IWC Scholarships 2013

The International Women’s Club of Antigua and Barbuda, formerly the American Women’s Club of Antigua and Barbuda, has been a Wadadli Pen patron several times over the years (and we hope will be again some time in the future). But we’re not the only youth-focused community enhancement programme they support. Recently, as part of their annual scholarship scheme benefiting women in Antigua and Barbuda, they awarded the following:

• Desiree Antonio, who is pursuing a Doctorate of Education. She has been accepted for an on-line course with the University of Liverpool, UK.
• Denise George-Limerick, who is currently pursuing a Masters Degree in Project Management. She has been accepted for an on-line course with the University for International Cooperation in Costa Rica.
• Ronis Joseph-Browne, who is pursuing a Masters Degree in Nursing Education at the University of the West Indies, Trinidad, in order to enhance her skills as a Clinical Instructor at the Antigua State College School of Nursing.
• Keva Martin, who is currently pursuing a Masters Degree in Business Administration Degree at the University of West Indies, Cave Hill School of Business, Barbados.
• Neta Robinson, who is pursuing a degree in Educational Leadership with an area of interest in Human Resource Management. She has been accepted for an on-line course with the University of Leicester, UK.
• Kaye Tomlinson, who is currently employed as a registered nurse. Her proposed field of study is Public Health Nursing.
• Jasvindar Warner, who is currently pursuing a degree in Elementary Education with an emphasis on Special Education. She has been accepted for an on-line course with Fort Hays State University in Kansas, USA.

The formal presentation took place during a ceremony at Sandals with newest female Senator Shawn Nicholas as guest speaker.

ABOUT THE IWC: The International Women’s Club of Antigua and Barbuda (IWC) was founded in 1986 as the American Women’s Club of Antigua and Barbuda with the purpose of enabling American women and wives of U.S. citizens, whatever their nationality, to become acquainted, and to create a forum in which the membership could explore and enjoy the history, culture and landscape of the island. In 2005 the name was changed to embrace women of all nationalities and to encourage them to become members. Presently, the Club has members from the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, South America and the Caribbean, including Antigua and Barbuda.

The IWC gets together each month for a general meeting, which can take the form of a seminar-type luncheon featuring a guest speaker, or an activity such as a visit to a local business or a bus or boat tour. Past speakers have included Government Ministers and Senators, and representatives from various NGOs.

Each year, the IWC with support from various sponsors, including Virgin Atlantic, Scotiabank and local businesses, holds its marquis fundraiser, the “Golf for Education Tournament” at Cedar Valley Golf Club to raise money for the IWC Scholarship Fund.Since 1998, this important fund has given women from Antigua and Barbuda the opportunity to pursue tertiary educational goals. As of 2012, more than EC$500,000 in grants have been awarded.

At Christmas, with generous support from the Mill Reef Fund and through other kind donations, the IWC members with the assistance of local clinic nurses, deliver over 200 hampers to needy families throughout Antigua, and on Barbuda. For more information on the IWC, it’s monthly programmes and activities, contact Co-Presidents Cheryl Adams at 770-6892, cherylanneadams@gmail.com or K.C. Nash at kc@kcnash.com, 723-7740.

The Photo used in this post was taken by Thaddeus Price and supplied by Avonelle Pole of the IWC.

As with all content on wadadlipen.wordpress.com, except otherwise noted, this is written by Joanne C. Hillhouse (author of The Boy from Willow Bend, Dancing Nude in the Moonlight, and Oh Gad!). All Rights Reserved. If you enjoyed it, check out my page on Amazon, WordPress, and/or Facebook, and help spread the word
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2011 Sponsors and Partners

(This list will continue to grow as names are added, so keep checking back)

2011 Partners:

The Best of Books

Brenda Lee Browne (media and communications consultant/writer)

Dotsie Isaac Gellizeau (poet)

Renee Phillip (art teacher)

More on Past partnerships and Wadadli Pen history here.

2011 Sponsors:

ABI Insurance

Caribbean Alliance Insurance Company Limited

Seven Seas (via Antigua and Barbuda distributor Frank B. Armstrong)

The Antigua and Barbuda International Literary Festival

The International Women’s Club of Antigua and Barbuda

D. Gisele Isaac (author of Considering Venus; screenwriter, No Seed and the Sweetest Mango; fmr. Wadadli Pen judge)

Benetton

Floree Williams (author of Pink Teacups and Blue Dresses, Through A Window)

Antiguanice.com

Edison Arts

K & E Party Time and Rentals

Jennifer Meranto

Jewell Parker Rhodes

Marcel Marshall

See past sponsors here

International Women’s Club Opens Scholarship Applications

The International Women’s Club of Antigua and Barbuda is one of the sponsors of this year’s Wadadli Pen prize package. This is a quick post to help spread the word about their annual scholarship programme. This release was issued May 16th 2011.

Each year, the International Women’s Club of Antigua & Barbuda gives out approximately $40,000 in grants to women of Antiguan nationality who are pursuing tertiary educational goals in the fields of nursing, pharmacy, x-ray technician, education, and economic development.  Today, Scholarship Committee co-chairs Diane Camacho and Sue Sharp announced the beginning of the application period for 2011, with a deadline of Monday, 6 June, for completed applications.

The scholarships, based on academic excellence and need, are meant as a supplemental award for coursework pursued within the Caribbean region only. In the past, individual awards have ranged from $500 to $8,000 EC. Since 1998 the club has awarded 120 scholarships, totaling $371,800.

Funds should be used to assist in the cost of tuition or other costs associated with higher education, and are distributed directly to the institution or school involved. Applicants can receive a maximum of two awards in separate years.  Recipients are expected to return toAntigua upon completion of their studies and apply what they have learned toward the betterment of the nation.

Deadline for receipt of completed applications is Monday, 6 June, 2011. By then, applicants will need to secure and complete the IWC application form and submit it along with two academic letters of reference, a one-page typewritten essay, the last two official academic transcripts, the institution’s letter of acceptance including course fees, and a passport-sized photo.  The form, which includes a cover letter outlining the criteria, can be picked up at Goldsmitty’s on Redcliffe Quay, or by contacting Mrs. Susan Sharp (sharpe@candw.ag) or Mrs.Diane Camacho(camachod@candw.ag).  It can also be downloaded from the IWC’s web page at http://www.antiguanice.com.

 

Caribbean Alliance becomes newest prize sponsor

Caribbean Alliance Insurance Company Limited has become the latest business to commit to the Wadadli Youth Pen Prize package. We want to express sincerest thanks to Caribbean Alliance. Its cash contribution, the second largest individual cash contribution for the Best of Books Wadadli Pen Challenge 2011 after ABI Insurance, will go a long way towards encouraging and supporting the creativity and effort of the participants in this year’s Challenge. The prize contributions are designed as an incentive, not the reason for creating art – the motivation for creating art is beyond material – but recognition that what has been created has real value, that our artistes have value. It has been a challenging period for raising contributions, so I especially salute the businesses that have come through. In addition to Caribbean Alliance and ABI Insurance, this includes Seven Seas/Frank B. Armstrong, and K & E Party Time. It also includes associations and programmes like the International Women’s Club of Antigua and Barbuda and the Antigua and Barbuda International Literary Festival. Artists and writers are also chipping in; namely Edison Liburd, Jennifer Meranto, D. Gisele Isaac, Floree Williams, Marcel Marshall, and African American author Jewell Parker Rhodes.

As previously reported, the literary arts judging cycle is in progress, and the visual art submissions are due in any day now; the outcome to be revealed at the upcoming Best of Books anniversary street fair in June. We also invite you to check out the ever-growing Wadadli Pen site (https://wadadlipen.wordpress.com) which includes everything from past winning stories to past sponsors and partners, and lots more on not just Wadadli Pen but the literary arts in Antigua and Barbuda, and the wider Caribbean.

Wadadli Pen Partners

PRESS RELEASE – WADADLI PEN’S 2011 CHALLENGE TO INDIVIDUALS AND BUSINESS: GIVE

The Best of Books Wadadli Pen Challenge 2011 has launched. “We’ve invited young writers to create content for young readers and we continue to invite businesses to support and reward those efforts,” said Wadadli Pen founder and coordinator, and author Joanne C. Hillhouse (The Boy from Willow Bend, Dancing Nude in the Moonlight). She is in the process of soliciting prizes for this year’s competition.

ABI insurance is the latest sponsor to come on board. “We were looking for various youth community involvement programmes,” explained Senior PR and Marketing representative Sherie-ann Brazier.  Specifically, she continued, having concentrated their outreach efforts on the primary schools, they were keen to do something with secondary school students.

Wadadli Pen is open to primary and secondary school students, and young adults up to age 35. Winners will be selected in three age categories – 12 and under, 13 to 17, and 18 to 35; a top three overall will also be selected.

With so many prizes to give out, the organizers are thankful for the companies who’ve so far come on board. These include Seven Seas via local distributor Frank B. Armstrong, the Antigua and Barbuda International Literary Festival, the International Women’s Club of Antigua and Barbuda, African American author of Ninth Ward Jewell Parker Rhodes, and Through a Window Antiguan author Floree Williams; also Antiguanice.com which is hosting a Wadadli Pen page on its site.

“We always want to help with anything that is educational,” said Margo Mason, marketing representative for Frank B. Armstrong/Seven Seas, which is also known for its annual sponsorship of the Rotaract Spelling Bee. “We want to continue with the development of the literary arts in the country. It’s the first time (we’re investing in Wadadli Pen) but hopefully won’t be the last.”

K.C. Nash, speaking for the IWC,  which annually provides scholarships to young women among other programmes, said, “Most of what we do as far as fundraising is in terms of education so we encourage programmes that are in the educational vein, especially with young people; we try to support them as much as we can.”

While Hillhouse continues to reach out to other businesses behind the scenes, she is, also, reaching out publicly to other businesses and individuals to give what they can to encourage the literary arts and literacy in Antigua and Barbuda. Since launching in 2004, the Wadadli Youth Pen Prize has been able to give prizes big and small from computers to books, trips to pens. “We are extremely grateful for the generosity shown over the years,” said Hillhouse, noting that who gave what can still be seen at https://wadadlipen.wordpress.com

Her other appeal is to teachers, parents, and youth workers generally to help spread the word to creative young people who may have a story to tell, and can do so in 600 words or less. This year they’re targeting stories written with young readers in mind – the kind of story a parent might read to a child or a young reader would pick up and read on his or her own.  “As usual we want them to have a Caribbean sensibility,” Hillhouse said. The deadline is March 31^st. For guidelines and writing tips, check the website.

To contact the coordinator, email wadadlipen@yahoo.com