Micah Goodin has been featured many times on our newscast for his youthful and outspoken position on various social issues. His most recent appearance was on behalf of the 500 new students at the University of Belize who are forced to pay an addition $150 in registration fees.
Well tonight, he is not wearing the hat of advocate; he's in the news because according to him, he's being victimized. He is a 6th Form Student at Saint John's College Junior College, and he is trying to begin his final semester and graduate with an associate degree in criminal justice.
But he can't register because according to him, his scholarship from the Du Di Rait Ting Program sponsored by the Police Department has been revoked. This program is set up to encourage young people to engage in positive activities in society, so according to Goodin, he cannot understand why he's being punished for it now.
He explained to us today that he has an excellent academic record at the institution:
Micah Goodin - Claims Victimization
I was a recipient of this scholarship while a 3rd form student at Saint John's College. This scholarship took effect in August of 2011. I have been attending SJCJC since then, attended both semesters and summer classes of last year. And when I went for my report card last semester, I was told that I was blocked from picking up my report card, and from registering. I was embarrassed, a bit disrespected, and a bit devalued. I went to find out why I was blocked, and I was told that my scholarship was being suspended. I asked why, and I was given no sound response, and I was referred to the donors of my scholarship. And so, I went to see Mr. Douglas Hyde and other, and they told me that they had no idea that my scholarship was being revoked or suspended, and that it was not from their side that it got revoke. The problem is that I was being pushed around, sent over and over to both these entities, and both of them failed to provide a letter acknowledging my scholarship after many days of trying to get it. And so, both of them failed to act professionally, and their poor response is really disheartening."
Daniel Ortiz
"So, what is the situation right now; you can't graduate?"
Micah Goodin
"The situation is that I might not be able to graduate as quick as I'd not, and I may not be able to register today, which is the deadline for late registration. While speculations are high about the causes my scholarship being revoked, especially since I am the co-founder of the Nation Builders National Youth Movement, which has been making several media round, standing out, and standing up, I would not want that to be the case. I would hope that it is a matter of co-incidence, rather than a personal attack by either or both parties involved in this scholarship agreement. My performance at SJC is fairly good. I am currently on the Dean's List, and my application for graduation shows that my cumulative GPA is 3.67, my professional core GPA is currently 3.92, and my general core GPA is currently 3.83. So, I don't feel that low performance in the academics would warrant a revoke in my scholarship."
This evening 7News contacted Douglas Hyde, the National Youth Program Coordinator within the Community Policing Unit, who told us that he's been working hard to assist Goodin as best as he can.
According to Hyde, the representatives at SJC have been giving him the run-around until this afternoon when they informed him that Goodin's scholarship was funded by an international organization, the Hunters Commission Scholarship Program, in partnership with the SJCJC Social Outreach Program.
Hyde explained that the institution did a very poor job in informing Goodin and Community Policing that funding for the scholarship program finished several months ago. This means that Goodin owes SJCJC money for last semester, and it also means that he cannot get his report card or register.
Hyde says that he is trying to see what the Community Policing Unit can arrange for Goodin, but there is a process involved. He also says that it is unfortunate that Goodin's education is being frustrated in such a manner because he is the model candidate often mentioned in connection with the Du Di Rait Ting program.
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