NAME OF FEATURE | THE GLEANER | THURSDAY, MAY 18, 2023 17 SCHOLARSHIPS TO GO F ATUR | THE GLEANER | THURSDAY, MAY 18, 2023 THERE IS a Chinese proverb that says, “if you are planning for a year, sow rice, if you are planning for a decade, plant a tree, if you are planning for a lifetime educate people.” We might all agree that this proverb fits well within the Jamaican thinking that teachers educate the future generations. The JTA Credit Union (JTACCUL), since its inception in 1959, has been a lifeline for Jamaica’s teachers. The credit union offers savings and investment products that have helped many teachers. Additionally, by providing a variety of loan solutions with little to no fees and favourable financing terms, the credit union continues to be committed to supporting our teachers who wish to invest in their own futures, but are unable to do so. The JTA Credit Union is a member-owned organisation. This means that each member is a part owner of the organisation, and, as such,, they have the right to share and suggest ways that the credit union can be improved or maintained. Another way that the credit union takes care of its members is through the offer of scholarships, grants and bursaries. HOW DO THESE SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS WORK? The credit union offers a tertiary scholarship awarded to members who are pursuing studies and are in their final year. Educators who are pursuing a undergraduate or a master’s degree and are members of the credit union may apply for a scholarship from the organisation. The programme is divided into four categories: grants, scholarships, W. A. Johnson award and D. C. Gascoigne award for excellence. The W. A. Johnson award category, which was added in 2022, honours the hard work and commitment of one of the credit union’s original members. Sherene Anderson-McLaughlin was the first member to receive this award. The D.C. Gascoigne Award has been a part of the scholarship programme since 1984 and is the most prestigious of the awards. In addition to the tertiary scholarship awarded tomembers, the credit union also offers PEP bursaries to children entering secondary schools and whose parents are members of the credit union. The credit union is committed to the well-being of all its members and seeks to support them in a variety of ways beyond loans, savings, and investments. The organisation stands with our teachers every step of the way, living up to our motto serving our members, impacting lives positively. Jamaica Teachers Association Co-operative Credit Union 2022 Tertiary Scholarship winners. CONTRIBUTED JTA Credit Union serves members in many ways
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