jamaicans to matriculate through the University, adding that many of the previous scholarship awardees were already making contributions - both materially and of their time and skill - to the University and to Jamaica as a whole.
Co-Patron Douglas Orane briefly relived the moments that led up to the origin of the 5K, adding that he was pleased and heartened to see the growth of the event, as reflected not only in the participation and the funds raised [over 400 persons in 2016; some J$70m raised since inception], but also in the development of the scholarship awardees and their own contributions to building the nation.
The gathering also heard, via Internet link, from Sonia Johnson, Business Development Officer, of the UWI Cave Hill campus in Barbados, site of a sister event, the RBC 5K Run, the renewal of which is scheduled for March 18, 2018. Co-Patron Donette Chin-Loy Chang, in her Vote of Thanks, lauded the CB and UWI teams, in particular Event co-ordinator Elizabeth Buchanan-Hind, also charged the scholarhship recipients to be ambassadors for the event.
Race Director Alfreed "Franno" Francis of Running Events Limited, outlined the roues for the 5K and Kids K and similarly praised the principals form CB Group and the UWI, noting that the ability to offer a quality education to deserving students could not be underscored.
Sprinter Asafa Powell, now officially enshrined in the Guinness Book of World records for most sub-10 100m clockings of all time, is this year's Sports Award honoree. Powell was unavoidably absent from the launch, but has committed to being present for the event.
The event, scheduled for November 12 (beginning at 7:00 am) will once again be under the patronage of retired Grace Kennedy chief exwecutive, Dr the Hon Douglas Orane and Donette Chin-Loy Chang, co-Patron of the UWI Toronto Benefit Gala
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