CARIBBEAT: British Duke honored for aiding CUNY seniors with Commonwealth connections

Thank yous — both domestic and international — abounded when Great Britain’s Duke of Gloucester was honored at Lehman College in the Bronx for the educational scholarships provided by the 252-year-old St. George’s Society of New York.

Since 2008, the SGSNY has awarded $1.4 million in scholarships to 450 City University of New York students with heritage in Commonwealth nations, including close to 350 Lehman College students who received more than $1 million in assistance.

On behalf of the SGSNY and its charitable efforts, late last month the Duke was presented with the Lehman College Presidential Medal of Honor by college President Fernando Delgado, with CUNY Chancellor Félix Matos Rodríguez in attendance. His Royal Highness also toured the Lehman northwest Bronx campus, including the construction site for the school’s new Nursing, Education Research and Practice Center.

Duke of Gloucester is the patron of the SGSNY, which is older than America itself — founded in 1770, predating the Revolutionary War, and Declaration of Independence.

Final year CUNY students who trace their roots to one of the 56 Commonwealth nations are eligible for the SGSNY scholarships as the countries are former territories of the British Empire.

Commonwealth-connected by birth, Jamaica-born Lehman seniors Tamara Clarke Telfaire and Stacy Ann Witter are quite thankful for the SGSNY help they received.

“Thanks to this scholarship, my financial burden has been lessened, and I have more time and energy to devote to my studies,” said nursing major Clarke Telfaire.

And Witter’s concerns about a required internship for her social work major were eased by the SGSNY scholarship funds. “…With this scholarship I was able to work less hours and use the time towards my internship,” she said.

In 2017, the SGSNY awards were expanded beyond Lehman College to include Hunter College in Manhattan, Queens College, College of Staten Island and New York City College of Technology in Brooklyn.

As part of its ongoing mission to aid the children of Jamaica, the Issa Trust Foundation is reaching beyond the borders of Caribbean nation for the first time and holding a Manhattan fundraising affair on Saturday evening to aid in the establishment of the Mary Issa Health Center for young people in the island’s Ocho Rios area.

The famous Third World reggae band is the headliner for the night of cocktails, dinner, dancing, and a silent auction at the Sony Hall in the Paramount Hotel Times Square. Leon and the Peoples, led by popular actor Leon, will also perform, in addition to DJ Norie. SiriusXM radio jock Pat McKay is the host.

Founded Couples Resorts, the not-for-profit Issa Trust Foundation is creating the health center “to provide top-notch pediatric healthcare to Jamaica’s children on an ongoing basis.”

For information, tickets, and information, “reduced weekend New York City hotel rates,” visit issatrustfoundation.com.

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Under the theme, “Building Black Business Back Better,” the daylong reSURGEnce2022 Black Church Black Business Conference will be held on Nov. 17 and 18, at the Brooklyn Navy Yard’s Building # 303, 399 Sands St., from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The conference is “designed to bring together key institutions and hundreds of businesses, churches, and non­profits for the lead purpose of sparking an economic revival and a great resurgence among Black businesses, corporate sponsors, and community stakeholders,” according to the organizers. The event host is the Rev. Dennis Dillion Founder of Christian Times and Black Church Means Business Conference.

For more information got to resurgence2022.com or call (718) 638-6397.

The cruise season is officially on, according to the Grenada Tourism Authority, which marked the start of the 2022-2023 season with the arrival of Royal Caribbean Cruise Line’s Celebrity Summit ship at St. George’s Melville St. port on Oct. 21.

And the new season’s 202 scheduled cruises are an 11% jump from “the benchmark 2018 – 2019 season.” The increase in cruise visits will bring benefits — such as job creation, infrastructure development, benefits for taxis and transportation, tour operators, local artisans, and restaurants

For more information about Grenada, visit puregrenada.com.

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