Excelsior’s Alumnae Name Scholarship for Retired Food Vendor

Muriel “Peanie” McLeod

The Excelsior Class of 1980 has ensured that the name of revered food vendor Muriel “Peanie” McLeod name will continue to echo around the campus for sometime yet after it established the Muriel McLeod Scholarship to honor the recently retired staple of the Excelsior family.

Peanie was on hand during Devotion on Friday November 25, to assist with the presentation of the award. Before a packed auditorium, she was greeted with a stirring ovation lasting an estimated 3 minutes. Two students, male and female Grade 9 student Whitney Orgill and Grade 10 student Akeem Reynolds were selected as the first beneficiaries of the latest act of benevolence by the Class of 1980.

“In recognition of Muriel “ Peanie” McLeod's retirement after 60 years, the Class of 1980 created a scholarship to honor her legacy of caring for students,” said Donna Myrie, one of the guiding lights behind the initiative, as she explained the rationale for the scholarships.

Speaking on behalf of the school the Rev Calvin Edwards, a member of the school’s Board of Management lauded the Class of 1980, arguably one of the most active and benevolent graduating classes, for its latest act of charity in recognizing “Miss Peanie” in such a tangible manner.
“Once again I want to commend you and your colleagues for the tremendous effort in assisting us; we want you to know that it is not unnoticed” he said in a message to the group.

It was the latest accolade bestowed on Miss Peanie by the Class following a full-color newspaper advertorial in the Jamaica Gleaner, Friday November 25 saluting the beloved retired food vendor for her six decades long association with the school. It will be administered by the office of the Guidance Counselor. and will be largely need-based. The scholarship which is worth $US250.00 each, will provide support for two or more students who are experiencing financial and other challenges, the group said. It envisages the scholarship funds being applied wherever the student requires assistance (e.g. books, supplies, uniforms, bus fare, lunch, etc) to achieve their educational goals at Excelsior High School.

Success, the group said, may in some instances be measured by a graduation vs. drop out situation, or positioning an academically gifted (but economically challenged) student to ultimately secure scholarship for tertiary education.

The scholarship will be renewed annually, based on the need for support and bolstered by the students’ good disciplinary record.