St. CROIX, U.S.V.I., May 17, 2024 – St. Croix Foundation is pleased to announce two competitive scholarship opportunities for 2024 St. Croix graduates through the Patrick and Amelia Williams Opportunity Fund and the St. Croix Educational Complex (SCEC) 20th Anniversary Reunion Committee Fund. A minimum of one scholarship of up to $5,000 will be awarded from the Patrick and Amelia Williams Opportunity Fund to a graduating senior from a St. Croix public high school; the SCEC 20th Anniversary Reunion Fund will award a minimum of one scholarship, not to exceed $5000, to a graduate of the St. Croix Educational Complex. The Foundation will begin accepting applications for both Funds on May 17, 2024, and the application deadline is June 14, 2024.
Open to 2024 graduates from the St. Croix Educational Complex, the SCEC 20th Anniversary Reunion
Fund requires that all applicants provide proof of acceptance to an accredited college or university and indicate and maintain a GPA of 2.0 or higher. The Patrick and Amelia Williams Opportunity Fund is open to all public high school 2024 graduates who must also indicate acceptance to an accredited institute of higher learning and maintain a GPA of 2.0 and higher. All applicants will be asked to submit a 500-word essay describing a time they met and overcame an obstacle, as well as a video presentation describing their educational goals. Applications will be reviewed by the St. Croix Foundation Grants Review Committee and must be received no later than June 14, 2024.
The Patrick and Amelia Williams Opportunity Fund was established by Junior Gaspard, a graduate of Central High School and John H. Woodson Junior High School, in honor of his grandparents. Gaspard recalls the hard work and determination embodied in his grandfather’s spirit when he moved the entire family to St. Croix from St. Vincent. This, combined with his grandmother’s resilience as she courageously contended with the loss of her eyesight, provided a road map to overcoming challenges with strength and perseverance. St. Croix Foundation for Community Development (SCF) administers the Patrick and Amelia Williams Opportunity Fund to provide opportunities to youth who have met obstacles but persevere despite these challenges and see education as a means to achieving personal and professional success that can then be shared with the next generation.
Upholding the spirit of the Williams Opportunity Fund, Anquanette Gaspard, sister to Junior Gaspard and granddaughter of Patrick and Amelia Williams, also recognized an opportunity to increase support for St. Croix youth and established the St. Croix Educational Complex 20th Anniversary Reunion Committee Fund together with the SCEC’s 2003 alum to encourage giving back to the next generation of young people.
Application Process. To apply, interested students should visit the Foundation’s website at https://www.stxfoundation.org/grants-scholarships/ where Application Guidelines can be found. All applications are due by June 14, 2024. Applicants will be informed of decisions by July 3, 2024.
All scholarship recipients are required to report on their successes and challenges throughout the year to help ensure that the Fund continues to meet current needs and to provide students with additional support if needed. If challenges or questions arise regarding completing the application and/or obtaining required documents, staff is available to assist at lcox@stxfoundation.org and/or ajohnson@stxfoundation.org.
St. Croix Foundation wishes to extend its sincerest appreciation to the Advisors and Donors of the Patrick and Amelia Williams Opportunity Fund and St. Croix Educational Complex 20th Anniversary Reunion Committee Fund and the class of 2003, who are strategically giving back to the next generation. For more information about how to support these special funds, please visit the Foundation online at www.stxfoundation.org or call 340.773.9898.