Twenty student-athletes were awarded scholarships by Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce’s Pocket Rocket Foundation during a ceremony at the AC Hotel Kingston on Wednesday. The foundation, now in its 11th year, granted scholarships to a record number of recipients from a pool of 162 applicants.
Among those awarded was Yukika Harris, a sprint hurdler from St Elizabeth Technical High School, who followed in the footsteps of her sisters, Winsome Harris (2015-2016) and Habiba Harris (2019-2020), both previous scholarship recipients.
Her mother, Ann-Marie Black, was present at the event to witness her third daughter being honoured. "Being a single mom, it has helped me a lot," Black said, expressing her gratitude. "Knowing that they are on the scholarship, I don’t have to stress much about their school fees. I’m very, very appreciative of these scholarships."
Yukika, eager to carve out her own legacy, is determined to outshine her sisters on the track. Recalling a moment that exemplified her daughter’s spirit, Black shared: "I remember once I said to her — I call her Mary — ‘Mary, you’re tiny,’ and she replied, ‘Mommy, is Shelly-Ann Fraser big?’” Shelly-Ann, Black said, was "elated" to know that her foundation's impact was deeply appreciated by families like theirs.”
Fraser-Pryce, the foundation’s namesake and one of the most decorated athletes in sprinting history, was reportedly elated to see the impact of her foundation on families like the Harris'.
Also present at the awards was the family of Akira Graham from St Andrew High School for Girls. Her mother, Iveta Graham, expressed her pride: "It’s a big help. We are so proud of her. She started athletics during COVID, just as a way to get out of the house, and now look at her."
Iveta emphasized the significance of the scholarship, particularly as her daughter prepares for her CXC exams, calling it both a financial lifeline and recognition of hard work. "It’s something that I wish all parents would realize: their child is great, and you just need to encourage that greatness," she said.
The 2024 scholarship awardees are:Danielle Noble (Wolmer’s High School for Girls) - athleticsMatthew Lambert (Knox College) – basketballMattheau Thaxter (Wolmer’s High School for Boys) - athleticsLorek Givans (Belair High School) – athleticsAjani Murphy (Guy’s Hill High) – athleticsMichael Edwards (Jamaica College) – athleticsKeelan Smith (Holy Childhood High) – athleticsKeeshawn Yorke (York Castle High) – athleticsYukika Harris (STETHS) – athleticsShameika Dennis (STETHS) – athleticsTirunesh Johnson (St Mary High) – athleticsNicholie Barclay (St Jago High) – athletics, football, cricketRuth Lewis (Belair High) – basketball, footballAbigail Lemand (Wolmer’s High School for Girls) – field hockeyNevaeh Dawkins (Campion College) – netballRickado Mundle (Wolmer’s High School for Boys) – table tennisIthran Softley (Papine) – volleyballShwayne McDermott (Knox College) – volleyballImani Wint (Wolmer’s High School for Girls) - VolleyballAkira Graham (St Andrew High School for Girls) - athletics
