Calling all scholars!

Dart Scholar applications now being accepted for high school and university scholarships.

Photo 1: (from left to right) Dart CEO Mark VanDevelde; Dart Scholars Kyla Machingambi, Leila Sulliman-Maw and Alison Owens; and Dart Director Jackie Doak.

High-achieving Caymanian students pursuing high school and university studies are invited to apply to become the next Dart Scholars.

Rooted in academic excellence, Dart Scholar was established to help create future generations of Cayman’s business and community leaders. Students interested in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects, who are active in their schools and wider communities, are encouraged to apply for the Dart high school scholarship; and students with strong academics and a commitment to leadership are invited to apply for the William A. Dart Memorial university scholarship.

Over the past 12 years, 40 Scholars have benefitted from this initiative, receiving financial support towards the completion of four years of high school or university studies at accredited overseas tertiary institutions. To date, Dart has invested over US$4.6 million in enriching the lives of the community through scholarships and educational STEM initiatives. 

 Glenda McTaggart, senior manager, education programmes 

Students entering grade 9/year 10 can apply for a four-year scholarship to attend a local high school. The application deadline for the high school scholarship is 12 April 2024. Students aged 17 to 25 with an offer (or conditional offer) from an accredited institution can apply for the university scholarship before the 9 May 2024 deadline. Both application processes are highly competitive, and to ensure every application is considered on its own merit, a blind review process is used, keeping the names of the candidates hidden until the last stages of the process.   

“The calibre of applicants each year is impressive for both the high school and university scholarships. In addition to excelling academically, the applicants are also talented athletes, musicians and community volunteers,” said Glenda McTaggart, senior manager of education programmes at Dart.

Ethan Slocock, 2016 Dart High School Scholar and William A. Dart Memorial Scholarship 2020 recipient. 

In addition to the financial support, all Dart Scholars receive regular mentoring and hands-on work experience at Dart, and high school scholars take part in a summer enrichment trip. “The mentorship doesn’t end at graduation; the relationships that we build with our scholars continue. We want them to succeed in their careers – and in life. From starting their first job after university to making life-changing decisions such as changing companies or even moving to a new country, we are invested in their success,” said McTaggart. 

Dart Scholar Ethan Slocock described the support he has received over the years. “Dart has provided unbelievable support throughout my academic career, through various opportunities. These range from work experience every summer, to summer courses at both the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge. On top of this, Dart and its employees are incredibly understanding of my choices and decisions during the time they’ve been supporting me,” said Slocock, who was awarded a high school scholarship in 2016 and university scholarship in 2020. He is studying economics and finance at the University of Exeter in the United Kingdom.

Dart Scholars on their 2023 annual enrichment trip to Oxford and London (from left to right): Siri Batta, 2022 Dart High School Scholar; Jaiden Gilbert, 2022 Dart High School Scholar; Nathan Alston, 2021 Dart High School Scholar and Jade Robinson, 2021 Dart High School Scholar

For more details on the scholarship criteria and how to apply, visit www.dart.ky/about/dart-scholar