Hamani Henry of KC and Delroy Matterson of Calabar High are the 2012 recipients of the David ‘Wagga’ Hunt Memorial Scholarship.

Valued at J$100,000 per annum each, both youngsters along with six past scholarship awardees, were presented with their cheques by Carlene Edwards, senior corporate communication officer of Supreme Venture and Leighton Smith, branch manager of VMBS Duke street branch, during a presentation ceremony held at Norman Manley Law School, University of the West Indies, Mona on Saturday September 22, 2012. Michelle Tracey of Proven Wealth Limited also presented a cheque of J$45,000 on behalf of her company to the Scholarship Fund.

The scholarship will run till each student graduates from high school. Each student must have a satisfactory record of academic performance and a satisfactory school attendance record. Participation in an extra curricula activity through a club or society at school will count in favour of an applicant but is not a decisive consideration. The scholarship winner is someone whose parents or guardians find it financially challenging to meet the expense of secondary education. The Committee administering the Trust fund reserves the right to withdraw a scholarship from any student who falls below its required standard.

According to Christopher Hunt, co-chairman of the Scholarship Fund, which is now in its 4th year, a total of J$1.2 million have been disbursed so far and made possible through donations in cash and kind from corporate entities, institutions and individuals.  The amount payable for this year is J$800,000 and it is anticipated will be supported by four classics-The Jamaica, Florida and New York legs as well and the inaugural Washington, DC leg which took the form of a dinner and raffle on July 21, 2012.

Both 2012 recipients are 8 graders. Hamani Henry is 13 years old and entered KC in 2011 from St Jude’s Primary. The 8 DeCarteret lad currently plays basketball and participates in inter-form quiz. His ambition is to be a doctor and lists playing football and cricket as well as reading amongst his hobbies.  Thirteen year old Delroy Matterson hails from Calabar Infant, Primary and Junior High.  He is currently training with the Calabar High Pepsi U14 football team. His ambition is to be a pilot.

The past recipients of the ‘Wagga’ Hunt memorial Scholarship are Miguel Morrison, Kevon Bartley and Ronaldo Ferguson of Kingston College and Jehvaun Faulder, Renaldo Lewis and Chris-Anthony Campbell from Calabar.

The David Hunt Memorial scholarship was established in 2009 to honour the memory of David’ Wagga’ Hunt, a distinguished past student of Kingston College and outstanding coach of Calabar, who passed away in 2007. As a tribute to David Hunt’s contribution to the Jamaican secondary school system, the Hunt family initiated a scholarship that awards financial assistance to two students annually and runs commencing from grade eight through to grade thirteen. One scholarship recipient will be a student from Calabar and and the other will be from Kingston College.  A Committee was also established to administer the Scholarship and organize the Wagga Hunt Classisc.

David led Calabar to the Manning Cup and Oliver Shield titles in 2005. A former national U17 football coach for Jamaica, General secretary of the Minor League FA and the Kinston and St Andrew Football Association, founding member, president and technical director of Meadhaven United Football club, he served the football fraternity for over thirty years. . He was one of Jamaica’s most noted track and field analysts. He also represented Jamaica and KC in chess.