In keeping with the Company’s commitment to scholastic excellence, two young Caymanians have received financial assistance from Caribbean Utilities Company, Ltd. (CUC) to assist them with furthering their education. Sheala Reid and Ricardo Cooper will pursue university level studies at institutions in the United Kingdom and online. An intern with CUC’s Corporate Compliance Department since 2023, Sheala Reid will be continuing her pursuit of a Bachelor’s degree in Law with Politics (LLB) at the Essex Law School, University of Essex in the United Kingdom. Sheala began her studies in October 2024 and will be graduating in June 2027. A 2022 John Gray High School graduate, Sheala completed an International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma from the United World College (UWC) Atlantic in Wales in May 2023. An avid and experienced debater, Sheala received a fourth place award in the 2016 Conyers Annual Debate Competition, a third place award in the 2019 Conyers Annual Debate Competition and was a semi-finalist in the 2021 International Debate Tournament Ljutomer, the oldest international World Schools debate tournament in Europe. A CUC employee since 2019, Ricardo Cooper will be pursuing an online Bachelor’s degree in Combined STEM through The Open University based in the United Kingdom. Established by the Royal Charter and globally recognised, The Open University has pioneered distance learning for over 50 years, delivering exceptional teaching and outstanding support to students across the United Kingdom and the world. A 2007 Wesleyan Christian Academy graduate, Ricardo joined the Company’s Electrical Maintenance Department in 2019 as an Instrumentation & Controls Systems (ICS) Apprentice 1. In April 2023, Ricardo was promoted to his current position of ICS Apprentice 2. In 2009, Ricardo completed a Certificate Programme in Electro-Technology from the University College of the Cayman Islands, a BTEC Level 3 Engineering Diploma from the College of North East London in the United Kingdom in 2015 and a Certificate of Higher Education in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from the University of West London also in the United Kingdom.
CUC established its scholarship programme in 1989 and since then has awarded full and partial scholarships to over 80 candidates in the fields of mechanical and electrical engineering, information technology, systems operations, environmental management, sustainable energy, occupational safety and health and financial services.