With an ambitious goal to raise $30,000 in scholarship funds to assist financially strapped students, the International College of the Cayman Islands is seeking a new record for its 11th annual Hugh Cummings Memorial Walk next month.

Event organizer and admissions director Anita Fausett-Khan acknowledged the school was setting an ambitious goal for scholarship funds, but says she is confident there were firms and private donors that would be interested in contributing to such a worthwhile cause.

“The economic downturn has had a significant impact on many of our students,” says Ms. Fausett-Khan. “Numerous students are trying to balance going to school and raising their families and the unstable economy has made it difficult to make ends meet. Many have lost their jobs but are still in school and they need some extra help to pay for tuition and books. The Hugh Cummings scholarship fund can be just the thing that will keep them going so they can finish their degree and make them more competitive in the job market.”

Students, alumni, faculty and the wider community are all invited to join the walk set for Saturday, 11 February with a 6.30am start. The walk will start at the International College campus in Newlands-Savannah and continue on a route that includes Pedro St. James Castle. The early morning walk is about 5km. Refreshments will include fresh fruit, coffee, juice and patties.

This year’s design for the Memorial Walk T-shirt features the local saying ‘Come so walk wid me nah!’ which means ‘Let’s come on a walk together.’

“This theme really captures the community spirit of the Hugh Cummings Memorial Walk with a touch of humour. So I really encourage participants to register early, because these will be really special and there will only be a limited edition printed so once they are gone, they are gone,” added Ms. Fausett-Khan.

To participate in the walk, a minimum donation of $15 is requested receive a commemorative T-shirt.

“While we want to raise money for the scholarship fund, we also recognise that not everyone has the same budget. So we encourage people who have the means and feel strongly about providing quality college education in the Cayman Islands, this is the time to open their hearts and be generous to our scholarship fund,” says Ms. Fausett-Khan.

“One of the nice things about this Memorial Walk is that it starts at the location where tertiary education was born 40 years ago and continues on to Pedro Castle where democracy was born more than 150 years ago in the Cayman Islands,” said International College president, John Cummings, PhD. “So there is a strong sense of ongoing history with this walk. It also gives students, alumni, faculty and members of the community who have supported us over the years to come out and do something practical that helps students get their degrees.”

Dean Scott Cummings said: “The founder of the school, Hugh Cummings cared about helping those in need so this scholarship fund is about helping students in financial need. This scholarship is an integral part of honouring Hugh’s spirit of helping those in financial need.”

Walkers can register early by contacting the Admissions office at the International College. For participants who wait until the day of the event, registration starts at 6am on 11 February. For more information about the event, contact Anita Fausett-Khan at 947-1100 or [email protected].