FROM THE PUBLISHER

David ‘Wagga’
Hunt Memorial
Scholarship
Initiative
The memory of former veteran local coach
David ‘Wagga’ Hunt, who had almost 30
years of experience with football in Jamaica,
continues to live on through this
memorial scholarship following his untimely
passing in October 2007. His illustrious
legacy as a role model not only in football
but as a human being has been highlighted
each year with the presentation of scholarships
to students from his alma mater,
Kingston College and from Calabar High
School. Hunt is described as a hard‐working
administrator and at the time of his
passing was the general secretary of the
Kingston and St Andrew Football Association
serving with distinction. He was the
longest serving secretary of the now–defunct
Minor League Football Association
and co-founder of Meadhaven United
Football Club. As a coach, he lead Meadhaven
United FC to championship honours
in several age group competitions, and he
is today Jamaica’s most successful National
Under-17 coach, leading his charges to be
the first ever Jamaican Team at any level to
defeat the United States in competition.
Hunt was mainly responsible for reviving
football at Calabar where he led them to
their first title in 28 years in 2005, after just
two years in charge. That year they also
won their first Olivier Shield title. This was
an unprecedented move, as Calabar and
Kingston College are arch‐rivals. However,
Hunt decided to coach Calabar in an attempt
to bridge the unfriendly rivalry between
both schools, with the mantra being
‘We can be rivals, but not enemies’.
Grade 13: Ronaldo Ferguson, Kingston College and Chris‐Anthony Campbell, Calabar HS
Grade 12: Delroy Matterson, Calabar HS and Hamani Henry, Kingston College
Grade 11: Clovis Donegal, Kingston College and Tajh Williamson, Calabar HS
Grade 10: Geovani Thomas, Calabar HS and Jevaughn Grant, Kingston College
Grade 9: Naem McKenzie, Kingston College and Amari Forbes, Calabar HS
Grade 8: Kito Campbell, Calabar HS and Giovanni Henry, Kingston College; Gianni Henry,
Kingston College
The scholarship initiative is enjoying its
eighth (8) year with the offering of three
(3) new scholarships for the 2016 ‐ 2017
school year to a grade eight student from
Calabar and twins at KC, each valued at
J$100,000 per year. As per the scholarship
criteria, the recipients are chosen
from nominees received from the school
with the criteria being Grade 7 students
who displayed commendable academic
performance and attitude, are involved
in sports and/or other extra‐curricular
activities, and were deemed as in need of
financial assistance. The scholarship period
covers the students from Grade 8 to
Grade 13 (6 years) at a cost of J$600,000
each and covers tuition, books, lunch
and other related expenses. To date, 17
scholarships have been awarded and
over J$8m disbursed over the past seven
years. Once the scholarship holders
maintain good behaviour and academic
performance they will retain their scholarship
entitlement.
As we celebrate yet another Boys & Girls
Athletic Championships, it is appropriate
to note that David’s contribution
to track & field in Jamaica was no less
inspiring. Wagga was a sports writer and
analyst who made regular contributions
in print concerning training techniques
and athletic development. He was
regarded as an expert as his knowledge
of the history and technical aspects
of athletics were incomparable. His
brainchild annual publication “Champs
Preview” still alive in your hands today,
has served to provide meaningful prerace
information and been renowned for
the accuracy of its predictions for both
total points and race by race results. It is
a staple in engendering friendly debates
and controversy without which Champs
would not be the same, especially for the
ardent supporters.
Of note, many of the chosen recipients
over the years have done well both
academically and in sports, holding substantive
positions as Deputy Head Boy
and team captains, while representing
their schools at: Schools Challenge Quiz,
Cricket, Basketball, Swimming, Football,
and notable ‘Champs’ team members on
record breaking relay teams in the past,
as well as participating team members at
this 2017 staging.
David’s work remains an inspiration to
many and his legacy lives on. Spearheaded
by his Washington DC based brother
Christopher Hunt, and in conjunction
with a number of David’s close friends,
a Jamaica based organizing committee
followed by a diaspora committee was
formed with Co‐Chairmen, Christopher
Hunt and Arnold McDonald. Events
are held in Jamaica and throughout the
diaspora along with valued corporate
and individual sponsorship to fund the
scholarships on an ongoing basis. Major
corporate sponsorship support over
the years has included, Victoria Mutual
which has been on board since its inception,
Supreme Ventures Limited, Proven
Wealth Management, Grace Foods USA
and the Gibson McCook Relays Committee
among other appreciative support
too numerous to mention.
1