Super Plus launches new Graduate Research Grant - To be awarded every two years to first or second-year science student at UWI
published: Wednesday | June 22, 2005

Professor Kenneth Hall (left), principal of the University of the West Indies (UWI), and Carl Lawrence (standing), legal officer at UWI, look on as Wayne Chen, chief executive officer of Super Plus Food Stores, signs the document officially launching the $1.5 million 'Super Plus Research Grant' yesterday at the UWI, Mona campus. - RICARDO MAKYN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

WAYNE CHEN, chief executive officer of the Super Plus Food Stores, yesterday signed an agreement with officials of the University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona, to launch the new 'Super Plus Graduate Research Grant'.

The grant is worth $1.5 million, and will be awarded every two years to a first or second class honours student of either the Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences or the Faculty of Medical Sciences. The successful awardee must go on to conduct research at the Natural Products Institute, which is also located on the Mona campus.

PHILANTHROPIC DONATION

Mr. Chen, who is a past student of the UWI, said it was his dream to see more successful Jamaicans making contributions to the develop-ment of the institution.

For their part, several obviously gleeful members of the UWI hierarchy, including principal of the institution, Kenneth Hall, praised the CEO for his philanthropic donation.

Professor Hall described the gesture as a significant endorsement on Mr. Chen's part, which he said marks the CEO's commitment to improving the quality of research and life as a whole at the UWI.