KEAYLA Vanderstoop has arrived at the prestigious Howard University in Washington, District of Colombia, USA, and is currently attending orientation sessions ahead of Monday’s commencement of classes.

This according to her father, Esan Vanderstoop, who provided an updated during an interview with the Guyana Chronicle on Friday.

“Her actual classes will commence on Monday (August 22). We have paid the tuition for her first year but we did not budget for her winter clothing, so that’s an additional cost. I am awaiting an invoice for the second year. Her room at the dormitory has a cost of US$6500 (approximately G$1.3 million) per year. However, we have been assured that her performance will dictate whether she becomes a recipient of further scholarships. I am still awaiting word from the Government of Guyana….but, if I can finance my daughter’s full tuition I would do it…” he said.

In an earlier statement, Keayla had stated that she was accepted into the university’s four-year Chemical Engineering programme. The annual tuition is US$47,000 (approximately G$9.4 million)

“Even though I was awarded one of the University’s Freshman Scholarships – Howard University Achiever’s Scholarship – it only covers US$19,000, leaving US$28,000 to be paid out of pocket each year. I was hoping for a full scholarship to attend this university, but I am grateful for the partial scholarship that they have offered. Unfortunately, my family cannot offset the remaining cost of attendance. As a result, we decided to reach out to private companies, the government, and the public for assistance,” she had said.

Persons desirous of assisting Keayla can deposit their contributions into Citizens Bank account 219351804 or contact her relatives on 592-682-5471 or 592-695-7700.

Keayla has had sterling academic success over the years. She first grabbed national attention in 2014, when as a pupil of the All Saints Primary School in New Amsterdam, she was awarded a spot at Queen’s College after writing the National Grade Six Examinations.

At the conclusion of her tenure at the prestigious city-based secondary school, she had secured 13 Grade Ones and one Grade Two at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examination and six Grade Ones and six Grade Twos at Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations (CAPE).