White House selects former NECS student for prestigious scholar award

Thomas is a former NECS student and beneficiary of MDC US study program

Former student of the North East Comprehensive School (NECS), Joseˊ Thomas, has been selected by the White House to be a 2018 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Competitiveness Scholar.

Thomas is a beneficiary of the Marigot Development Corporation (MDC) US Study Program and scholar’s award is part of a White House Initiative on HBCUs (WHIHBCU).

She was nominated by Dr. William Harvey, the President of her school, Hampton University, and the White House subsequently selected her as a scholar for the 2018/2019 academic year.

As part of this initiative, she is currently attending the 2018 WHIHBCU Conference in Washington DC.

It is intended that the HBCU Competitiveness Scholars will help form the next generation of leaders who exhibit and champion HBCU excellence.

The WHIHBCU select Scholars based on (i) Academic Achievement: established classroom performance; (ii) Civic and Campus Engagement: proven leadership to make a positive difference at their institutions and in their communities; and (iii) Entrepreneurial Ethos: demonstrated character to pursue new opportunities, despite limited resources, i.e., the “go-getter” or competitive spirit.

Thomas attended NECS, then the St. Margaret’s School in Virginia and is now a senior at Hampton University.

She has been an exemplary student leader at both schools.

At Hampton University she was inducted into the prestigious academic international honor society for business, management and administration, Sigma Beta Delta and was selected to join the Teach for America Corps during summer 2018.

The MDC said, “We wish Joseˊ continued success as she approaches graduation at Hampton University and in the pursuit of graduate school, the next step on her academic journey.”

Thomas (second left) with other scholars

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17 Comments

  1. Dominca Massive
    September 23, 2018

    congrats Ms Thomas

  2. Ibo France
    September 22, 2018

    Maximum respect and much congratulation to Ms. José Thomas. I hope that your exceptional academic endeavors will inspire other young Dominicans to aim to be the best that they can be. It’s my earnest hope that persons such as you, living in the diaspora, will be willing to return to your native country and make a meaningful and profound contribution to the economic and social development of the country. Many Dominicans, living overseas, have stated emphatically that they are willing to come back home and make a consequential contribution to their country of birth. They have also posited that the present inhospitable political climate and the rapidly declining, abysmal economic situation, is giving them cause to pause. Things need to change for hope and economic prosperity to flourish again.

  3. J.john-Charles
    September 21, 2018

    Well done,sister we are proud of your achievement.
    Last week DNO printed a story where Pat. Robertson asked believers to pray so that God would spare N.and South Carolina from hurricane Florence and almost every one jump on the preacher calling him racist.Even blamed DNO for printing the story.
    Before Trump entered politics he employed thousands of blacks,Hispanics and whites he was never called racist.He lived his life a Democrat giving them $1000s of dollars.Hillary Clinton and Bill was
    Even a guest in one of his many weddings.Now because he turned Republican,Democrat s told the blacks Trump is racist,so you have about 90% of blacks voting Democrats….If you ask them what Democrats have done to advance blacks…all they do is scratched their head…alas

  4. DA Fails
    September 21, 2018

    One day black people will do things on their own and stay and fix their country… Till then is the whiteman fault I guess. :lol: :lol:

  5. Sunshineandrain
    September 21, 2018

    Congratultions Ms. Thomas keep on going the sky is your limit. When you succeed please remember to come rescue us in Dominica if Dominica still exist.
    Congratulations to the Marigot Development Corporation for sparing no effort to help prepare our young people for the challenges of the future.
    Marigot has always believed in empowering people so they will not be dependent that is why Marigot emerged to be the intelectual cradle of the nation. and now true to form the MDC has moved out of the boundary of the village to give other young people a chance.
    I agree with REAL!!!!!
    A wise and honest government would would see it fit to partner with an entity like MDC to help these young people if that government really value ist young people.

  6. Sunshineandrain
    September 21, 2018

    Cogratulations Ms Thomas. The sky is your limit but please when you succeed remember to come help rescue Dominica if it still exist

    Congratulations to the Marigot Development corporation
    Marigot have always contributed immensely to the development of Dominica by empowering people. And now the MDC is going outside the boarders of the Marigot community to educate and empower young people to prepare them for the future.

    That is Marigot true to form. That is why Marigot had been the intellectual cradle of Dominica.
    I agree with REAL!!!!! A smart and honest government would seek to partner with an entity like MDC for the good of the nation and its people.

  7. bistrie lady
    September 21, 2018

    Congratulations Ms Thomas

  8. OneMile
    September 21, 2018

    You mean to tell me that the Trump White House doing something beneficial for black people? That cyaa be true, they doh say the man is a racist?

    • Liz M
      September 21, 2018

      I know you’d not like to wake up from that dream but You need to read more and get up to date, do the research yourself and not wait for others to do it for you. By your definition there are no racists. Dream on pal!

  9. Diamond4Ever
    September 21, 2018

    Hats off Ms. Thomas you are an Ambassador in your own rights!! Definitely a trail Blazer ! continue Soaring

  10. REAL!!!!!
    September 21, 2018

    This MDC program seems to be a success story time and time again in the INTL education arena.

    The GOVT should look to partner with MDC in a meaningful way, to triple the output of students via this channel which will dramatically reduce the funding of these students by the GOVT when they begin University.

    This I believe could then allow the GOVT financial room to setup paid internships in DA every summer for students during their 4-5yrs with overall grade B+ and above….. Then upon graduation hopefully most of the students will most likely return to build our economic sector and prevent the critical brain drain we are seeing.

  11. September 21, 2018

    Congrats young lady! My only problem the wrong person is in the white house.

    • Senjo cis
      September 22, 2018

      Your god obama was the right person smh

  12. LifeandDeath
    September 21, 2018

    So much Talent coming from DA..the only problem is to find the formula for our people to stay or return..

    Congrats Future Leader

    • Shaka Zulu
      September 21, 2018

      Better pay and a chance of a prosperous future. Money talks and bull…. walks. Why come home fight with ignorance for peanut shells when you can own the farm among educated progressive people? Why come home to a country to be cast out by your own just because you are enlightened and want share when you are embraced by others who understands your value and worth to them? A teacher cannot build home by themself unless they have a padna and even then it is struggles. When you look around only crooks and drug dealers seem to florish. When dominica and the Caribbean on a whole start to define and advance the Caribbean dream they will start attracting smart talent. Until then only way for a young person to achieve anything in this short life is to get the hell out.

      • Liz M
        September 21, 2018

        Shaka you seem to be on the rags again. I know many who have returned home, carved a way for themselves and are doing well despite poor performance by current gov’t on economic growth. We know you’d like to see Skeritt gone but meanwhile keep your shirt on and help your side strategize to win next election for Christ sake, it can be done as many would like to see a change. Remember we’ve seen you all perform for five years but still, hopefully voters are willing to give you all a chance. :-x

      • Shaka Zulu
        September 22, 2018

        Liz why everytime someone makes a comment on reality all you have to involve skerrit. Did you see me mention skerrit or politics above. People have been leaving the Caribbean for better pay and at a chance to make a life for themselves way before skerrit and i was born. The reasons still exist today and has not changed. Get a grip of yourself. Dominica Like many other islands have only allowed opportunity for a few and is only when people go out make name for themselves we remember where they are from and want them home. You there talking about all you perform for 5 years. It is that kind of response why every young person who acommplishes anything in life stays elswhere.

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