‘A dream come true’ for athletes receiving partial scholarships from Sport Ministry

The pair of Adriel Austin and Anisha Gibbons, both CARIFTA Games’ medallists, would each embark on the opportunity of a lifetime this week, as they have been awarded scholarships at colleges in the United States of America.

Described by both these track and field athletes as a dream come true, the scholarships will be partially funded by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, as Minister Charles Ramson Jr. sticks to a promise he made months ago.
For context, Ramson had, in April, promised Guyana’s CARIFTA 2022 Games’ medallists that he would engage with the group to ascertain what they required to further their sports careers. Funding for college expenses was on the list of both Austin and Gibbons.
“I would like to thank everyone, especially the Minister, for playing a really important role in me going on this scholarship. It’s really a dream for me, and I’m really grateful for being given the opportunity to go out and further my studies and be a better athlete,” an enthusiastic Adriel Austin, who will be attending Hinds Community College in Mississippi, has said.
Her mother Joylyn Beaton added about the opportunity, “I would really like to say, ‘Thank you!’ to Ministry of Culture for keeping their promise, cause when she came back from CARIFTA, they were asked individually what help would be needed, and the help that she needed was to get funding for her scholarship; which was met, and I’m grateful and thankful.”
Gibbons has had scholarship at the back of her mind since winning her first CARIFTA Gold medal in 2019. Now she will take her talents to the New Mexico Junior College in New Mexico.
“It’s like a dream come true. When I came back from CARIFTA in 2019, this was on my mind all along. I just wanted to attend a school where I could better myself academically and also improve in athletics,” the 18-year-old Gibbons shared.
Her mother Linda Johnny expressed, “I would like to thank everyone. I just want her to go and do what she supposed to do: make Guyana proud. Everyone is looking on her, and I’m very proud of my daughter. And may she go over there and remember Guyana and the whole world is waiting on her.”
Sport Minister Charles Ramson Jr has assured the athletes and their families that he is committed to seeing the venture through.
“This is a big deal for you. Going and further your studies is very important to me, it’s important to His Excellency the President and the entire Government of Guyana,” Ramson Jr shared.
“Everything we’ve said to you, we’ve honoured our word on it. We’re genuine about what we’re doing. We want to see your kids do really well.”
Anisha Gibbons became the first Guyanese athlete to cop back-to-back gold medals at the CARIFTA Games when she replicated her feat in the javelin event at CARIFTA Games 2022. Meanwhile, Adriel Austin added another bronze to her collection of medals this year.