Jay-Anna Edwards, one of the 2024 national scholars and one of the four recipients of the Prime Minister’s awards, is the daughter of a woman whose two other sisters also have children who are national scholars.
Jay-Anna Edwards’ grandmother, Lena Nedd, of Diamonds, left St. Vincent in the 1980s for Curacao to seek a better for her children.
She left her seven children — four boys and three girls — in the care of their father Wilfred Fergus.
The children’s maternal grandmother, Emelda Nedd also played an instrumental role in their upkeep.
Lena Nedd worked tirelessly to ensure that her children had a sound education. Lena Nedd died in the 1990s but her children remembered her mantra — “Education is the way out of poverty”.
And, today, a legacy has been created as three of Lena Nedd’s grandchildren are national scholars, each of them a child of her daughters.
The first of the national scholars is Dr. Varona Glen, daughter of Varita James, of South Rivers, who was awarded a national scholarship in 2004.
She now holds a Bachelor of Science (BSc) in management in accounting with honours from the University of the West Indies (UWI), a Master of Science (MSc) in finance with distinction from the Manchester Business School and a doctorate in business administration from Walden University.
Glen lives in the United States where she is a certified public accountant.
The second national scholar is Dr. O’mark Andrews, who is the son of the second daughter, Gail Andrews-Walker.
Andrews was awarded a national scholarship in 2012, and pursued medicine at the University of the West Indies, graduating with a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (Distinction).
He works as a medical doctor in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
Jay-Anna is the daughter of the youngest of the three sisters, Keruna Andrews. Jay-Anna achieved 13 Grade 1 and 1 Grade 2 in the 2022 CSEC examinations.
In her CAPE exams, she obtained Grade 1s in both units of biology, chemistry, physics and environmental science and a Grade 2 for communication studies.
“Just by looking at this feat, it can be stated that Lena has left behind a blessing for her children and grandchildren,” a press release said.
“The remaining children of the three daughters have also excelled in their respective fields. This also holds true for her sons Desmond, Elroy, Curwin and Geoffrey and their children who have also excelled academically and in varying fields in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. To God be the glory, great things he has done!”
Glorious Indeed! May these talented children and grand-children continue to soar to higher heights.