The scholarship targets brilliant but needy students headed for Senior High, Technical and Vocational training as well as health institutions in the country.

The scholarship covers the cost of school fees, boarding, examination, books and academic materials as well as stipend throughout the duration of their three-year stay in school.

The programme is now focusing on awarding scholarships to students to pursue courses in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

A total of 646 students in the six coastal districts in the region have benefited from the program since its introduction in 2012, and has reduced the financial burden on many parents and students.

Speaking at the sixth HESS-GNPC scholarship award ceremony in Takoradi, Emmanuel Asmah, Head of Finance at HESS Ghana Limited, explained that managers of the HESS-GNPC programme will provide all that will be needed except the fees,  which will be paid by government.

He added that an innovative scholar mentoring mechanism also provides the students with an in-depth and up to date snapshot of their academic performance.

 “All these have contributed to making HESS-GNPC scholars excellent and at the top of their respective classes”, he noted.

He challenged the students to keep raising the bar of academic excellence.

Dr. Patrick Kwaku Ofori, Sustainability Manager of GNPC announced that, GNPC is offering scholarship to over 500 Ghanaians to pursue courses in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) at the tertiary levels under the GNPC Foundation – 150 out of the 500 beneficiaries will come from the Western Region.

“I challenge you to maintain the excellent standard and possibly surpass the excellent academic performance of previous scholars- we expect nothing less than dedication and higher commitment to your studies above your contemporaries”, he said.

Mrs. Eugenia Gifty Kusi, Deputy Western Regional Minister commended Hess-GNPC for complementing the effort of government in making free SHS accessible to all who qualify.

“The Western Regional Coordinating Council is proud to be working in close partnership with HESS and its partners in providing educational support to people of the region in the coming years”, he added.

Awulae Annor Agyeii III, Paramount Chief of Benyin added that the intervention by government and HESS-GNPC should encourage parents and guardians to provide all the necessary materials that will be needed by th beneficiaries for school.

“Basic things such as pens, books, socks, tooth brush, sandals among others will have to be provided by you, the parents and not the government or companies”, he said

Nana Kubina Nketsia V, Omanhene of Essikado Traditional Area encouraged the beneficiaries to take their studies seriously to encourage others in the coastal districts to also benefit from the HESS-GNPC Scholarship in the future.

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By: Obrempong Yaw Ampofo/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post HESS-GNPC offer scholarship to 125 students appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The Hess-GNPC Scholars Program was established to support academically qualified but underprivileged students.

While making the announcement at the Nsein Secondary School, Frank McKay, General Manager, Hess Ghana Exploration Ltd, confirmed that, 125 new scholars have been selected for the 2016/2017 academic year.

The students will begin their studies in six partner institutions and will enter Senior High School in late October 2016.

The students selected this year, bring the total number of scholarship beneficiaries under the Hess-GNPC Scholars Program to 521.

Mr. McKay emphasized that, the excellent performance of previous scholars, motivated the partners to maintain this year’s intake: “The size of the first year’s beneficiaries, 71, was based on the need to develop the program efficiently and measure success. Now that it has been tested with excellent results, we are pleased to expand the recipient districts to create room for other prospective students.”

“We hope the achievement of the first and second group of Hess-GNPC Scholars, will motivate the new students to also excel in academics,” Mr. McKay said.

Commending the scholarship beneficiaries on their selection, Mr. Alexander Mould, Acting Chief Executive of GNPC, said “We expect that you approach your studies with seriousness to justify this award, to enable you to climb further up the educational ladder, with the support of your parents and your community.”

He added that “GNPC views the education of our people as a priority; hence our investments, which include the construction of basic school infrastructure fully equipped with ICT labs to improve teaching and learning in our communities.”

“We believe that our country’s greatest resource is its people and thus set up the GNPC Oil and Gas Learning Foundation in 2012, to provide institutional focus to oil and gas-related subjects at the postgraduate level. So far, our Learning Foundation has sponsored 184 postgraduate students to various universities across the world,” Mr. Mould concluded.

The Hess-GNPC Scholars Program was developed in response to a study of the health and educational needs in Ghana, and in the coastal districts of the Western Region in particular, to identify potential areas where the companies could make a measurable and sustainable difference.

The Scholarship initially targeted students in three districts – Nzema East, Jomoro and Ellembelle; with an emphasis on girls’ education.

Since then, it has been expanded to six coastal districts. It covers the entire government-approved school costs (boarding fees, administrative fees, books, kits, uniforms) as well as other necessary expenses (trunk, chop box, mattress, pocket money, etc.) for three years of Senior High School, Vocational Training or Health Training (Nursing), depending on the student’s preference.

Last year, two additional companies – Fueltrade Ltd and Lukoil Overseas Ghana Tano Limited, joined Hess and GNPC in supporting the program.

This year’s launch extends the scholarship program to include students from the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan area.

Scholars are selected through an application and Interview process supported by the District Education Directorate (DED).

Criteria for selection are based on BECE scores, a personal statement from prospective scholars, chosen program, gender and family situation.

Shortlisted candidates are interviewed individually by a panel comprised of representatives from the Traditional Council, Fishermen Associations, District Education Directorate, District Assembly, District Parent Teacher Association, Hess Ghana, and GNPC.

Mr. McKay added that, in addition to paying the school fees, the scholars are also provided with counselling and mentoring on a regular basis to support their academic efforts.

He appealed to parents and the community at large to provide support to these hard working young students who will become our future leaders.
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By: citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Hess, GNPC award scholarships to 125 students in Western Region appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.