The American Basis for the College of the West Indies (AFUWI) Friday evening honored former Jamaica Ambassador to america and the Group of American States and present Minister of Effectivity, Innovation and Digital Transformation, Sen. Audrey Marks, amongst 5 different distinguished honorees throughout its twenty eighth Annual Scholarship Awards Gala, The Legacy Continues, at 583 Park Ave., mid-town Manhattan.
Marks obtained the Trailblazer Award for Excellence in Diplomacy, Service to the Diaspora within the US, and nation-building.
She additionally obtained a proclamation from Caribbean-American U.S. Rep. Yvette D. Clarke, the daughter of Jamaican immigrants, who represents the ninth Congressional District in Brooklyn.
Different honorees have been Althea Brown (Vice Chancellor’s Award); William Mahfood (Chancellor’s Award and Company Award); Dominican Olympian Thea La Fond-Gadson (Salute to Caribbean Gold Award); Cedric Gayle, Esq. (Pelican Award); and Half Moon Lodge (Pinnacle Award).
AFUWI’s Jamaican-born Government Director, Ann-Marie Grant, stated Marks was honored for her “groundbreaking management in diplomacy, enterprise, and training.
“As founding father of Paymaster Jamaica, she revolutionized the area’s monetary providers and continues to champion financial empowerment and academic entry,” Grant stated.
Marks expressed profound gratitude for the dignity: “It’s actually a privilege to be provided this award.”
She, nevertheless, added: “The popularity is nice, however the function is bigger.
“I acknowledge all the chums who’ve come to have a good time with me tonight,” Marks continued. “I’m pleased to be right here. I wish to encourage all the scholars.”
Grant stated Brown obtained the Vice Chancellor’s Achievement Award for her “authorized experience, management in monetary providers, and contributions to group growth because the managing director, chief authorized officer, and company secretary of LPL Monetary.
“With practically one trillion {dollars} in property beneath administration and often called a number one funding and enterprise options supplier, it’s the largest unbiased broker-dealer in america,” Grant stated.
Brown gave a “large thanks to AFUWI,” including that she was “humbled” to obtain the award.
“To all of the donors and supporters, without end ahead, backward by no means,” she declared.
Grant stated Mahfood, chairman of WISYNCO Group, obtained the Chancellor’s Award for “excellence in international enterprise management and philanthropy.”
Beneath his route, she stated WISYNCO has change into “a regional trade chief and boasts the biggest itemizing on the Jamaica Inventory Trade.”
Grant stated the corporate obtained the AFUWI Company Award for its “excellent dedication to company accountability, setting the requirements for a lot of different industries to emulate.”
After receiving the awards, Mahfood stated his firm has “constructed a whole bunch of faculties in Jamaica.
“As a group investor, we spend money on communities,” he stated.
Cedric Gayle, Esq., a proud UWI alumnus and founding member of its New York alumni chapter, was “celebrated for his distinguished authorized profession and dedication to group service,” Grant stated.
Gayle stated he was “honored to be the recipient of the celebrated Pelican Award.
“Congratulations to my fellow honorees,” he stated. “I’m grateful to everybody who has been gracious to me.”
Olympic gold medalist LaFond Gadson, who gained the ladies’s triple bounce on the 2024 Paris Video games, was celebrated for her “historic achievement and for uplifting delight all through the Caribbean,” Grant stated.
“This marks the primary Olympic medal ever gained by the island nation,” she stated.
Dominica’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Dr. Philbert Aaron, informed the ceremony that LaFord was being celebrated as “a world-class athlete whose extraordinary journey epitomizes the spirit of willpower and excellence of the individuals of The Commonwealth of Dominica.
“Your ardour for athletics ignited a profession that led you to proudly symbolize Dominica on the worldwide stage, the place you secured the gold medal, marking Dominica’s first Olympic medal in historical past,” Dr. Aaron stated. “On behalf of AFUWI, I am honored to current you with the 2025 Salute to Caribbean Gold Award.”
Grant stated the long-lasting Half Moon Lodge in Montego Bay, Jamaica, was acknowledged for “excellence in international hospitality and group service, together with help for Cornwall Regional Hospital, SOS Kids’s Village, and scholarships for underserved youth.”
In receiving the Pinnacle Award, Invoice Pearce stated tersely: “This award from AFUWI is enormously appreciated.”
Senior Management of the College of the West Indies attended the ceremony, together with Vice Chancellor, Prof. Sir Hilary Beckles; Principal of the Mona Campus – Professional Vice Chancellor, Prof. Densil Williams; Dean of the Medical Science School – Prof. Dean Thame; Government Director of the Mona College of Enterprise and Administration, Dr. David Mc Bean; and Board Member, Mona College of Enterprise and Administration, Ms. Minna Israel.
Danya Harris, a 4th-year scholar within the school of Medical Sciences on the UWI Mona Campus in Jamaica and a proud recipient of the Hyacinth Peters Memorial Scholarship, funded by Dr. Janet Rolle, shared her insights on her academic journey.
Thomas Singh, a third 12 months scholar in arithmetic at UWI Mona, additionally gave remarks.
Sir Hilary stated: “All of us have been celebrated.
“We’re so honored this night by your presence,” he informed the gala ceremony. “I honor you in your continued help of our college.”
Dr. Cyrus McCalla, chairman of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Brookdale Hospital Medical Heart in Brooklyn and chairman of the Board of AFUWI, stated, “Regardless of many challenges, AFUWI is dedicated to UWI in these perilous occasions.
“We’re grateful to you to see this as a noble initiative,” he added.
In addressing patrons, New York Metropolis Mayor Eric Adams urged them to “make some extra contributions tonight.
“I thanks for what you do right here in New York,” he added.
Grant stated the celebrated Awards Gala celebrated “people and organizations whose management and philanthropy have considerably impacted the Caribbean, america, and past.”
She stated all proceeds from the Gala will help scholarships for “financially deprived but high-achieving college students on the College of the West Indies.”
Since its founding, Grant stated AFUWI has awarded about 650 scholarships and bursaries to college students throughout the Caribbean.
“The annual Gala is a cornerstone fundraising occasion, producing important help for the following technology of Caribbean leaders,” Grant stated.
