Dart announces 2026 high school and university scholarship recipients

Dart is pleased to announce the 2026 recipients of its Dart Scholar high school and university scholarships: Kaylee Pierre and Kavya Punjabi, both students at St. Ignatius Catholic School, have been awarded the High School Scholarship, and Vin Weekley is the recipient of the William A. Dart Memorial University Scholarship. 

As one of the most prestigious academic awards in the Cayman Islands, the Dart Scholar programme grants scholarships to Caymanian students who demonstrate exceptional academic achievement and leadership. It provides them with financial assistance, personalised mentoring, hands-on work experience and enrichment opportunities. 

This year, Dart received a total of 82 applications, including 29 for the high school scholarship and 53 for the university scholarship. Each applicant was evaluated through a rigorous blind selection process, ensuring fairness and impartiality by concealing candidate identities until final decisions were made. 

“Once again, the calibre of applicants was outstanding,” said Glenda McTaggart, senior manager - education programmes at Dart. “This year, we’re delighted to welcome Kaylee, Kavya and Vin as our 2026 Dart Scholars. These individuals stood out for their exemplary academic achievements, impressive leadership qualities and deep commitment to their communities.” 

In addition to the high school and university recipients, three outstanding high school finalists were recognised for their achievements and received CI$1,000 cash awards: Eze Vassell (Cayman Prep & High School), Ben Lymbery-Dickie (CF School) and Ella Galatopoulos (Cayman International School). 

Dart High School Scholars: Kaylee Pierre and Kavya Punjabi 

A straight-A student and national athlete, Kaylee Pierre is fascinated by the science behind physical performance and is working towards becoming both a professional athlete and a sports psychologist. She has represented her country on squash and football teams, trained with the Cayman Women’s Cricket Team and won a silver medal for Cayman at the 2025 Caribbean Area Squash Association (CASA) Junior Championships.  

Beyond her sporting achievements, Kaylee is also an accomplished musician who plays both the drums and cello and has actively participated in musical theatre and choir. She hopes to attend a university with top-tier sports and research facilities, where she can explore new discoveries that benefit athletes and the broader community. 

Kavya Punjabi is a well-rounded student who has earned top recognition in mathematics competitions and excels in sports, performing arts and STEM subjects. An active participant in coding clubs, he is also a certified diver and the creator of his own podcast. Kavya represents the Cayman Islands internationally as a member of the Cayman Cricket Academy and has been a dedicated dancer with Bollywood Dance Pulse for nearly seven years, performing in dozens of stage concerts and festivals. 

With interests in both finance and law, Kavya is continuing to strengthen his mathematical and analytical skills as he considers future opportunities in either field. His participation in a broad range of academic and extracurricular pursuits reflects his curiosity, discipline and ambition. 

Dart University Scholar: Vin Weekley 

University Scholar Vin Weekley boasts a record of academic excellence, leadership and community impact. A Cayman Prep and High School graduate, Vin also attended Dulwich College London where he served as president of the college’s economics, law and investment societies. His accolades include winning the Lord George Prize in economics, receiving the Gold UKMT Award, placing third in the University of Cambridge Camstart competition and being named a Northeastern University Essay Prize finalist. 
 
Vin was also awarded the Edward Alleyn Award, which is presented to the student demonstrating the highest level of philanthropy, enterprise and creativity, after running a marathon to raise £1,700 for a friend with cancer. Additionally, Vin completed a virtual internship with Clifford Chance and participated in the Wharton Investment Competition. 
 
Vin has received offers to attend the University of Cambridge, Durham University, University of Warwick and University College London, and has selected University of Cambridge where he will study law. He intends on returning home to Cayman to practice law and hopes to adapt emerging technologies in AI to tackle complex legal challenges and support industry growth and innovation.