On August 7, the Barbados Association of Professional Engineers (BAPE) held a celebratory award ceremony to recognize the first cohort of recipients of the newly launched Angus Edghill Scholarship Fund, marking a key milestone in investing in the next generation of engineering talent across the Caribbean nation.
Four outstanding young engineering students – Nicholai Downes, John-Bernard Yearwood, Ajani Headley, and Alec Kellman – were selected as this year’s scholarship winners. Each recipient will receive a one-time grant of BBD $25,000 to cover tuition, materials, and other academic costs associated with their undergraduate or graduate engineering studies.
Beyond the financial support, the ceremony created a valuable networking opportunity for BAPE’s active professional membership to connect with the new cohort of awardees. For the coming academic year, the four recipients will also be granted affiliate membership with BAPE, giving them early access to the organization’s professional network, industry events, and developmental resources.
The scholarship fund was established through the joint effort of the Angus Edghill and Richard Edghill Families, with a clear dual mission: to remove financial barriers for ambitious young Barbadians pursuing engineering careers, and to strengthen the long-term capacity of the engineering profession across the country. The annual program awards up to four grants to Barbadian citizens between the ages of 18 and 25 who are already enrolled in, or planning to attend, an accredited engineering degree program.
Importantly, the fund prioritizes applicants specializing in engineering fields that align directly with Barbados’s national development goals. These priority areas include critical infrastructure development, climate and environmental resilience, renewable energy innovation, national water security, sustainable transportation, and affordable housing – all sectors central to the country’s long-term economic and social growth.
To select this year’s inaugural cohort, BAPE’s independent Selection Committee conducted a rigorous, multi-stage evaluation process. Reviewers assessed each applicant on a range of criteria, including past academic achievement, personal statements outlining career goals and commitment to engineering in Barbados, and confidential letters of recommendation, before identifying the top four candidates.
Grace Edghill, daughter of the late Angus Edghill, presented the awards on behalf of the founding families. She shared that the organizing committee was pleasantly surprised by both the large volume of applications and the exceptionally high quality of candidates who submitted materials for the fund’s first award cycle.
Rey Moe, a professional engineer and current president of BAPE, shared his enthusiasm for the program and its impact in comments delivered during the ceremony. “It was a pleasure to celebrate the achievements and potential of this year’s four scholarship recipients,” Moe said. “We congratulate them on this important milestone and look forward to supporting them throughout their studies, connecting them with mentors and opportunities within the engineering community, and, in time, welcoming them into the profession. We are proud to invest in their journey and in the future of engineering in Barbados.”
The Most Honourable Richard Edghill FB, one of the co-founders of the fund, also spoke to the significance of investing in young Barbadian talent. “It was a wonderful opportunity to meet these young Barbadians and their families, who are working with such purpose pursuing their interests, studies, and careers,” he said. “We congratulate all four recipients and look forward to following their progress.”