Former hockey star donates scholarship

In one moment, Dr Tasha Cooke-Davis was receiving an award for her late mom, Marguerite Cooke. The next, she was announcing one that no doubt would have made her mom proud.

Cooke-Davis, the former goalscoring ace for St Andrew Hockey Club and Jamaica, and her brother, Dr Fernando Cooke, teamed up to provide the Marguerite Cooke Scholarship, which will be awarded to a hockey player each year, beginning in 2013.

Cooke-Davis actually followed in her mother's footsteps as a player into the national hockey team and, among other things, it was the stellar contribution of the late Marguerite that placed her in the four-member category for the 'JHF Outstanding Player' award.

The other persons to have earned the distinction were Donald James, Myrna Brown and the late Tony Burrowes.

"I would like to express my thanks and appreciation to the Jamaica Hockey Federation for this award," Cooke-Davis said in a brief response in recognition of her mom's award.

"When Nicky (Grant - JHF vice-president) called to inform me about the award it had a bittersweet moment. I am happy to see that her contribution to hockey was not forgotten, but sad that as there are so many persons who would have missed the opportunity to meet, for her to teach their lives," she noted.

"Youth development, recognising and maximising talent were some of her passions and I know I will never be able to do it quite the way she would like to continue her legacy. And so, I would like to take the opportunity to announce the inauguration of the Marguerite Cooke Scholarship," Cooke-Davis informed.

"This will be awarded to an outstanding player to pursue tertiary-level education. The JHF will be receiving the selection criteria and the first recipient will be selected next year," she concluded in an altogether rewarding moment that would no doubt have made her mom proud.

- A.B.