GTC Students Receive Abaco Pathfinder Scholarships

Congratulations to Green Turtle Cay’s Rebecca Roberts and Christian McIntosh, both of whom were recently awarded Abaco Pathfinders scholarships.

Through its scholarship program, Abaco Pathfinders assists deserving local students with the costs of attending college, university or vocational school.

Rebecca is the daughter of Gavin and Sara Roberts of Green Turtle Cay. When receiving her scholarship award, she was described as driven, independent, bold, logical and competitive.

Having maintained a 4.0 average during her studies at Forest Heights Academy in Marsh Harbour, Rebecca plans to major in Biology and minor in Economics at North Carolina’s Elon University. Earlier this summer, she served as mistress of ceremonies at GTC youth rally and she exhibited extraordinary self-assurance for someone so young.

The son of Molly and Christopher McIntosh, Christian is also a Forest Heights graduate. He works at a local resort/marina, participates in Abaco’s flag football league and is concerned with his bettering his community. Late last year, for example, he conceived of and planned a successful beach clean up for the north end of Green Turtle Cay.

Abaco Pathfinders describes him as introspective, athletic, intelligent, philanthropic and adventurous. Christian plans to pursue an undergraduate degree in Biology at Wingate University in North Carolina.

Ten other outstanding young Abaconians were recognized with 2015 Abaco Pathfinder scholarships, including:

• Catalina Albury (Guana Cay), who plans to study environmental biology at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia
• Victoria Bethel (Yellow Wood Creek), who graduated from Forest Heights as Salutatorian in 2014 and will study Microbiology at Louisiana State University
• Desmond Collie Jr. (Marsh Harbour), an Engineering major at Oklahoma State University
• Dwaynique Dorsette-Stubbs (Marsh Harbour), who will pursue an undergraduate degree in Clinical Laboratory Science at Barry University
• Eban Hanna (Leisure Lee), Head Boy and a 4.0 graduate of Forest Heights Academy, who will study Chemical Engineering at Louisiana State University.
• Ariel Malone (Man-O-War), who will pursue a Nursing degree at East Carolina University
• Kaylesia Marshall (Treasure Cay), who’s studying Accounting at Palm Beach Atlantic University
• Shanitra McKenzie (Treasure Cay), an undergraduate International Business Major Student at Palm Beach Atlantic
• Rayshell Sands, who is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Biology and made the Spring 2015 Dean’s list at St. Thomas University, Miami
• Rebecca Strachan, a BA student pursuing a double major in Biology and Chemistry at Acadia University in Nova Scotia, who will attend Norwegian University of Life Sciences in Norway in the coming school year as part of an exchange program

Any Abaco resident or graduate from a local school can apply for an Abaco Pathfinder scholarship, which provides $2,000-$2,500/term to be used toward undergraduate studies. Awards are made based on a student’s academic achievement, character and motivation to succeed.

Congratulations again to Rebecca, Christian and all of this year’s scholarship winners. Study hard and make your fellow Bahamians proud.

Some photos courtesy of Abaco Pathfinders.