Our story
Giving back to where it all began.
Founder's story
From eight years of personal giving to a federation-wide platform.
What began as a personal commitment to support students at Beach Allen Primary School has grown into a mission to expand educational opportunities for children throughout St. Kitts and Nevis.
For more than eight years, SKN Scholars Founder and President Tyesha A. James quietly provided assistance to students and schools, recognizing the lasting impact that primary education has on a child's future. As support from alumni, friends, and members of the diaspora continued to grow, so did the vision.
Today, SKN Scholars serves as a bridge between the schools that shaped us and the communities that wish to give back. Through scholarships, educational assistance, student recognition programs, and school partnerships, we help students access the resources they need to learn, grow, and succeed.
Our goal is simple: to invest in young minds, celebrate achievement, and create opportunities for the next generation of leaders in St. Kitts and Nevis.
Mission & Vision
Why we exist, and what we are building toward.
Mission
To empower primary school students in St. Kitts and Nevis through scholarships, educational support, and student recognition programs that remove barriers to learning, celebrate achievement, and create opportunities for future success.
Vision
To create a lasting culture of educational excellence, opportunity, and community giving in St. Kitts and Nevis where every student is empowered to succeed and every generation invests in the success of the next.
How we are different
Your money never passes through a parent's hands.
Most scholarship programs cut a check and hope. We don't. Once a student is matched with a sponsor, we contact the vendor (the bookstore, the uniform shop) and pay them directly. The student walks in with a name on a list and walks out with everything they need to start the term.
It's a small operational choice with a large consequence: every dollar reaches the child it was meant for, and every donor receives a record showing exactly where their gift landed.
Directors
Led by professionals who give back
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Tyesha A. James
Founder & President
Tyesha is a seasoned professional consultant with over a decade of progressive experience in financial reporting, regulatory compliance, risk management, and technical accounting. Her career spans multiple industries, including financial services, technology, retail, aerospace and defense, manufacturing, and life sciences, providing her with a broad and strategic perspective on organizational governance and accountability. Her expertise includes audit and IPO readiness, transaction advisory services, business combinations, internal controls, and financial reporting under both US GAAP and IFRS. She has extensive experience preparing and maintaining regulatory filings and technical accounting documentation, with a strong command of compliance frameworks and best practices. As Founder and President of SKN Scholars, Tyesha brings this depth of professional experience to ensure strong governance, transparency, and sustainable growth. Her leadership reflects a deep commitment to excellence, integrity, and creating meaningful impact through education, helping to empower the next generation of students in St. Kitts and Nevis.
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Tevince Coker
Finance Director
Tevince Coker serves as the Deputy Director of the St. Kitts Branch of the Financial Services Regulatory Commission (FSRC). At the FSRC, she has held positions such as Manager of Compliance and Insurance Business, Registrar of Captive Insurance Companies and Financial Inspector. Her professional credentials include being a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) and a Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS). These qualifications highlight his expertise in financial regulation and compliance and underscores her commitment to maintaining high standards in financial oversight and integrity.
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Giselle James, MSN, RN
Executive Secretary
Giselle James, MSN, RN, is an accomplished nursing leader with over 20 years of experience in healthcare. She began her career 2004 at New York-Presbyterian Hospital in the Vascular Access Department. She later advanced to a staff nurse role, where she developed a strong clinical foundation and a deep commitment to patient care. Today, Giselle is a Nurse Administrator at New York Presbyterian Weill Cornell Hospital, one of the nation’s leading academic medical centers. Her career has been shaped by a passion for service, a dedication to excellence, and a focus on empowering patients and healthcare teams. With a Master of Science in Nursing, Giselle is widely recognized for her compassionate leadership, calm under pressure and strategic approach to improving patient outcomes and team performance. Giselle brings a wealth of real-world insight to her speaking engagements, inspiring audiences with her journey, leadership philosophy, and unwavering belief in the power of nursing to transform lives and systems. Always learning. Always leading. Always caring.