Our
Scholarships

The Aspire Scholarship Program offers financial support to exceptional students attending universities, trade, or vocational schools for post-secondary education. Focused on fostering academic excellence, Aspire provides two scholarship levels to cater to students' diverse needs: (1) Aspire Jamaica Scholarship ($2,500 U.S. Dollars), designed for students attending universities, trade, or vocational schools within Jamaica, this scholarship aims to empower local talent and stimulate growth within Jamaican communities; and (2) Aspire International Scholarship ($5,000 U.S. Dollars) for students enrolled in universities, trade, or vocational schools outside Jamaica, this scholarship facilitates access to global education and opportunities for students to broaden their perspectives. 

The Lynne Mitchell Memorial Scholarship, established by Marlene Mitchell Gordon in honor of her mother offers a $5,000 U.S. Dollar academic scholarship to an eligible Jamaican woman pursuing higher education at universities, trade schools, vocational programs, or graduate schools. 

About Lynne

Lynne Alona (Channer) Mitchell was born on June 20, 1947, in Round Hill, St. Elizabeth, Jamaica, to the late Emmanuel and Amy Channer. The sixth of twelve children, Lynne grew up in a loving family where financial resources were scarce but love was abundant. Known for her kindness and intelligence, she earned her teaching degree at just 15 and began her career at Seaview Primary School in 1962.

In January 1963, while teaching, Lynne met Basil Mitchell, and after he moved to Kingston for work, she continued her studies, eventually teaching Home Economics at Tivoli Gardens Comprehensive High School. After marrying Basil, they had two children, Gary and Marlene, and in 1972 moved to Boston, where Lynne pursued a degree in Hospitality Management.

The couple returned to Jamaica in 1974, and Lynne became the Executive Director of Housekeeping at the InterContinental Hotel in Rose Hall. She was awarded a two-year scholarship for a Hospitality Management Program in Munich, Germany, where she became fluent in German. Upon returning to Chicago in 1980, Lynne distinguished herself as a respected leader in the hotel industry, serving in leadership roles at renowned properties and earning love and admiration from her staff.

Lynne was also a devoted grandmother, delighting in the stories of her grandsons, CJ and Zachary. Although she did not meet her third grandson, Cameron, whom her son and daughter-in-law welcomed shortly after her passing, she was excited about his impending arrival. As the family matriarch, Lynne was deeply respected and worked tirelessly to keep her family united and strong, often using her culinary skills to host family gatherings.

In May 2010, Lynne was diagnosed with Familial Amyloidosis, a rare and life-threatening disorder, which led to her requiring a heart and liver transplant. After enduring significant health challenges, she received her transplants on October 6, 2011. Though her recovery was fraught with complications, Lynne’s determination and the support of her family and medical team enabled her to return home on her 65th birthday, June 20, 2012.

Sadly, Lynne's health continued to deteriorate, and she was admitted to the ICU on September 26, 2012, where she succumbed to severe pneumonia and a bacterial infection on September 27, 2012, surrounded by her loved ones. Lynne is remembered for her vibrant smile, unwavering spirit, and deep compassion. Her legacy lives on in the hearts of those she touched. She was laid to rest beside her mother in the Channer Family Memorial Garden in Round Hill, St. Elizabeth, Jamaica.

This scholarship honors Lynne's unwavering tenacity, resilience and caring spirit by providing a deserving young woman with the financial support she needs to pursue her dreams.  Through this scholarship, Lynne's legacy lives on, inspiring others to overcome challenges, seize opportunities and give back to their communities with the same compassion an determination Lynne embodied.

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The Ernest M. Channer Memorial Scholarship, established by Marlene Gordon in memory of her uncle, offers a $3,000 U.S. Dollar academic scholarship to an eligible Jamaican student pursuing education at a university, trade school, vocational program, or graduate school.

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About Ernest

Ernest Channer was born on February 15, 1953, in Round Hill, St. Elizabeth, Jamaica, as the second of three sons in a family of twelve children. From a young age, Ernest exhibited extraordinary intelligence and a strong work ethic. After completing high school, he began his professional journey with the Ministry of Education while simultaneously pursuing a college education in the insurance field. He became a successful Insurance Underwriting Agent, earning numerous awards and accolades until he migrated to the United States, where he continued to flourish in various roles in sales and entrepreneurship. 

Ernest was not only known for his remarkable vocabulary and eloquent communication skills, but he also dedicated himself to learning a new word each day as a youth. An avid reader, he encouraged his relatives to complete books daily and remained well-informed on global and current affairs by diligently reading several newspapers each day. His deep passion for music was reflected in his extensive collection of vinyl records, while his love for automobiles inspired him to hone his car repair skills.

Ernest's insatiable curiosity drove him to constantly expand his horizons. As a devoted husband and father, he cherished family gatherings and consistently offered support to friends and family, no matter the situation. During his courageous 15-year battle with the rare illness Amyloidosis (Familial), which affected many of his siblings, Ernest participated in clinical trials and openly shared his journey to aid advancements in treatment for this disease. He passed away on September 7, 2023, surrounded by his loving family, leaving behind a legacy of resilience, generosity, and an unwavering commitment to those around him. 

This scholarship serves to honor Ernest’s enduring spirit and dedication to education and community, inspiring future generations to pursue their dreams.

The Claudia Kaye Fennell-Gibbs, the Claudia Kaye Fennell-Gibbs Memorial Scholarship, established by various donors, offers a  $3,000 U.S. Dollar academic scholarship to an eligible Jamaican student attending university, trade, vocational or graduate school.

About Claudia

Claudia was born on March 02, 1967, in the beautiful city of Montego Bay, Saint James, Jamaica. She embodied the essence of her beloved Jamaica, with a calming and balanced spirit, yet a demeanor that was so warm and vibrant. A natural born leader, she became the trusted support and guide for many, including her parents, her 4 sisters and a host of cousins, nieces and nephews. Her heart of gold saw her helping loved ones and strangers alike, in any and every way she found possible.

She attended the Herbert Morrison Technical High School and Duffs College of Business, where she had a strong penchant for numbers and accounting. During this time she met, the love of her life, Lance Gibbs, with whom she would eventually share a 40 year long partnership. Their life journey led them to migrating to the US, and eventually settling in South Florida. It was here that she channeled her love for people and the healthcare skills, she acquired, to be an invaluable support to countless elderly and sick patients. As their primary caregiver, she became a very passionate advocate and guardian for their wellbeing. 

With years of hard work in her area of passion, she continued to be a pillar of strength for her family and a matriarch for her own tribe of 3 beautiful children. She would always reflect on her journey and make an earnest effort to encourage, empower and support the future generation. Her kindness to those in need knew no bounds, while encouraging others to do the little that they can to help better someone else. 

Established by W. Barry Blum, in honor of the memory of his elementary school teacher, the Eleanor Hansell Memorial Scholarship offers a $5,000 U.S. Dollar academic scholarship to an eligible Jamaican student attending university, trade, vocational or graduate school.

About Eleanor

Eleanor was born November 14, 1929, in Dodge City, Kansas. She began a life of service to others as a member of the U.S. Navy (WAVES) during the Korean Conflict. She first attended Dodge City Community College in Kansas where she received her Associates Degree, and she later received her BA from The College of New Jersey and a Master’s degree from Penn State University. Eleanor taught elementary school in Kansas and in Bristol Township, Pennsylvania for 32 years, shaping the lives of countless children with an uncanny ability to see the best in every child. She was a teacher in the spirit of the Lynne Mitchell Foundation. In 1963, during just her second year in Bristol Township, “Mrs. Hansell” took a special interest in a precocious and unruly first-grader, not only tolerating his near-constant disruptions but always encouraging him with love to reach for the stars. That began a life-long relationship that saw Eleanor and her husband Bob attending that former first-grader’s wedding in Jacksonville, Florida in 1985, now culminating in this memorial scholarship.

Eleanor and Bob were married for 60 years and they raised two son and a daughter. She handled with grace and resolve life’s challenges, including the untimely passing at age 53 of her only daughter, Eleanor Ann, in 2009, by leaning on her faith. Eleanor was a member of Emilie United Methodist Church in Levittown, Pennsylvania, where she served on the Administrative Board and Visitation Team and served as the Chairperson of the Emilie Christian Day School and as a Christ Servant Minister. She also served as a chaplain at the Lower Bucks Hospital for the last fifteen years of her life. Eleanor passed away on December 25, 2012, in Bristol, Pennsylvania, at the age of 83.

Lynne Mitchell Foundation is proud to honor the memory of Lorna “Pearl” Philp (Byrd) and Felix Philp through the generous donation of their daughter Heather Philp.

A scholarship in the amount of $5000 U.S. Dollars is offered to provide one-time educational assistance for a person attending a two-year or four-year accredited college/university or graduate school. To be considered for the Scholarship, applicants must have graduated from a high school in Jamaica. Well-rounded students who demonstrate a significant commitment to academic achievement are encouraged to apply. Preference will be given to applicants who come from Kingston, Manchester or Westmoreland.

Providing this scholarship in memory of our parents, gives our family a tremendous sense of pride and joy.  Growing up in Jamaica at a time where having a television set was rare, I recall our dad inviting the entire neighborhood to gather around the verandah, to watch whatever was showing on the TV.  Gone are those days, but the memory of sharing with others stays with us to this very day.

The foundation of the Philp/Byrd family was to love your family, be kind to your community, respect each other, strive for excellence no matter what you do and focus on your education.  Although times were sometime difficult raising a large family, their drive and determination to want more for the family took the family from Kingston to Harlem, New York in the early 1970’s.  This is the place where the family thrived and as we look back reminded us that we were so rich in love.  No matter where the Philp family lived our Jamaican culture centered us as we navigated life in the states.

It is for this reason that we pay it forward and support the next generation of Jamaican dreamers to reach their full potential, strive for excellence and be a shining example of hope for their family and community.

Lynne Mitchell Foundation is proud to honor the memory of Norman J. Lawrence through the generous donation of his daughter Chanteya Lawrence and grandson Ellis.  

A scholarship in the amount of $2000 U.S. Dollars is offered to provide one-time educational assistance for a person attending a two-year or four-year accredited college/university or graduate school. To be considered for the Scholarship, applicants must have graduated from a high school in Jamaica. Well-rounded students who demonstrate a significant commitment to academic achievement are encouraged to apply.  Preference will be given to applicants who matriculated at Chetolah Park Primary school or St. Georges College.

Norman was born on July 2, 1951 in Kingston, Jamaica.  He attended Chetolah Park Primary School as a boy and earned a scholarship to attend the prestigious St. Georges College. This was a huge accomplishment as the oldest of 7 boys who worked every day to support family.  In 1968, he graduated St. Georges College with his sights set on heading to the United State.  He made it to New York and then to Florida where he retired from Amtrak with his wife, 4 children and 7 grandchildren.  After retiring from Amtrak, he went back to Jamaica to work in agriculture and retail in his beloved Kingston and St Mary.  Norman never forgot about his own struggles as a boy so he and his wife gave back to children in the inner city and around the island to ensure they could get a good education.  Norman and his wife Laurice are the product of parents who constantly gave back to support their community which makes a scholarship the best honor to continue their work.  Norman affectionately known as “Honey” loved sport especially cricket, horseracing, spending time with family and reading.  He passed away at his home in Florida on April 6, 2016 at the age of 64.

Funded by Raj Rawal, in honor of the memory of his mother Rama H. Rawal, the Rama H. Rawal Memorial Scholarship will award a $3,000 U.S. Dollar academic scholarship to an eligible Jamaican woman attending university, trade, vocational or graduate school. 

About Rama Rawal

Rama was born May 9, 1933, in India. She migrated to the United States in 1968 with her two sons Rajesh and Viresh to join her husband Harish who had immigrated in 1966. In 1969, the family settled in Stamford CT where she lived for 50 years before moving to Vermont to be with her older son and his family in May 2019. While in Stamford, Rama worked for GE Credit Corporation for 17 years and as a real estate agent for many years afterwards. In her retirement she enjoyed her vast network of family and friends, some travel, and especially helping others in the community.  Rama was an incredibly strong and fiercely independent person. She earned a master's degree at a time when few women in India even went to college. Similarly, when her husband came to America, she remained in India for more than two years and continued to work full-time as a high school teacher while caring for both sons. Rama handled the ups and downs of life with cheerfulness, optimism, and humor.  Rama passed away on April 1, 2020, in Burlington, VT at the age of 86. 

Funded by Charles Gordon, in honor of the memory of his mother, Sylvia Gordon, the Sylvia Gordon Memorial Scholarship will award a $2,500 U.S. Dollar academic scholarship to an eligible Jamaican student attending attending university, trade, vocational or graduate school.

About Sylvia Gordon

Sylvia was born November 23, 1929, in Mount Pleasant, Hanover, Jamaica. Her father passed away when she was just three years old and her mother when she was 11 years old.  She was then raised by an aunt in Hanover.  Separated from her brother and sisters, Sylvia was determined to make a good life for herself, despite her difficult childhood.  She always loved school and valued education.  Sylvia married Wilbert Gordon and was the mother of six children.  Sylvia moved to the United States in the late 1960’s to create opportunities for herself and her family. There she worked hard and endured being separated from her husband and her children.  But no matter the difficulties of her circumstances, Sylvia never gave up, always clinging to her dreams to provide the best she could for her family. From her years of hard work, struggles and determination, Sylvia fulfilled her dream to ensure that her family was well taken care of.  After seeing her children grow up and become independent, Sylvia entered a new chapter, that of being a loving and doting grandmother.

Sylvia handled the challenges of her life by leaning on her strong faith in God. Always the optimist, she was filled with an abundance of love and showed it to everyone she met.  Sylvia passed away on March 22, 2016, in Montego Bay, Jamaica at the age of 87.