Some of the participants at the recently held SATs Workshop.

Nearly 150 young Barbadians have already benefitted from free Scholastic Aptitude Tests (SAT) scholarships, offered by the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment.

This disclosure from Minister of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment, the Honourable, Charles Griffith, as he delivered the Featured Remarks last month, at the US Embassy coordinated workshop.

Minister Griffith told the approximate 200 athletes who attended the workshop at the Roy Marshall Teaching Complex, Cave Hill Campus, UWI, that he wants them “to be at a level to bring pride and industry to Barbados with podium finishes whilst being global citizens”.

The Sports Minister noted that the preparation cost of doing the SATS needed to gain entry into the US collegiate and university system averages $600.00, which can prove burdensome for many families, hence the intervention by the Ministry of Sports.

He added: “They may be some of you in the room who can afford $600.00, but they will be some who will struggle, hence the scholarship is available to every single one who is willing to do the programme.”

Minister Griffith revealed that the programme is conducted twice annually and is completely free to scholarship recipients and persons needing assistance should contact the Ministry and apply.

Encouraging the athletes to strengthen their balance, the Minister urged the athletes to juggle athletics with academics, as a critical component to their lives after their career in the track ends.

“Self-care is vital, you must look out for your life after athletics after competing in a particular discipline, since one injury sometimes can end your career,” Minister Griffith posited.

The Sports Minister welcomed and expressed his support for the initiative by the US Embassy, as absolutely necessary to enable athletes to see what is needed to access the US collegiate and university system.

The athletes were taken through the requirements and fundamentals at the workshop by former US Division One student athlete Andrea Walker, Associate Athletics Director at the University of Indianapolis in the US.

They also witnessed a video presentation by Barbadian Nkosi Dunwoody, nine time Carifta gold medal winning swimmer and were given a pep talk by national women’s soccer player Soraya Toppin-Herbert, who now heads Raya 34 Sports company, and serves as Director of Women’s Football for the Bahamas Football Association.