Pocket Rocket Foundation broadens support for Jamaican student athletes

The Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce Pocket Rocket Athlete Summit returned for its second staging on Friday at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, bringing student athletes together for guidance that extended beyond competition.

The programme, led by the foundation created by the decorated Jamaican sprinter, featured presentations from Dr. Neil Gardner, an Olympian at the 1996 Atlanta Games and a former standout student athlete at Wolmer’s Boys’ School; sports psychologist Dr. Olivia Rose; and medical doctors Imamu Tomlinson and Maureen Bell.

Dr. Jermaine McCalpin, executive director of the Pocket Rocket Foundation, said the organisation has built a wide scholarship programme over its 13 years. He said 138 student athletes from across Jamaica have received scholarships, with recipients assured of support for the full period of high school. That assistance, he said, covers areas such as books, transportation, tuition, auxiliary fees and other school-related expenses.

McCalpin stressed that the foundation is not designed only for track and field competitors. He said it supports students in 14 sporting disciplines approved by ISSA, including water polo, badminton, lacrosse, netball, volleyball, football and cricket. The focus, he added, is not limited to elite performers, but includes young people who are already managing the demands of schoolwork and sport.

Michael Andre Edwards, who captained Jamaica College to victory at the ISSA Boys’ Championships in March, said the foundation helped him financially and also offered psychological and psychosocial support. Edwards, a scholarship recipient, said attending the summit gave him a chance to show appreciation while learning and networking with others.

Another former recipient, Akira Graham of St. Andrew High School for Girls, recalled applying after her mother sent her the scholarship link while she was on vacation. She said she submitted the application close to the deadline and was later surprised to learn she had been selected. Graham said the scholarship helped her continue her education and meet costly school needs, including graduation and subject fees.

The foundation said more than 700 student athletes applied last year, with 22 selected for scholarships.