THE Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) has awarded 15 successful students at the recent National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) examination, who are part of the bank’s Early Savers Account Club.

The youngsters were presented with their awards on Friday at the GBTI Kingston office, a release from the bank stated.

Among them was the country’s perfect scorer Naila Rahaman, now a student of Queen’s College.

The other awardees included Virenda Dookie, Queen’s College; Brendon Prince, Brickdam Secondary; Mariah Ellis, Friendship Secondary; Sameya Khan, St. Stanislaus College; Deviani Ram, Annandale Secondary; Malina Khan, Diamond Secondary; Jazzmin Roopchand, St. John’s College; Ziya Haniff, Queen’s College; Sayid Stuart, Annandale Secondary; Mikayla Hamer, Bygeval Secondary; Joel Benjamin, St. Joseph High; Elijah Rajak, Queen’s College; Muhammad Baksh, St. Joseph High; and Tiffany Regis, St. Ignatius Secondary.

Assistant Chief Education Officer (ACEO) Primary Owen Pollard, encouraged the students to stay focused in their new endeavours for continued success and commended GBTI for recognising the awardees.

He also expressed admiration for the parents, who encouraged their children to save from an early age.

Meanwhile, GBTI’s Executive Director Richard Isava, said the bank will continue to support the initiative and also congratulated and encouraged the students to stay focused and save for their future higher education.

Many of the parents, previous Early Savers themselves, said having realised the benefits of the initiative, they enrolled their children in GBTI’s Early Savers Members Club from the outset.

At the ceremony, Naila’s mother said she had opened the account when her child was just a baby

Since then, she said Naila has enjoyed receiving birthday and other cards from the club and even requests that her allowances be put into the account.

Other parents also expressed their appreciation to the bank.

This is the 15th year since GBTI started its bursary programme for members of its Early Savers Club.

Early Savers who wrote the NGSA were required to submit their names and copies of their results slips and 15 were randomly selected.

The club is open to members 0 to 18 years. Members enjoy special interest rates, shopping discounts, birthday rewards, bursary awards and an annual recognition for the consistent savers.

Aside from providing an opportunity for parents and children to plan finances for education and other growing needs, it is a unique method for forming strong saving habits in children.