Jamaican Students at Howard Awarded US$150,000 in Scholarships

UPPER MARLBORO, Maryland - The sprawling Wellspring Manor & Spa in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, provided an elegant setting on Saturday, September 19, as Jamaican students at Howard University, university officials, Jamaican alumni, business leaders and friends of Jamaica gathered to celebrate academic excellence and raise support for the next generation of Jamaican scholars.

This year’s Jamaica Howard University Affinity Network (JHUAN) IMPACT awardees Trevor Heaven, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Future Energy Source Company Limited (FESCO), and Devon Bryan, co-founder of Cyversity, formerly the International Consortium of Minority Cybersecurity Professionals, center, flank Howard University scholarship recipients at the seventh annual HUes of Blue fundraising reception hosted by the Jamaica Howard University Affinity Network (JHUAN) at Wellspring Manor & Spa in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, on Saturday, September 19, 2026. At extreme left is JHUAN President and Chairman Don Christian. (Derrick Scott Photo)The occasion was the seventh annual HUes of Blue fundraising reception, hosted by the Jamaica Howard University Affinity Network (JHUAN), an organisation dedicated to supporting Jamaican students at Howard University through scholarships, mentorship, networking and professional development.

Thirty students of Jamaican heritage attending Howard University were awarded scholarships of US5,000each,representingatotalofUS150,000 in financial assistance. The scholarships were presented by JHUAN President and Chairman Don Christian, who also serves on the Howard University Board of Trustees. Recipients were required to be of Jamaican birth or parentage, maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.0 and be enrolled full-time at Howard. For Christian, however, the evening represented much more than the presentation of scholarships.

Since its establishment in 2018, JHUAN has grown into a community-driven initiative focused on ensuring that deserving Jamaican students at Howard have access to financial assistance, mentorship, professional networks and career development opportunities.

JHUAN President Christian said that, according to the organisation’s latest figures presented at the event, JHUAN has awarded 145 scholarships, 19 freshman

fellowships and five Finish Line awards, representing a total of US$642,500 in assistance.

He said the organisation’s work is particularly important because the need for financial support continues to grow. “We have a 100 per cent graduation rate, yet we have an underserved population because there are over 100 students with average GPAs of 3.7 that we were not able to provide any support for,” Christian said. “So we are on a mission. We have a community and a movement that’s designed to connect and find any way possible through scholarships, networking and other forms of support to assist these Jamaican students who are so deserving, so talented.” Christian said JHUAN’s mission extends beyond providing financial assistance.

The organisation, he said, seeks to build a network that connects students with mentors, professionals and opportunities that can help them succeed at Howard and in their careers after graduation. “As an alumnus who has benefited greatly from Howard University, it is important that we look for ways to support our academic institutions and pay it forward,” he said. “JHUAN exists to inspire our students to dream more, learn more and become more.” He also emphasised the importance of recognising Jamaicans whose professional achievements and community service can provide inspiration for the younger generation.

This year’s JHUAN IMPACT Awards were presented to Devon Bryan, co-founder of Cyversity, formerly the International Consortium of Minority Cybersecurity Professionals, and Trevor Heaven, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Future Energy Source Company Limited (FESCO) in Jamaica.

Christian said the two honourees represent the type of role models JHUAN wants Jamaican students to see and learn from. “When you look at what those gentlemen have done in community, in scholarship, in education, supporting schools, supporting young people, that is the type of role models that we think are important to showcase to our kids,” he said. He added that the awards provide students with an

opportunity to interact directly with accomplished Jamaican professionals and learn from their experiences.

The programme also honoured Lisa Brown Alexander, owner of Wellspring Manor & Spa, with the Trailblazer Award. Brown Alexander, a Howard University alumna, and her husband, Kevin Alexander, hosted this year’s reception at their expansive Upper Marlboro property. Brown Alexander has also been a major supporter of the JHUAN scholarship initiative. Last year, she made a US$100,000 contribution to the scholarship fund, providing significant support for the organisation’s efforts to assist Jamaican students at Howard.

Christian expressed appreciation to the Alexanders for their continued support and for making Wellspring Manor & Spa available as the venue for this year’s celebration. “None of this would have been possible without the support of Lisa and Kevin Alexander, who are the grand hosts for us this year at the Wellspring Manor & Spa,” Christian said. He described the property as a beautiful venue for recognising the IMPACT Award recipients and supporters of the scholarship programme.

Howard University President Dr Wayne A. I. Frederick also underscored the importance of scholarships for Jamaican students at the university. Frederick noted that the experience of international students at Howard differs from that of international students at many other institutions.

“When you look at international students coming to Howard, it is very different from the rest of higher education,” he said. “In most of higher education, those students are writing a check, and it’s a revenue, it’s a source of revenue for a university. That is not the case at Howard or with Jamaican students in particular.”

He said scholarships such as those provided through JHUAN are therefore particularly important to students. “These scholarships are very, very important,” Frederick said. He pointed to the quality of Jamaican students at Howard and the contribution they can make in their chosen professions. “I think they not only support the students, but you have very excellent students in very important fields who can go back to Jamaica or go anywhere in the world and really impact their field,” he said. Frederick also praised Christian and the JHUAN committee for the vision behind the organisation and its growth since its establishment. “A lot of kudos to the committee, obviously to Mr. Christian, whose vision it was to start the organisation,” Frederick said. “I think it has grown very nicely, but more importantly, it has benefited the students so significantly.” “I hope that it continues to grow, and I hope more people continue to support them,” he added.

The programme also featured the presentation of the Bancroft S. Gordon Scholarship Awards to Shaneal Mitchell and Blayne Montaque.

The award was established in honour of the late Bancroft S. Gordon, a Howard University alumnus and former football player, and recognises outstanding achievement in athletics, academics, leadership and community engagement.

The HUes of Blue reception has become JHUAN’s flagship fundraising initiative, bringing together members of the Jamaican diaspora, Howard alumni, university leadership, business executives and friends of Jamaica in support of educational opportunities. Christian said the organisation’s goal is to ensure that deserving Jamaican students are not overlooked because of financial circumstances. The need, he said, is significant, with academically strong Jamaican students continuing to seek assistance.

Through scholarships, mentorship, networking and professional development, JHUAN is working to create a stronger support system for Jamaican students at

Howard and to encourage them to use their education and professional success to give back to Jamaica and their communities.

The gathering at Wellspring Manor & Spa was therefore not only a celebration of the 30 scholarship recipients but also a reaffirmation of the Jamaican community’s commitment to education, achievement and the continued development of young Jamaicans.

As Mr. Christian told the gathering, JHUAN’s mission is to inspire students to “dream more, learn more and become more.”