Tyrell McCollin was just 16 years old when he became paralysed.
On May 8, 2014, he was walking on the sidewalk on his way to classes at the then Samuel Jackman Prescod Polytechnic when he was involved in a collision with a vehicle.
Tyrell was hospitalised for almost a year and diagnosed a quadriplegic.
Despite the setback, the young man, who initially wanted a career in the construction/real estate sectors, was determined to complete his tertiary education.
Today, the 21-year-old is in his second year of a bachelor’s in banking and finance degree at the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill.
Yesterday, he was announced the 2019 recipient of the 15th annual Kregg Nurse Memorial Scholarship Award.
It came on what would have been Kregg’s 43rd birthday, during a presentation attended by Kregg’s mother Linelle, and brother Ricky, at the offices of Caribbean Catalyst Inc. on River Road, The City.
First runner-up was 24-year-old Nikkolai Clarke-Herbert, a computer science student at Cave Hill.
McCollin thanked the Nurse family and Caribbean Catalyst for their continued commitment to celebrate Kregg’s life and legacy, and providing the opportunity for people with disabilities to pursue higher education.
“I would also like to thank my family members and individuals that pushed me to apply for the scholarship repeatedly. I am not one for much conversation . . . but I would like to tell those with disabilities that life may be difficult at times, but once you keep trying at something, you are bound to succeed,” he said.
Kregg suffered from muscular dystrophy but in spite of this, he graduated from UWI with a bachelor of science degree in accounts and subsequently became a certified general accountant. He died in 2004. (SDB Media)
