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Last Updated: May 23, 2019 - 12:28:25 PM |
Young Meagan has chosen to attend Windsor Preparatory School as the recipient of a CIBC FirstCaribbean-sponsored $2,000 scholarship. CIBC FirstCaribbean’s Senior Human Resources Officer Anne Ferguson presented Meagan with her award onstage at The Bahamas Primary School Student of the Year Foundation’s 23rd Awards ceremony. L to R: Meagan Storr and Anne Ferguson.
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Nassau, Bahamas - Young excellence was on full display at The Bahamas Primary School Student of the Year Foundation’s 23rd Awards ceremony on Saturday.
Among 123 students honoured at the event was Meagan Storr, who placed in the top 25 per cent and received a CIBC FirstCaribbean-sponsored $2,000 scholarship to any secondary institution of her choice. Meagan, who attends The Meridian School, chose Windsor Preparatory School near Albany.
“My ultimate goal is to pursue culinary arts, and I think Windsor School’s good educational reputation will help me get there. I always liked being in the kitchen and making new things, and I’m also a creative, artistic person, so culinary arts is something that’s just a natural fit for me.
“Winning the CIBC FirstCaribbean scholarship is really cool, because I can tell my friends all about it - which is awesome, because I didn’t think I was going to get this far. I didn’t even know I was going to be nominated, honestly, so making it here feels amazing,” Meagan said.
When asked what motivates her to do well, Meagan added, “I just like helping people, and having a good education helps you do that, so I want to keep that focus going.”
Anne Ferguson, CIBC FirstCaribbean’s Senior Human Resources Officer, joined Meagan onstage to present the scholarship award to the sixth grade student.
Ms. Ferguson said, “CIBC FirstCaribbean is proud to be a corporate sponsor of this important event which encourages the young minds of our nation to pursue excellence. We congratulate Ms. Storr on receiving this award. On behalf of the bank, I encourage the youth of our nation to focus on their education. It’s something that no one can take away from you, and once you have it you will be able to contribute to your nation and others in a great way.”
James Bellozier, Logistics Officer for the Bahamas Primary School Student of the Year Committee and himself a former 2001 nominee, explained the significance of the Foundation’s work. “Since its inception, The Bahamas Primary School Student of the Year Foundation has been what I consider a bedrock of the Bahamian community, and programs like this are very important. I believe if you plant a seed early in a child’s life and recognize their achievements, it’s going to motivate them to continue doing things that are positive and will benefit their futures.
“There are too many times when negative things are being displayed and highlighted, so it’s important that foundations such as ours are able to display the positive role and achievements of our nation’s youth – especially those at the early primary school level – as a way to not only commend our ‘best and brightest,’ but also to give them that push to go further in their excellence and achievements, because they are going to be our future leaders.”
Mr. Bellozier added, “This year, corporate sponsorship has ensured for the second time in a row that every child nominated was able to go home with a prize, which is a great achievement for us as a foundation. Without corporate Bahamas, none of the work we do is possible. And so on behalf of our president Dr. Deveaux, our chairman Mr. Pratt, and all of the committee members of the Student of the Year Foundation, I thank the corporate community at large, inclusive of CIBC FirstCaribbean, for all that you do for the Bahamas Primary School Student of the Year Foundation; and for helping to ensure our 23rd year was a grand success.
“I speak now for the future, asking that corporations such as CIBC FirstCaribbean and other sponsors will continue to invest not just in the Foundation itself, but into the lives of our youth and the future of our country. It is not one that we take lightly or for granted.”
The Bahamas Primary School Student of the Year Foundation was founded in 1997 by Dr. Ricardo Deveaux, who wanted to highlight the many achievements and outstanding performances of The Bahamas’ youth, which he felt went largely unrecognized. This year, 123 nominees from primary schools throughout The Bahamas received not only commendation and praise for their accomplishments, but also a collective $170,000 in scholarship awards and sponsored prizes.
© Copyright 2019 by thebahamasweekly.com
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