Ryan Williams (centre), the 2007 recipient of the Jamaica National Building Society (JNBS) scholarship for academic excellence, speaks with his mother, Beverley Walker-Ross; and Carl Bliss, human resources executive, JNBS, during the JNBS Scholarship Award ceremony. The ceremony was held at the Executive Lecture Theatre, Mona School of Business, University of the West Indies, Mona campus, on Thursday. - Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer

Ryan Williams, the 2007 recipient of the Jamaica National Building Society (JNBS) scholarship for academic excellence, is the true embodiment of hard work and determination.

Mr. Williams, who recently completed his Bachelor of Science in management studies, majoring in marketing, is currently pursuing his MBA at the Mona School of Business.

However, he said the journey has not been easy. Speaking with The Gleaner after the presentation of his award valued at J$920,000, along with a brand-new laptop computer worth J$109,000, Mr. Williams said it took much faith, hard work and prayer to get to this point.

"I had reached the point where I just didn't know where the financial help would come from," he said. I applied [to the master's programme] and had been selected without any idea how I was going to finance it, and then this beacon of hope showed up," he said.

Mr. Walker said he is quite thankful to JNBS for its assistance and can assure them that their gift has not fallen into "ungrateful or unconcerned hands".

He said: "I have faith in education and plan to make my contribution to society through that vehicle."

Strong family influence

Mr. Williams, who grew up in Lyssons, St. Thomas, is the first born of three children. He described the influence that his family has had on his life as "my driving force".

"We are a close unit, always looking to strengthen and encourage each other," he told The Gleaner. Mr. Williams explained that in the absence of his father, his uncle was able to aptly fill that very important gap in his life," Mr. Williams said. "I model myself off my uncle. He was very successful academically at an early age and that's what I aim do too."

His mother, Beverly Walker-Ross, said she was extremely happy that her son has been able to achieve this much. "I am a praying mother," she said. "I spent many nights praying for all my children and I am very proud of him right now."