Joseph Cunningham, Gleaner Writer

There is a desperate need for successful Jamaican-born profes-sionals to direct their knowledge and skills towards empowering future generations, said Margaret Brisset-Bolt, coordinator for the Inner City Schools Improvement Project, at the Ministry of Education and Youth.

Mrs. Brisset-Bolt made the comments on Friday, while speaking at a reunion function for past Jamaican recipients of the prestigious Fulbright scholarships, at the Knutsford Court Hotel, New Kingston.

The scholarships are sponsored by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and are administered to international applicants through the United States Government.

"We need positive role models for the nation's youth. You all can begin by adopting a boy or girl, or by adopting a school," Mrs. Brisset-Bolt told the gathering.

Cornell graduate

Lemuel Williams, a 2003-2004 recipient of a Fulbright scholar-ship, told The Gleaner he practised community forestry, agri-forestry and natural resource management. He studied at Cornell University, in New York, and currently works at Environmental Conservation Depart-ment. He said the experience had changed his life.

While on the scholarship, Mr. Williams underlined that networking with students from other colleges was mandatory.

Angella Harvey, local adminis-trator of the Fulbright programme, said the reunion was part of an initiative to compile database of Fulbright scholars to form an official Fulbright community in an attempt to get the scholars to give back to Jamaica. Fulbright grants are awarded for a range of educational activities.