Published: June 24, 2026
ZWEDRU, Grand Gedeh County – A former legislative candidate has pledged to pay the full university tuition of the best graduating student from each of Grand Gedeh County’s 15 high schools through to a bachelor’s degree, in one of the most comprehensive privately funded scholarship offers announced for the county in recent years.
Jeziah M. Quiyea, who ran for the District #1 seat in the House of Representatives, said each valedictorian for the current academic year will also receive US$50 to help cover entrance examination preparation and admission costs at one of four institutions: Grand Gedeh University, the Deanna Kay Isaacson School of Midwifery in Zwedru, Tubman University or the University of Liberia.
The cash award is meant to ease the cost of gaining admission, Quiyea said. “It’s to help assist them with their entrance fees and preparation,” she said.
She framed the offer as a lasting commitment rather than a one-time gesture. “I’m not stopping there. I’m making a long-term commitment to secure the future of our brightest minds,” she said. “To the 15 valedictorians, I’m pleased to personally cover all full tuition to their bachelor’s degree.”
Quiyea said the initiative is designed to reward academic excellence, spur healthy competition among students and widen access to higher education for deserving young people across the county. “It’s more than just a number of dollars,” she said. “It’s about rewarding excellence and creating tangible opportunities for young scholars.”
She cast education as a foundation for development. “When we invest in education, we are investing in the future of Grand Gedeh County,” Quiyea said.
Her sponsorship will cover tuition only, she clarified. Beneficiaries and their families will bear the cost of accommodation, transportation, feeding and other personal expenses during their studies.
To oversee selection, Quiyea appointed Raymond C. Wah to coordinate the process. Wah pledged to work with the schools’ administrations to keep the selection transparent and impartial, with each of the county’s 15 high schools responsible for identifying and submitting its valedictorian on academic performance alone.
“The schools will identify their best-performing students, and we will ensure the process remains impartial so that every deserving valedictorian benefits from this initiative,” Wah said.
The offer comes as many academically gifted students across Liberia continue to struggle to afford higher education. By targeting the county’s highest achievers, Quiyea said, she hopes to inspire students toward excellence while helping produce the next generation of professionals to serve Grand Gedeh.
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