Our Scholarships
Empowering Dreams. Transforming Lives.
The Lynne Mitchell Foundation proudly supports bright, determined students in their pursuit of higher education. We offer two types of scholarships, each with a unique purpose and impact:
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Memorial Scholarships – Each one carries the story of someone extraordinary, ensuring their legacy continues to inspire future generations.
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Aspire Scholarships – Created by the Foundation, these awards fuel opportunity and open doors for students to pursue higher education in Jamaica and beyond.
Aspire Scholarships
The Aspire Scholarship celebrates the bold spirit of students reaching higher in their education journey.
Whether attending universities, trade schools, or vocational programs, Aspire makes futures possible through two levels of support:
Aspire Jamaica Scholarship
Where Ambition Meets Opportunity
$2,500 U.S. Dollars
Investing in homegrown talent to help students to thrive in Jamaica.
Aspire International Scholarship
Expanding Opportunities Beyond Borders
$5,000 U.S. Dollars
Opening doors to global education and opportunities beyond Jamaica’s shores.
Memorial Scholarships
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Lynne Mitchell
Memorial Scholarship
Inspiring Strength & Compassion
$5,000 U.S. Dollars
Honoring Lynne’s legacy of resilience, grace, and service to others.
Lynne Channer Mitchell was born in 1947 in Round Hill, St. Elizabeth, Jamaica. One of twelve children, she grew up in a home rich in love despite limited resources. At just 15, she qualified as a teacher and began her career, launching a lifetime of leadership and achievement. Her journey took her from Jamaica to Germany and across the United States, where she became a respected leader in the hotel industry, admired for her excellence, integrity, and the care she showed to her colleagues.
Beyond her professional success, Lynne’s true legacy was her compassion. She was the heart of her family, a devoted mother and grandmother, and a steady source of wisdom and generosity. Even as she faced a rare illness, familial amyloidosis, with extraordinary courage, she remained a quiet force who inspired everyone around her with her smile, faith, and strength.
Lynne passed away on September 27, 2012 at the age of 65 but her legacy continues through the Lynne Mitchell Memorial Scholarship, which empowers young Jamaican women to pursue their dreams with the same tenacity, compassion, and grace that defined Lynne’s remarkable life.
Eleanor Channer
Memorial Scholarship
Inspiring Faith & Service
$5,000 U.S. Dollars
Honoring Eleanor's legacy of teaching and lifelong dedication to others.
Eleanor Hansell was born in 1929, in Dodge City, Kansas. A life of service defined her journey, beginning with her time in the U.S. Navy (WAVES) during the Korean Conflict and continuing through decades of teaching and ministry. She earned her degrees from Dodge City Community College, The College of New Jersey, and Penn State University before dedicating 32 years to teaching elementary school in Kansas and Pennsylvania.
Known for her ability to see the best in every child, Eleanor shaped countless lives with patience, encouragement, and love. Her compassion extended beyond the classroom through her church leadership, chaplaincy, and community service, where she lived out her faith with grace and resolve. Even in the face of personal loss, she remained steadfast, embodying strength rooted in faith.
Eleanor’s legacy is one of faith, dedication, and love for others, a legacy that continues through this scholarship, inspiring future generations to pursue education and service with the same spirit she carried throughout her life.
Lorna & Felix Philp
Memorial Scholarship
Inspiring Family & Faith
$5,000 U.S. Dollars
Honoring Philps’ legacy of love, resilience, and commitment to education and community.
Lorna “Pearl” Philp (Byrd) and Felix Philp built their lives around family, faith, and education. Despite challenges, they raised a large family with love and determination, instilling values of kindness, respect, and a commitment to learning. Their home was filled with generosity — from welcoming neighbors to watch television together in Kingston to encouraging their children to pursue excellence.
Their resilience carried the family from Jamaica to New York, where they thrived while holding fast to their Jamaican roots. The Philps’ legacy lives on in their children and grandchildren, and through this scholarship, which supports Jamaican students in achieving their full potential while carrying forward the values of family, love, and community.
Marlene Mitchell Gordon shares her thoughts about her mother, Lynne.
Rama Rawal
Memorial Scholarship
Inspiring Strength & Independence
$3,000 U.S. Dollars
Honoring Rama’s legacy of education, optimism, and service to others.
Rama H. Rawal was born in 1933, in India. She embodied strength and independence from an early age, earning a master’s degree at a time when few women pursued higher education. In 1968, she migrated to the United States with her two sons to join her husband, Harish, who had gone ahead two years earlier. Together they built a life in Stamford, Connecticut, where Rama worked at GE Credit Corporation for 17 years before becoming a real estate agent.
Rama balanced her professional achievements with a deep devotion to family and community. She faced life’s challenges with optimism, cheerfulness, and humor, qualities that drew people to her and uplifted those around her. In her retirement, she devoted her time to her vast network of family and friends, always ready to support others and lend a helping hand.
Rama passed away in 2020 at the age of 86, leaving behind a legacy of resilience, independence, and generosity. This scholarship honors her lifelong belief in the power of education and her example of living with strength, optimism, and service to others.
Ernest Channer
Memorial Scholarship
Inspiring Curiosity & Resilience
$3,000 U.S. Dollars
Honoring Ernest’s passion for learning, eloquence, and generosity.
Ernest M. Channer was born in 1953 in Round Hill, St. Elizabeth, Jamaica. From an early age, he displayed exceptional intelligence, curiosity, and a strong work ethic. His professional journey began with the Ministry of Education, later leading to a successful career in insurance, sales, and entrepreneurship in both Jamaica and the United States.
A lifelong learner, Ernest was known for his eloquence, love of reading, and passion for music and automobiles. He encouraged others to expand their knowledge and nurtured a spirit of curiosity wherever he went. Above all, he was a devoted husband and father who cherished family, supported friends, and gave generously of himself.
Even during his 15-year battle with Amyloidosis, Ernest showed remarkable courage, participating in clinical trials to advance research for others. His legacy is one of resilience, generosity, and unwavering commitment to education and community — a legacy that lives on through this scholarship.
Claudia Gibbs
Memorial Scholarship
Inspiring Care & Kindness
$3,000 U.S. Dollars
Honoring Claudia’s legacy of kindness, leadership, and service to others.
Claudia Kaye Fennell-Gibbs was born in 1967, in Montego Bay, Saint James, Jamaica. She embodied the essence of her beloved island, calm, balanced, warm, and vibrant. From a young age, she was a natural leader, becoming the trusted support and guide for her parents, four sisters, and a wide circle of cousins, nieces, and nephews. Her heart of gold led her to help anyone she could, whether family or stranger, always giving of herself with kindness.
She attended Herbert Morrison Technical High School and Duffs College of Business, where her gift for numbers and accounting shone. After relocating to South Florida, Claudia channeled her compassion into healthcare, serving elderly and sick patients with dedication, advocacy, and love.
As a devoted wife and mother of three children, Claudia became the matriarch of her family, a pillar of strength who balanced hard work with an unwavering commitment to those she loved. She encouraged, empowered, and uplifted the next generation, always reminding them to do whatever they could to make life better for others. Claudia’s legacy is one of service, kindness, and generosity, values that live on through this scholarship.
Raj Rawal shares his thoughts about his mother, Rama.
Sylvia Gordon
Memorial Scholarship
Inspiring Faith & Determination
$2,500 U.S. Dollars
Honoring Sylvia's legacy of resilience, optimism and dedication to family.
Sylvia Gordon was born on November 23, 1929, in Mount Pleasant, Hanover, Jamaica. Her childhood was marked by hardship — her father passed away when she was three years old and her mother when she was just eleven. Separated from her siblings, she was raised by an aunt, where she quickly learned the value of resilience and self-reliance. Despite these challenges, Sylvia always loved school and believed deeply in the power of education to transform lives.
She later married Wilbert Gordon and became the proud mother of six children. In the late 1960s, Sylvia migrated to the United States in search of greater opportunity. Though it meant painful separation from her husband and children for a time, she worked tirelessly to build a foundation for her family’s future. Through long hours and sacrifice, she fulfilled her dream of ensuring that her children were well cared for and had opportunities she never had.
Faith was central to Sylvia’s life. She leaned on her strong belief in God to carry her through challenges, meeting each trial with quiet determination and optimism. Known for her warmth and abundant love, she touched the lives of everyone she encountered, offering kindness, encouragement, and support. Later in life, she embraced her role as a grandmother, delighting in the growth and success of her family.
Sylvia passed away in Montego Bay, Jamaica, in 2016 at the age of 87. Her story is one of perseverance, faith, and enduring love — qualities that continue to inspire through this scholarship, which supports Jamaican students in pursuit of their education and dreams.
Norman Lawrence
Memorial Scholarship
Inspiring Perseverance & Generosity
$2,500 U.S. Dollars
Honoring Norman’s legacy of determination, family devotion, and giving back to his community.
Norman J. Lawrence was born on July 2, 1951, in Kingston, Jamaica. As the eldest of seven boys, he carried great responsibility from an early age, working daily to help support his family while excelling in school. His dedication earned him a scholarship to attend the prestigious St. Georges College, a milestone achievement that opened doors for his future. In 1968, he migrated to the United States, where he began a long career with Amtrak before retiring in Florida.
Even while building a life abroad, Norman’s heart never strayed far from Jamaica. After retirement, he returned home to work in agriculture and retail, contributing to the community he loved. Known as “Honey” to family and friends, Norman was admired for his generosity, his love of sports — especially cricket and horseracing — and his habit of giving back to children in need. Together with his wife, Laurice, he supported educational opportunities for children in Jamaica, ensuring others could benefit in ways he once struggled to achieve himself.
Above all, Norman was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather who cherished time with his family. His life reflected perseverance, resilience, and a deep commitment to uplifting others. Norman passed away in 2016 at the age of 64, but his legacy of generosity, determination, and love continues to inspire through this scholarship.