PRESS RELEASE
What started as a deeply personal family commitment more than two decades in the making has, within just three years, grown into a steadily expanding educational support programme in Dominica.
Established three years ago with the intention of sponsoring one student annually in memory of their late sister, the Marisa Tricia Rodney Memorial Scholarship Programme has steadily expanded its reach. From a single recipient in its first year, to three students in 2025, and now six recipients in 2026, the initiative has broadened its impact to support more students transitioning into secondary education.
The scholarship programme was born from a dream that took more than 20 years to bring to life. In 2024, James Rodney and his sisters—Shadinna, Samantha, and Tarisa—formally launched the initiative in honour of their sister, Marisa Tricia Rodney, whose life continues to inspire those who learn her story.
The programme is designed to support students who perform well in the Grade Six National Assessment but come from financially constrained backgrounds, reflecting the resilience, determination, and quiet strength that defined Marisa’s life.
Speaking about the inspiration behind the programme, during the St Martin Primary School Graduation, held on June 30, James Rodney reflected on the impact his sister made during her short life.
“In just 12 years on this earth, she left a legacy at this school and in her honour, we want to keep that legacy alive with a lasting impact on students present and future who will walk the grounds of the St. Martin Primary School, to give them the opportunity that she didn’t have to go on to higher learning,” he said.
That opportunity first became a reality in 2024 when Emily Thomas became the inaugural recipient of the scholarship. Today, she is a student at Convent High School, the very secondary school Marisa had dreamed of attending.
The programme’s momentum continued in 2025 when the Rodney family expanded the initiative, awarding three scholarships to Ashante Alfred, Mikayla Charles, and Aimee Leblanc during the St. Martin Primary School graduation ceremony. Each student received a $1,200 EC scholarship, a symbolic amount chosen to honour the age Marisa was when she passed away.
This year marked the programme’s largest expansion to date, with six students receiving first-year scholarships toward their secondary school education, reflecting the continued growth of the initiative since its launch three years ago.
This year’s scholarship recipients are Micarla Jean Jacques, Emily George, Gerlita Alcid, Harmony Hunter, Leanna Wilson, and Jacelis Joseph.
Like those who came before them, the six students were selected not only for their academic excellence but also for demonstrating resilience in overcoming adversity, qualities that were central to Marisa’s own life.
The scholarship continues to target students transitioning from primary to secondary school who perform well in the Grade Six National Assessment and come from financially vulnerable households, ensuring that financial hardship does not prevent deserving children from pursuing their educational ambitions.
During the presentation, Rodney noted that the programme has become about much more than annual scholarship presentations. He explained that what started as an initiative has now evolved into a long-term programme that the family hopes will endure for generations.
“The hope is that our children will carry this vision forward and continue to make it possible for students to receive this opportunity, long after we are no longer able to do so ourselves”
Addressing this year’s recipients, Rodney offered words of encouragement that carried both pride and emotion.
“Your journey continues, and may you go on to exemplify the qualities that have brought you all this far. Marisa would be so proud of you all, and we, as her family, are proud of you,” he said.
The continued expansion of the programme has also been made possible through corporate support. Rodney expressed heartfelt gratitude to Mr. Denison Mitchell, Senior Account Executive for King Ocean, whose company has remained committed to the initiative.
Recognising that many more deserving students could benefit from similar support, Rodney issued an open invitation to others willing to invest in the nation’s young people.
“So, I am putting out a call to anyone, everyone, individuals and businesses who resonate with this programme to come on board because all our children need is an opportunity,” he asserted.
About Marisa Tricia Rodney
According to her family, Marisa Tricia Rodney was the very embodiment of strength, courage, and grace beyond her years. Born on January 31, 1992, with a congenital heart defect, doctors that she wouldn’t survive more than three days. But Marisa defied every expectation. Her mother brought her home, and she lived 12 unforgettable
years.
From the beginning, Marisa’s life was a journey of resilience. Though her early years were filled with health challenges, she never let them define her. She excelled academically, driven by an insatiable curiosity and a deep love for learning. Her condition may have slowed her physically, but it never dulled her enthusiasm for life. She dreamed of joining in school sports, dancing, drawing, and simply enjoying the small joys of childhood, like walking to school with her backpack slung proudly over her shoulder.
Marisa’s mind was as remarkable as her heart. Even as a primary school student, she was intellectually advanced, often helping her older sister with high school assignments. Her creative writing was vivid and imaginative, wild, clever, and wise. Though gentle and kind, Marisa had a razor-sharp wit and a bold sense of humour that left a lasting
impression on anyone who knew her.
In April 2004, she fell ill during the Easter weekend. True to her nature, she remained hopeful and upbeat, her only concern being the school days she was missing. Even in her final moments, she never stopped expressing her vibrant spirit, styling her hair, talking about her dreams, and surrounding herself with her beloved siblings.
On Saturday, May 1, 2004, Marisa passed away, just two weeks before sitting the Common Entrance Exams, now known as the Grade Six National Assessment. She longed to attend Convent High School and aspired to become a model. Her family remains convinced that, had she been given more time, this “star in the making” would
have gone on to do extraordinary things and touch many lives with her light.
Through the Marisa Tricia Rodney Memorial Scholarship, the Rodney family hopes to keep her legacy alive. Their mission is clear: to ensure that Marisa’s memory becomes a guiding light for future generations, offering hope, opportunity, and inspiration to students whose paths she would have championed herself.