In February of this year, the Government of The Bahamas appointed the first ever honorary consul in Detroit — entrepreneur, author and philanthropist William F. Pickard, Ph.D., executive chairman of GAA Manufacturing and Supply Chain Management. His official duties, according to the Bahamian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is to represent the interests of the government in Detroit as well as acting as a liaison with the Government when its citizens in Detroit are in trouble or when they are facing misfortune.
After a discussion with long-time friend and Governor-General of The Bahamas Cornelius A. Smith, Dr. Pickard is going one step further and instituting the Cornelius A. Smith and William F. Pickard, Ph.D., Friendship and Alliance Scholarship at the noted Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU). The scholarship will be awarded to eight students who are pursuing a degree in agriculture.
Most of the agricultural land in The Bahamas is owned by the government which has worked tirelessly to build sustainable agricultural and farming methods to meet the needs of the citizens of the Bahamas, lessen the need for imports and, ultimately, decrease dependence on the tourism industry.
“Education was always a priority in my home growing up,” said Dr. Pickard. “As my career moved from social work to entrepreneurship it became part of my mission to make educational opportunities available to those who followed. This scholarship also dovetails perfectly with my new duties as honorary consul for The Bahamas.”
Applicant must be graduating high school seniors or college freshman or sophomore transfer students interested in obtaining a degree in the field of agriculture. Eight students will be chosen for the one-year tuition-only scholarship. Applicants must reside in the islands and surrounding areas of Freeport, Bahamas, and in Detroit, Michigan, or the surrounding metro Detroit area. They will be able to reapply each year. The scholarship will receive an endowment of $300,000 over a three-year period.
“I am truly honored to be part of this effort to increase educational prospects for Bahamians around the world,” said Governor-General of The Bahamas Cornelius A. Smith. “Not only will the students receive an outstanding education at a first class Historically Black College, but they will also, hopefully, bring those skills home and help increase sustainable agriculture in our country.”
Students will be able to access the application by contacting Dorma McGruder @ (313) 849-3556 or email: millionairemakingmoves@yahoo.com. Deadline for completed applications is April 14, 2021,
Dr. Shawnta Friday-Stroud, Dean of the School of Business and Industry and the Executive Director of the FAMU Foundation, said “We are honored to be chosen as the steward of the Cornelius A. Smith and William F. Pickard, Ph.D., Friendship and Alliance Scholarship. Our ranking as the top public HBCU for the second year in a row along with our award-winning faculty allows us to not only provide an excellent learning experience, but one that positions our graduates for success in their chosen fields.”
To learn more about FAMU go to: Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University | 2021 (famu.edu).
To find out more about agriculture in The Bahamas: Home – Ministry of Agriculture and Marine Resources (bahamas.gov.bs).
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