KTHS Alumni celebrate past and future at fundraiser
Celebrating the 120th anniversary of Kingston Technical High School (KTHS) in Jamaica, the KTHS Past Student Association of Florida held a special Family Fun picnic this past Saturday at the Central Broward Regional Park in Lauderhill.
This year’s event celebrated both Kingston Technical’s luminary past while gathering support for the school’s future. The event featured as special guests past teachers and students representing the school’s storied history, including KTHS teacher and son of Jamaica’s National Hero, Marcus Garvey Jr. Among the senior alumni were also Jean Garvey (Class of 1964), Thelma Werner (Class of 1958), and Phyllis Johnson (Class of 1956).
“In celebration of this milestone we were honored to have Marcus Garvey, Jr. and friends who travelled from far to join us,” said association President, Annette Corbett Gardiner.
The family-friendly event also sought to support the future of current Kingston Technical students, as the picnic also helped the association’s “fundraising efforts [to] provide scholarships and educational equipment to students at KTHS,” said Gardiner.
This year’s funds will supply 10 scholarships of US$500 each for current students to assist with school tuition and examination fees. This year’s gift marks an increase from 7 scholarships granted through last year’s fundraising efforts. The association’s past educational initiatives also include equipping the KTHS Textile and Needlework program as well as the Auto Mechanics Lab.
“We passionate about providing assistance to the chidlren, and the appreciation from the students and their parents is just amazing,” says Gardiner, who will also be speaking at this year’s KTHS graduation, honoring the association’s first class of scholarship recipients, among them this year’s class valedictorian.
The association’s anniversary celebrations will continue this Sunday, June 26 with a special commemorative Church Service at the Holy Sacrament Episcopal Church in Hollywood, FL, starting at 10:15 a.m. The Kingston Technical High School Past Student Association of Florida (KTHSPSA) is a non-profit organization. Incorporated in January 2014, the association reports that it 70 paid members around the world.
