Sunland Baptist Academy student Destiny McKinney (in white) is the recipient of the FIDA Scholarship which is a 2 year, $2000 per year award. Left - right (Petra Weekes - FIDA member, Vivienne Gouthro - Director, Jethlyn Burrows - FIDA member, Charisse Brown - Chairman of FIDA, Destiny Danielle McKinney - Scholarship Recipient, Karin Sanchez - Treasurer, Hazel Mckinney - Mother of Recipient, Daniel McKinney - Father of Recipient and Lena Hield - Secretary. Photo: The Bahamas Weekly

The Grand Bahama Chapter of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) is pleased to announce that Destiny Danielle McKinney is the third recipient of the annual FIDA Scholarship Award.   Miss McKinney is a 2008 graduate of Sunland Baptist Academy, Freeport, Grand Bahama and is pursuing an Associate Degree in Law at the College of The Bahamas.   She commenced her studies at the Northern Campus in September of this year.   Miss McKinney is the daughter of Daniel and Hazel McKinney.

The FIDA Scholarship Committee has said that Destiny distinguished herself as a deserving candidate for the FIDA Scholarship and applauds her for her stellar academic record; her active role in campus life and her strong community commitment.

A few of her achievements include:

undefined undefined undefined undefined undefined undefined v   President of Junior Achievement – 2006-2007;

undefined undefined undefined undefined undefined undefined v   President of  U.C.G Youth Group – 2008;

undefined undefined undefined undefined undefined undefined v   Top Achievers Grand Bahama – 2005-2008; and

undefined undefined undefined undefined undefined undefined v   Secretary of Sigma Gamma Rho

The FIDA Scholarship is an award of Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000.00)   each year for two years of study at The College of The Bahamas.

The award is available for Bahamian citizens and Grand Bahama residents who are recent graduates from a high school on Grand Bahama Island.   They must have at least 5 B.G.C.S.E’s at Grade “C” or above, including Mathematics and English; and a minimum G.P.A. of 3.0 from high school.

The FIDA Scholarship Committee is comprised of Dr. Coralee Kelly, Assistant Vice-President of the College of The Bahamas, Mrs. Petra Weekes – FIDA member – and sole partner of the Law firm, Weekes and Co., Mrs. Jethlyn Burrows – FIDA member – Vice-President of the Industrial Tribunal and Mrs. Charisse Brown, Senior Legal Counsel of The Grand Bahama Development Company Limited and Chairman of the Committee.

FIDA is an international non-governmental organization (NGO) in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations.   Organized in Mexico City in 1944, to promote the principles and aims of the United Nations in their legal and social aspects, FIDA works to establish friendly international relations on a basis of mutual respect and equality and to promote the welfare of women and children.

Members and affiliates from 80 countries meet every second year in the country of then current president, in rotation among the five areas of the world.   A compendium of articles on legal and humanistic topics is issued biennially.  

Individual membership is open to male and female law graduates admitted to practice in their respective countries or eligible to be admitted.   Academics and law students also are invited to membership.   Apolitical, non-profit, independent organizations of woman lawyers may affiliate with FIDA as voting members.   Men and women non-lawyers interested in the advancement of women in the legal profession may participate in FIDA as patrons.