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Our story

Investing in the children of St. Kitts and Nevis.

Founder's story

From eight years of personal giving to a federation-wide platform.

SKN Scholars is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting educational advancement and growth in St. Kitts and Nevis. The organization develops
and implements various initiatives and programs designed to foster student
success. This includes providing scholarships, certificate awards, and other forms of recognition for primary school students who excel academically, in sports, or in specific subjects each school year. SKN Scholars serves as a platform for both the diaspora and the local community to support the primary
schools that have significantly impacted the futures of many individuals. The
organization's mission is to empower the children of St. Kitts and Nevis by
providing the necessary resources and financial assistance they need to
reach their highest potential and achieve academic success.

Tyesha A. James, founder of SKN Scholars

Mission & Vision

Why we exist, and what we are building toward.

Mission

To support the children of St. Kitts and Nevis with educational resources, financial support, and recognition of academic achievement.

Vision

A federation where every child has the resources and recognition to reach their full potential, regardless of background.

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

  • Tyesha A. James

    Tyesha A. James

    Founder & President

    Professional consultant with over a decade of experience in financial reporting, regulatory compliance, and risk management across financial services, technology, retail, aerospace, manufacturing, and life sciences. Expertise in audit readiness, transaction advisory, and business combinations under US GAAP and IFRS.

  • Tevince Coker

    Tevince Coker

    Finance Director

    Deputy Director of the St. Kitts Branch, Financial Services Regulatory Commission. Former Manager of Compliance and Insurance Business, and Registrar of Captive Insurance Companies. Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) and Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS).

  • Giselle James, MSN, RN

    Giselle James, MSN, RN

    Executive Secretary

    Nurse Administrator at NewYork-Presbyterian Weill Cornell Medical Center. Over 20 years of healthcare leadership spanning clinical practice, team management, and institutional governance.