The recipients, Imani Gaspard, Mario Hanna, Nayan White, and Kejim Clery, met with Acting Minister of Education, Senator Pauline Antoine-Prospere, on Tuesday before their departure.

Antoine-Prospere said the students’ achievements reflect both their personal dedication and the government’s commitment to expanding access to higher education.

“The government has a policy of one graduate per household. We know that in the past we had so many brilliant Saint Lucian students who never got an opportunity to attend higher education, not because they were not brilliant, but because of the economic conditions at home,” explained Antoine-Prospere.

The Hungarian Government-funded program provides full degree programs, including tuition fees, accommodation, and a monthly stipend, to international students.

The first cohort of four Saint Lucian students received scholarships in 2022 to study in Hungary, with a three-year co-operation memorandum in place between the two governments.

She noted that Saint Lucian students continue to excel internationally, regardless of where they study.

“As Saint Lucians, we always aim for the best. Our students go out there, do their best, and they do well at the end of the period,” Antoine-Prospere said.

The meeting also featured two alumni of the Stipendium Hungaricum programme, who shared their experiences and offered guidance to the departing scholars.

The exchange, Antoine-Prospere said, was meant to prepare the new students for cultural and academic adjustments as they transition into life in Hungary.

The Stipendium Hungaricum programme is one of several scholarship initiatives available to Saint Lucian students through international partnerships.