On June 27, 2026, Dominica America Scholarship & Culture, Inc. (DASCI), a Florida-based nonprofit dedicated to expanding educational access and preserving Dominican cultural heritage, distributed 47 need-based scholarships to eligible students across Dominica and the United States during a virtual awards ceremony. This year’s disbursement marks 23 consecutive years of the organization’s flagship scholarship program, which has grown from a small community initiative to a cross-regional support system empowering young learners.
This year’s cohort of recipients includes 44 students transitioning from primary to secondary education across nine public and private primary schools in Dominica. Each of these students will receive a one-time grant of US$750, equivalent to roughly EC$2,000, to cover the costs of school supplies, uniforms, tuition fees and other expenses associated with moving to secondary school. An additional three students pursuing post-secondary education at Florida high schools — St. Lucie West Centennial High School and Treasure Coast High School — have each been awarded US$1,000 grants to support their college preparatory studies.
DASCI is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization composed primarily of Dominican expatriates residing in Florida. Since its founding, the group has centered its mission on two core goals: opening new educational pathways for young people connected to Dominica, and safeguarding Dominican cultural traditions among diaspora communities. The entire scholarship program is funded through voluntary membership fundraising initiatives and donations from third-party supporters, including long-time partners David Shillingford, the Marie Family Dominica Educational Fund, and the John and Nancy Donnelly Family Fund.
Recipients hail from nine primary institutions across Dominica, with the largest cohort coming from Convent Preparatory School (12 recipients), followed by Christian Union Primary School (6), Ebenezer Seventh-day Adventist Primary School (5), Mahaut Primary School (5), Massacre Primary School (5), St. Mary’s Primary School (4), Berean Christian Academy (3), Coulibistrie Primary School (3), and Pioneer Preparatory School (1). The full list of awardees has been published on DASCI’s official website for public reference.
Organizers emphasized that the program would not be possible without the close partnership of school administrators, who identify high-achieving, low-income students and encourage them to submit applications. Claire Nola Stedman, principal of Mahaut Primary School, one of the participating schools, voiced her strong support for the initiative in the wake of this year’s awards announcement. “We greatly appreciate the support that DASCI continues to provide to Dominican students as they transition to secondary school,” Stedman said. “This scholarship will undoubtedly assist these students and their families as they prepare for the next stage of their educational journey.”
For recipients like Ahjani Toussaint, a graduating student from Ebenezer Seventh-day Adventist Primary School, the financial support removes a major barrier to continued learning. “Receiving this scholarship means a lot to me and my family,” Toussaint shared. “This generous support greatly eases my school expenses, allowing me to continue learning and dedicating myself to my long-term goals.”
Delivering the event’s keynote address, Jodie Dublin-Dangleben expanded on this year’s program theme: “Innovators, Leaders and Changemakers.” She framed the core values the program seeks to nurture, explaining, “Innovators solve problems by creating new ideas; leaders solve problems by bringing people together, and changemakers solve problems by taking action and making a difference.”
Looking back on 23 years of operation since the scholarship program launched in 2003, DASCI officials reported that the organization has now awarded a total of 232 grants worth more than US$162,950 — approximately EC$442,718 — to students across Dominica and the U.S. diaspora. As the organization marks its 23rd anniversary, it reaffirmed its long-term commitment to nurturing the next generation of leaders and changemakers through sustained educational investment, operating under its official motto “Forward We Go.”
For students and community members looking ahead, DASCI has already released preliminary details for its 2027 Scholarship Programme. Planning for the next cycle will kick off in January 2027, when participating schools will be finalized. Full details on eligibility requirements, application procedures and participating institutions will be posted to the DASCI official website, with applications open to eligible students through May 31, 2027. Individuals interested in supporting the program through financial donations can also contribute via the organization’s website, and those seeking additional information can contact DASCI directly by email at info@daschimigration.org.