Keon Reece Wins GKMS Scholarship
Keon Reece has been awarded the GraceKennedy Money Services (GKMS) scholarship, receiving US $1,000 in recognition of academic achievement and leadership potential in business and finance. The award, announced via a press release, highlights a partnership between GKMS and H. Lavity Stoutt Community College (HLSCC) aimed at strengthening the Virgin Islands' future economic and entrepreneurial capacity.
Keon Reece has been named the recipient of the GraceKennedy Money Services (GKMS) Scholarship, a new award designed to support promising students pursuing studies in business, finance and entrepreneurship in the Virgin Islands. According to a GKMS press release, Reece secured the competitive scholarship after meeting rigorous selection criteria, which included maintaining a minimum 3.0 GPA, submitting a personal essay and providing strong recommendations from lecturers or mentors within the Business & Entrepreneurship Department at H.
The scholarship provides US $1,000 to top-performing students. "I feel extremely honoured and grateful," Reece said after being named the awardee. "This award means a lot to me, and I’m thankful to God and to everyone who supported me." The college community joined in celebration, with HLSCC officials praising Reece’s dedication, perseverance and academic accomplishments.
Margaret Campbell, CEO of GraceKennedy Money Services, framed the scholarship as a core element of the company’s corporate responsibility work. "At GKMS, we believe that empowering academic talent is the single greatest investment we can make in our collective future," she said. Campbell added that by removing financial barriers the programme aims to give "bright, deserving students the platform they need to innovate, lead, and drive economic growth right here in the Virgin Islands." Dr Ronald A.
Brunton, HLSCC Vice President of Academic Affairs, underscored the wider benefits of public-private partnerships in education. "Education remains one of the most powerful tools for transforming lives and strengthening communities," he said, noting that the scholarship demonstrates GKMS’s commitment not only to individuals but to the broader economic and entrepreneurial capacity of the territory.
For BVI residents, the GKMS scholarship represents a tangible example of how local students can gain support to pursue careers in finance and business—fields seen as important for the Territory’s long-term economic resilience. The award also signals an opportunity for other private firms to partner with HLSCC to expand funding, mentorship and internship pathways for young professionals.
HLSCC and GKMS say this is the first in what they hope will be an ongoing scholarship programme that helps build a pipeline of qualified, locally trained leaders in commerce and finance. The college community has offered its congratulations to Reece and thanked GKMS for investing in the next generation of Virgin Islands leaders.
Primary source: VINO