Twenty-three of the 25 students from across the island who received the Jamaica National Building Society (JNBS) Grade Six Achievement Test scholarship award on Sunday at a reception held at the JNBS offices in Half-Way Tree, St Andrew. - Norman Grindley/Acting Photography Editor

Twenty-five of Jamaica's young scholars have been asked to run the race of excellence and break records to become the best professionals in the world.

Kemesha Kelly, immediate past president of the National Secondary Students' Council, speaking Sunday at the Jamaica National Building Society (JNBS) Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT) scholarship reception, said dreams are never too high or lofty.

"You don't have to run it as fast as Usain Bolt or Asafa Powell, but you must endure to the end and finish with excellent results," said Kelly, at the reception held at the JNBS offices on Half-Way Tree Road, St Andrew.

The 19-year-old youth leader told the bright young minds that people are what they repeatedly do, and that excellence is therefore not an act, but a habit.

The scholarship recipients, seven of whom are children of employees of the financial entity, all scored at least 95 per cent on the test that places them at a secondary institution.

Earl Jarrett, general manager of JNBS, said the company was pleased to partner with the scholars and their parents in ensuring that the students benefit from a good education.

"This is not just a one-off offer to you, it is a commitment on our part to be there with you throughout high school by renewing these scholarships each year," said Jarrett.

Work hard

He said it was the recipients' responsibility to continue to work hard to maintain excellent grades to ensure that the scholarship is renewed annually.

The JNBS scholarship award covers books, fees and uniforms.

The building society scholarship programme is awarded at the high school and university level. Yearly, the financial entity awards scholarships to one of the top GSAT students in each parish. Since 1983, 292 GSAT top performers have received scholarships through this programme.

Tiffany Chisholm (right) receives the J.T. Dawkins Memorial Scholarship award from Dawkins' daughter, Joyce, at a recent graduation exercise. - Contributed