Three exceptional Caymanian students have been selected to join the prestigious Dart Scholar programme in 2024. Andrew Peene will receive the William A. Dart Memorial Scholarship to study engineering at Cornell University, an Ivy League University in Ithaca, New York. Two high school scholarships have been awarded to J-Mar Clark, a Year 10 student at John Gray High School, and Jon-Marc Thomas, a Year 10 student at St. Ignatius Catholic School.
“These three young men have not only excelled academically, but they each also showcase strong attributes outside of the classroom including leadership skills, great discipline and community involvement,” said Dart Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer Mark VanDevelde.
Andrew emerged top from a field of 57 applicants, while J-Mar and Jon-Marc were selected ahead of 34 other applicants.
Dart Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mark VanDevelde stands with 2024 William A. Dart Memorial Scholarship recipient, Andrew Peene.
Since its inception in 2011, 40 other Caymanian high school and university students have received support through the Dart Scholar programme. Each year, Dart awards one university scholarship for the recipient to study any field they are interested in and two four-year high school scholarships focusing on science, technology, engineering and mathematics. University scholars receive financial support of up to US$40,000 each year. Both university and high school scholars also receive paid internships each summer, allowing them to gain hands-on work experience across several roles, departments and industries within Dart, prior to graduating.
“Our goal is to help create Cayman’s next generation of business and community leaders,” said VanDevelde. “Providing a sustainable future for the place that we all call home is not just about sustainable infrastructure – it’s about creating foundations for tomorrow, which we are proud to do through the Dart Scholar programme, providing opportunities and support for our youth to pursue their academic and professional development.”
Dart has invested more than US$6.3 million into the Dart Scholar programme over the years, with university scholars having studied at prestigious institutions like the University of Cambridge, Columbia University, Imperial College London, Stanford University and the University of Toronto, among others.
Andrew Peene, William A. Dart Memorial Scholarship
Andrew, a recent graduate of Cayman Prep & High School, received the principal’s award for highest achievement across all his subjects for A-levels. He has A-levels in business studies, computer science, mathematics and physics. He heads to Cornell University in the fall of 2024 to pursue an undergraduate degree in engineering. In 2023, Andrew received the UK Senior Maths Challenge – Gold award, which is only awarded to the top six to seven per cent of 700,000 participants in the United Kingdom. He was a member of the Cayman Prep & High School Inter-School Chess team and is a member of the Cayman Islands National Roller Hockey Team.
J-Mar Clark, High School Scholarship
J-Mar is a Year 10 student at John Gray High School (JGHS). He placed second in both the Year 9 Clifton Hunter Invitational Mathematics Competition and the chess segment of the same competition. J-Mar is an avid martial artist with a brown belt from Purple Dragon Martial Arts, is a member of the JGHS Key Club and the JGHS Steel Band and is a former member of the Pathfinder Club.
Jon-Marc Thomas, High School Scholarship
Jon-Marc is a Year 10 student at St. Ignatius Catholic School and was the valedictorian of his graduating class of 2021. He also received numerous academic awards and a music award in 2021. Jon-Marc’s extracurricular activities include being a member of the SeaPerch Robotics Club and being a certified lifeguard. Jon-Marc is a passionate sportsman, captaining the St. Ignatius Catholic School basketball team and is a member of Academy U15 football team along with a member of the National U14 Football team.
Dart recognises three finalists in the high school category: Analeigh Powell and Lance Ch’ng, both of St. Ignatius Catholic School, and Emanuel Deluche of Cayman Prep & High School. They will each receive a monetary award.
