Chenelle Taylor and four students from the Edna Manley College, along with five others from various community colleges, are singing songs of joy as their prayers for financial assistance have been answered.

"This (financial assistance) really means a lot in that I am, or was, experiencing great financial difficulties in meeting school expenses," said Cavin Carty, one of the 10 scholarship recipients and a student of Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts.

The final-year student noted, "I am from a poor family so it will fill the gap or part of it. Don't matter how much it fills I am very thankful to Carreras."

Taylor, who is currently doing a post-graduate degree in forensic psychology at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York was also happy.

"I have tried to get financial assistance (for school) but have been unsuccessful so this will make it easier," she said.

Michael Bernard, managing director of Carreras Limited, said for several years the company has been awarding post-graduate scholarships in the field of medicine, law, business, arts and communication.

Bernard said this year, the company was pleased to add another field - forensic psychology - to its areas of support.

The managing director noted that the company, renowned for Craven 'A' and Matterhorn cigarettes, was committed to education in Jamaica, "more specifically tertiary education and to reward some of our young adults for their hard work, dedication, vision, and focus in developing themselves to better serve this country".

The 22-year-old Taylor pointed out that, "Before Carreras even said that I should return to Jamaica after school to work for three years, I have been planning to do so."

"I want to be part of the Department of Corrections and carry out risk assessment of offenders, develop programmes and do research for mediation and skills training," Taylor told The Gleaner when asked what she wanted to do after completing her degree.