Region 10 top achievers awarded

by Naomi Marshall

Region Ten’s Regional Education Department celebrated and honoured some of the district’s top educators and students during its Annual Award Ceremony on Tuesday.

The event was held at the Mackenzie Primary School and virtually via Zoom under the theme, “Dream it! Desire it! Pursue it! Achieve it!”

The ceremony saw retired teachers and the region’s top NGSA, CSEC and CAPE students receiving awards for their exceptional performance in 2020.

Among those awarded are the region’s top NGSA pupils -Britney Peters, Shanel Storm, Ariel Mohanlall, Kesyne Bagot, Jasmine Griffith, Kenroy Jameer, Syesha Fraser, Rheann Retemyer, Shania Lawson, Dimetra Gordon, Ashley Inniss ,Jenesia Rodney, among others.

Verna Fox, Denise Belgrave, Cherly Mingo, Cliveland Thomas, Wonda Richmond and Donette Garrway were some retired teachers who were awarded on Tuesday.

Mackenzie High School was named the school with the region’s top four Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) students, while the Christianburg Wismar Secondary School was named the school with the region’s remaining top three CAPE students.

Meanwhile the Mackenzie High School was named the region’s top school at this year’s CSEC Examinations, followed by New Silver City Secondary, Linden Foundation Secondary, Christianburg Wismar Secondary, Harmony Secondary, and Kwakwani Secondary School.

During her brief remark, Waneka Arindell, Mayor of Linden, stated that the ceremony’s theme is a true representation of what civilians of Region 10 do. She congratulated the students for their achievements and encouraged them to remain on the path to success, remember the challenges they conquered ,use it as motivation, and remember to give back to their home towns.

“I pray that as you go forward into the future that you prepare yourself to continue to learn, listen, understand and to evolve,” the Mayor added.

Giving the feature address was the Regional Chairman of Region 10, Deron Adams, who applauded the students and teachers for their accomplishments made amidst the challenges imposed on them by the COVID-19 pandemic.

He said, “the stories of teachers going above and beyond to continue to provide tuition to their students are numerous, but it is the effort required of the students to make the best of a bad situation, to put in the extra effort and to pursue the learning opportunities available that will set the successful persons apart from, and above the rest.”

Adams pledged on behalf of the Regional Democratic Council to work with the Education Department, to provide students the best possible learning experience, despite of current challenges.

He further stated, “I intend to be hands on in supporting your efforts, and the Vice Chairman, who is a former teacher as well, has also assured me of his commitment and support too.”