2009 recipient Kaia Armbrister at the BAAI "Bahamians in New York" mixer on September 12th. Photo: Kermit Romer

Keia's ultimate career goal is to become a Captain, however pursuing a bachelor of engineering degree will give her the required knowledge of the engine room of the ship.  Furthermore, majoring in Naval Architecture will allow her to design and build ships.  As a captain, it is critical that she is well versed in all aspects of her studies enabling her to troubleshoot problems by making the best possible decision in situations based on her collective knowledge of ships.  Knowing the design features and engine room of the ship in addition to receiving a license will give her a competitive advantage in the Maritime Industry.  Receiving this scholarship will assist her in continuing my studies her studies at the Maritime College in order to make her goals achievable.

It is also her goal that upon the completion of her studies, she gain experience on an Oil/Product Tanker, Liquefied Natural Gas Carrier or Container Vessel within the United States, The Bahamas and Europe.  After acquiring experience and sea time she hopes to return home to The Bahamas and encourage more Bahamians to pursue a career in the Maritime industry.

Previous Scholarship Recipients:

Clemmy Eneas Varence was born in Nassau, Bahamas and grew up in a single-parent home of eleven children.  She graduated from Government High School in 1998.  As a young child, she dreamt about attending college.  The prospect of attending college was a remote idea, if not indeed, a pipedream in this environment.  This was due to the fact that her mother worked as a domestic servant.  Although Clemmy very much wanted to finish school, get a job, and help her mother financially, she secretly harbored the urge to eventually become a college student.  Helping her mother, however, was priority number one.  She seriously felt the burden of helping when her own marriage ended in divorce, and she consequently assumed full responsibility of her son Clemmeth.  

With some trepidation she relocated to New York in 2001, drawn to the big city by a job offer.  A hectic work schedule and the responsibilities of motherhood clouded her vision of a college education, but only for a while.  With college in mind, she began to save 20% of her salary though the cost of living and tuition costs were increasing decidedly faster than her salary, with limited resources and determination her dream became a reality August 2002, when she was admitted as a full time International student at Harrisburg Area Community College in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.  During this time she developed good communication skills and leadership ability that she never knew she possessed.  These skills taught her to be responsible, thoughtful, and respectful of other people’s cultures, and sensitive to their various needs.

As an International student, she had a keen interest in sharing her diverse knowledge and life experience with others.  She contributed significantly to the college by becoming the first black foreign student to serve in this prestigious position as President of the Student Government Association.  As the student body was predominantly white, this was quite an accomplishment.  Following this milestone, she was honored as the first recipient to receive the Bahamas American Association scholarship, and other from within the Harrisburg community.  Subsequently, she was awarded the Multi-cultural scholarship and the Guy & Helen Swope leadership awards.  Shortly thereafter, Clemmy obtained an Associate in Art Degree in Criminal Justice in June 2005.

Unfortunately, due to circumstance beyond her control, she was compelled to return to the work force in 2006, and take one-year hiatus in order to undergo surgery.  She resumed her studies in the spring 2007, when she was accepted at John Jay College of Criminal Justice on the bachelor level.  In May 2009, she graduated from John Jay College, magna cum laude, with honor.  This is a significant milestone and a giant step on the road of reaching her career goal of becoming a criminologist.  Now, at this juncture in her academic life the next mandatory step is to pursue a Master’s degree in criminal justice with a special focus on criminology and deviant behavior.  She was accepted and will pursue her Master’s Degree in August 09, at John Jay College.

Presently, she is employed for the past three (3) years as a Senior Information Clerk in the Consulate General of The Bahamas at New York.

Jasmine Thomas is currently in her senior year at the Purchase College Conservatory of Music where she is pursuing a Bachelor of Music degree in Voice and Opera Performance. She has performed in numerous stage productions at the conservatory. A few of her memorable performances are: The Coronation of Poppea, the mother in Amahl and the Night Visitors , and Sister Genovieffa in Puccini’s Suor Angelica .

Added to Jasmine’s performance experiences are her Brooklyn Youth Chorus performances with Andrea Boccelli, Philip Glass, Michael Jackson, Elton John, Steven Green and John Adams & the New York Philharmonic. Jasmine has done guest solo performances for the Brooklyn Philharmonic, the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, the Independent Democrats, the Union League Club honoring the former Justice Sandra Day O’Connor; the Merrill Lynch Board of Directors, Channel Thirteen and WLIW21.   She has provided entertainment for the many chapters of the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women. She has also performed internationally at Johannes Brahms International Music Festival in Wernigerode, Germany, the Llangolen International Music Festival held in Eisteddfod, Wales, at the Christ Church held in Oxford England and at the Trinity Church in Strafford-on-Avon, England. Jasmine is also a regular performer at her church, Calvary Baptist, in New York City.

Jasmine was awarded a Grammy Certificate and shares a Grammy Award with the Brooklyn Youth Chorus for her participation in John Adams & the New York Philharmonic recording of On the Transmigration of Souls, which won the Grammy award for 2003 Best Classical Album.

Jasmine is a recording artist with Deutsche Grammophon.   She is featured as a background vocalist on Sting’s forthcoming album, "If On A Winter's Night..."

Jasmine is also a friend of the Italian American community of New York City. She sang both the American and Italian national anthems at Bowling Green, New York City, on June 2nd of this year for the Italy's Republic Day flag raising ceremony. She spend a semester this summer in Italy studying advance Italian at Purchase College, Pisciotta Italy. She was a featured performer in the piazzas of Florence and Pisciotta.

Jasmine is very active in her community.   She has freely contributed her talents to draw awareness to the many issues that plague our communities. She has worked with CPIC, an organization that promotes healthy lifestyles amongst persons of Caribbean descent throughout the world in a professional, culturally based atmosphere. She has provided entertainment for their outreach programs and AIDS Walks.   She has also freely given of her talent to bring joy and entertainment to the Senior Citizens of Park Slope Geriatric Day Center in Brooklyn, New York.

This year Jasmine was the featured soloist at the New York State 2009 Supreme Court Black History Celebration.

Jasmine was awarded the Senator Kevin Parker Award of Appreciation for Dedication and Commitment to the Caribbean American Communities in New York. She is a Bank of America Joe Martin Scholar and in 2008 she received a scholarship award from the Bahamian American Association of New York City.

Jasmine is a first generation Bahamian American, and it gives her great pleasure to represent her heritage and share her cultures at every opportunity afforded to her.   She was a guest performer at the 94th anniversary of the Bahamian American Association and last year she performed at the 35th Bahamas Independence Anniversary Thanksgiving Service and Flag Raising Ceremony at Bowling Green Park.

Miss DeVette Taylor is also an aspiring operatic diva – a soprano who has performed on television, in film and on the stage. Miss Taylor is currently a college student studying interior design and architecture while continuing her studies and performing in classical voice. DeVette is the “daughter” half of a mother/daughter dynamic duo positive-image motivational speaker team with her mother, Olivette Taylor.

DeVette appreciates the love, tutelage and support extended to her by the members of the Bahamian American communities such as the Bahamas American Association Inc. ( “B.A.A.I.” – formerly known as the Nassau Bahamas Association), the Bahamian American Cultural Society and the former Consul General-NY, Honorable and Mrs. Eldred Edison and Dawn Bethel and the late Vice Consul General Renee M. Pinder, as well as the Commonwealth of the Bahamas’ Ambassador to the United Nations, Her Excellency Dr. Paulette Bethel.

In addition to being a B.A.A.I. scholarship recipient during her college freshman year, B.A.A.I. has continuously afforded DeVette a multitude of privileged experiences and memorable occasions because DeVette “warmly treasures her moments in presenting the widow of the first Bahamian Prime Minister, Honorable Lynden O. Pindling, Lady Marguerite Pindling with a greeting and an exquisite floral bouquet at the B.A.A.I.’s 2004 Gala Ball in her late husband’s honor; and visiting with His Excellency. The Honorable Governor General Arthur D. Hanna, the then Prime Minister Perry Christie and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Honorable Fred Mitchell.”

DeVette Taylor has been instilled with pride in herself, her family and her Bahamian heritage from the time she was born and it gloriously emanates and radiates from her. As her mother consistently refers to herself, DeVette, too, is “ a real Bahamian American Princess!”