2022 Gemstar Scholarship for Black Students

Gem*Star Scholarship Fund is the brainchild of Gem*s Tea Founder, Gemma Raeburn-Baynes. She calls this her 70s Project, giving back to Grenada 60 years later, since she started her advocacy at 9 years old in her native Grenada, teaching children in Grenada, in her veranda, during her Summer break from school.

GEMSTAR SCHOLARSHIP FUND

Initiated by Playmas Montreal Cultural Association, and sponsored by BMO Bank of
Montreal under the Bank’s Black Entrepreneur Program, the GemStar Scholarship Fund has been established. The brainchild of Gemma Raeburn-Baynes, President of Playmas Montreal, the scholarship fund will disburse annually, beginning in Fall 2022, three scholarship awards of $1,500 each to deserving Black high school students on the island of Montreal, Quebec.

Purpose of The Scholarship Awards

The purpose of the scholarship awards is to recognize students who are motivated and committed to pursuing higher education, and to assist them financially in achieving their academic dreams.

ELIGILIBILTY CRITERIA

The Gemstar scholarship awards are dedicated to promoting academic excellence and youth involvement in the Black community. To be eligible for the scholarship, each student applicant must be:

A Canadian citizen or landed immigrant
A Grade 11 student of high academic standing
A member of the Black community with demonstrated involvement in the community

APPLICATION AND SELECTION PROCESS

Eleven high schools throughout Montreal will participate in the promotion and student application process. Application forms will be made available to all prospective students at their respective institutions and on the playmasmontreal.com website. Student applications will be considered only if they are duly completed and submitted before the deadline.

On receipt of students’ applications, the respective school administration and guidance counsellors will nominate two eligible students for consideration by the GemStar Selection Committee.

All applications must include the following information:

Name
Address
Telephone number
Email address
Name of high school

In addition, each applicant must provide:

A curriculum vitae
Transcripts of current and last completed academic year
A 2-page statement outlining the applicant’s career aspirations, nature and extent of community involvement, suitability and “fit” for the scholarship, and how the scholarship award will assist in the pursuit of higher education
Two (2) letters of recommendation, one of which must be written by one of the applicant’s teachers.

All required documents must be typewritten and sent by e-mail to:
PlaymasMontreal@gmail.com.
For more information, please feel free to contact us at (514) 620-6612.

PRESENTATION OF AWARDS

Recipients of the GemStar scholarships will be presented on September 29, 2022, at a reception hosted by BMO. Award recipients will be introduced to Black entrepreneurs and BMO executives at the BMO reception. Scholarships will be presented to the winners at their respective High School Graduation Ceremonies.

HOW CAN ONE SUPPORT THE SCHOLARSHIP FUND?

Whatever you purchase on our online store at Gemstea.com, all the funds will go to support the GemStar Scholarship Fund.
Join our Subscription Program where you will receive your teas automatically quarterly.
Another way to support is by sponsoring a GemStar Student for a year in our GemStarTraining Program which is our personal development program helping students along the way in their excellent journey with support through mentorship and guidance so they can be the best they can be.
Please subscribe because Each Sip Supports!