On the Caribbean island of Dominica, the National Co-operative Credit Union (NCCU) has reaffirmed its long-standing commitment to accessible secondary education during its 2026 annual scholarship ceremony, held at the Dominica Public Service Union building in the capital city of Roseau.
At the event, Delix St. Hilaire, NCCU’s Human Resources Assistant and a former scholarship recipient himself, addressed this year’s award winners, urging them to seize every opportunity created by the organization’s Secondary Scholarship Programme. St. Hilaire encouraged students to maintain consistent focus and pursue academic excellence throughout their secondary school careers, noting that the financial aid provided through the initiative has meaningfully reduced the educational cost burden that weighs on most parents and guardians across the island.
What many attendees may not know is that NCCU’s investment in Dominican youth extends more than 16 years back. Since launching the programme, the credit union has awarded approximately 240 scholarships to deserving students across the country. For the 2025/2026 academic year alone, the institution allocated just over $136,000 to fund its scholarship sponsorship efforts, demonstrating its ongoing dedication to growing educational access for local communities.
Today, the programme supports secondary students across all grade levels, with a longstanding naming tradition that dates back to 2011. Each scholarship is named in honor of an individual who made extraordinary contributions to the growth and development of Dominica’s credit union movement, preserving the legacies of key community leaders while supporting the next generation.
St. Hilaire’s personal connection to the programme added a deeply personal touch to this year’s ceremony. Back in 2012, he was himself an NCCU Secondary Scholarship recipient. After receiving the financial support he needed to complete his secondary education, he went on to pursue higher education, and ultimately returned to work for the very institution that helped him achieve his academic and professional goals.
His full-circle journey is held up by NCCU as a powerful example of how targeted educational support can empower young people to pursue their personal and professional ambitions, and in many cases, create opportunities for them to give back to their local communities through skilled, purpose-driven work. As the credit union continues to expand its programme year over year, it remains focused on its core mission of lifting up Dominican families and investing in the island’s future through education.