Sierra Leone Club of Columbus (SLCCO), based in Ohio, USA, has awarded eleven (11) scholarships to pupils drawn from different secondary schools in Sierra Leone.

Giving an overview of the scholarship award during the ceremony held on Saturday 6th March 2010 at the Telem Center on Dundas Street in Freetown, a member of the club Mrs. Maggie Fyle cited that the Sierra Leone Club of Columbus Ohio is a non-profit organization incorporated in the States of Ohio in 1993. In 2008, she went on, the association established the SLCCO Scholarship Programme, providing educational grants to needy pupils in junior and senior secondary schools in Sierra Leone. Mrs. Fyle furthered that SLCCO is aimed at helping pupils who display potential of becoming model citizens in the country, adding: “SLCCO shall continue to award pupils, depending on the availability of funds”.

Mrs. Maggie Fyle went on that for eligibility to win an award, applicants must be a pupil at any public school within the country and must demonstrate financial need; active participation in extracurricular and community activities; good academic standard plus a good conduct. Scholarships, she went on, could cover a period of six years (JSS1-3, SSS1-3), as long as the awardees continue to maintain the requirements of the scholarship.

The Guest Speaker for the ceremony, Mrs. Rosetta A. Manley, Senior Teacher for the Methodist Girls High School in Freetown, thanked the club for their thoughtful effort to think about the needy children in Sierra Leone, and called on them to continue with their good initiative.

On behalf of the awardees, Ramatu Z. Sesay, showered praises on members of SLCCO for helping them realize their future. She called on her fellow pupils to put more concentration on their education in order continue upholding their scholarships.