Last month, the High Commissioner to Saint Lucia, Dr. Ernest Hilaire, hosted an elegant reception at the offices of the High Commission of Saint Lucia in London, to welcome and congratulate the 41 recipients of the full tuition scholarships offered by BPP University, in collaboration with the British Ca­ribbean Chamber of Commerce and RISE Saint Lucia Ltd.

Dr. Hilaire welcomed his com­patriots to London and extended words of wisdom borne from his own personal struggles as a young student. He encouraged them not to be overwhelmed but rather to be com­forted in the knowledge that this opportunity had opened doors to a new world and a great future.

“Saint Lucians who come to Britain to study have always suc­ceeded. Failure is not an option. Make your families, who have sacrificed a lot to enable you to study, proud of your endeavors and Saint Lucia will be proud of you too.”

Mr. John Kennedy, President of the British Caribbean Chamber of Commerce Saint Lucia, attended the event.

“When I first met you all, it was at the Sir Arthur Lewis College at an event organized by RISE, and this was just an idea. The next time I met you was at the airport as you waited to board your flights to London. Then these 41 scholarships had become a fact," he said. “Now I meet you in London and your courses have begun and these scholarships are a reality. Work hard, study well and make the most of this fantastic opportu­nity and the fantastic life ahead of you that you all will have.”

Mrs. Juliette Wagner-James, Dep­uty Dean of BPP University, who initiated the scholarship opportunity, shared with the students the total value of the scholarship program: £1,500,000 or EC$6 million, and said that after having had the opportunity to get to know them since their arrival, she was confident that they faced a bright future.

“We have here the leaders and entrepre­neurs of the next generation with­out a doubt,” she said.

The reception was held on June 26.