Digi Scholarships Open Doors for Fifty-Seven Students

For fifty-seven young Belizeans, the new school year will begin with more than just a place in the classroom. It will begin with a boost of confidence and support from Digi. This morning, forty students heading into high school and seventeen starting junior college received the 2026 Digi Scholarship. The award covers more than tuition. Students will also get books, school supplies, internet access, mentorship, and other support to help them stay on track and succeed. News Five’s Shane Williams was there for the ceremony and has this report.

 

Shane Williams, Reporting

For many students, receiving a scholarship means easing the financial burden of higher education. But for one recipient, today’s award represents something even greater, a chance to pursue a lifelong dream, despite the challenges he’s faced. Muffles freshman Silverio Hernandez was among fifty-seven Belizean students recognized with a 2026 Digi Scholarship, an investment BTL says is aimed at developing the country’s future leaders.

 

Silverio Hernandez, Scholarship Recipient

“God gave me the chance, and I got this scholarship, and I’m very happy, and I want to make the most out of this scholarship to become someone in life. Like, my dream is to become a lawyer, or in other words you call it an attorney.”

 

For Silverio, the scholarship means much more than assistance with tuition. The Digi Scholarship covers books, school supplies, internet connectivity, mentorship opportunities and other educational support but what Silverio is most grateful for is peace of mind.

 

Silverio Hernandez

“My parent will be relieved because she don’t, she won’t have to think about the very expensive school bills. And me too, because I won’t be stressed out about thinking of school bills and all those stuff. And Digi will help me take that off my mind so that I can focus more on my education.”

 

His mother, Cyndy Hernandez, says watching her son receive the scholarship was an emotional milestone and one that will bring much-needed financial relief.

 

Cyndy Hernandez, Mother of Recipient

“I am very proud of him, and I am grateful too with God because yes, it’s a miracle for me seeing my son receive a scholarship.”

 

Shane Williams

“How will it help you?”

 

Cyndy Hernandez

“Oh, it will help me a lot because we have – economy is very hard right now for me being a single mom.”

 

Minister of State for Education Ramon Cervantes says partnerships like these strengthen government’s push toward making education accessible for every Belizean child.

 

Ramon Cervantes Jr., Minister of State, Education, Science and Technology

“Today is a message of congratulations, first of all, and on this great accomplishment, and also on encouraging them to continue their studies, to pursue their dreams, to pursue their ambitions to the maximum of their potential.”

 

BTL says the program is also building the company’s future workforce. This year, all seventeen junior college scholarships were awarded to students pursuing STEM fields, creating a pipeline into internship opportunities with the company.

 

Ivan Tesucum, CEO, Digi

“One of the things that we have done this year as well is that we have done a intern program where we’re focusing a lot on STEM. So we have folks right now who are working in our network operations team. We have folks who are working in our IT corporate infrastructure. We have folks who are working in cybersecurity because that is what we’re looking for. We’re looking to try to gain talent from this pool and be able to then put them as part of the in- summer internship and then grow them throughout the years.”

 

More than two hundred students applied for this year’s Digi Scholarships. The program started in 1991 with just twenty-five awards, and BTL has grown it steadily since then. Now, the company says it hopes to offer seventy-five scholarships next year. Shane Williams for News Five.

 

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

 

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