LIS Valedictorian is a National Merit Scholar- As Lucaya International School opens for the 2009/10 year they are celebrating the top achievement of their valedictorian Shane Russell who was selected as on of the recipients of this years’ National Merit Scholarships as well as a Grand Bahama Port Authority Scholarship. Shane will be attending the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill this month to study Chemistry. He noted “the international nature of the curriculum of the IB Programme offered at LIS has better prepared me to enter my college as an open minded but analytical student.” Russell also achieved the highest IB results in the schools history. Photo: Erik Russell

Grand Bahama , Bahamas -As Lucaya International School reopens for the 2009/10 year, they are celebrating the TOP achievement of their valedictorian Shane Russell who was one of the selected recipients of this years’ National Merit Scholarship as well as a Grand Bahama Port Authority Scholarship.

With every graduate you will see a brightness in their eyes that comes from the hope and dreams of a higher education. At times the graduates financial ability can dim these aspirations. But proving that hard work does pay off, Shane Russell has proved that dreams can become realities. Russell graduated from Sunland Baptist and then decided to attend and complete the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme at the Lucaya International School.

The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme at Lucaya International School was placed into effect in order to best prepare its students for university or college. The IB Programme also enables students to obtain college credit for their coursework. Although being a strict and demanding program, Russell also obtained the highest score in the history of the Lucaya International School program. Russell’s parents state “We are glad that we decided to have Shane stay here and enter the IB Diploma Programme, in which he earned more than a year’s worth of college credits,and it also gave him that extra time to mature, exposed him to international cultures, and with its structure, gave him a taste of what college life is going to be like”.

Shane will be attending the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill this month. He noted “The international nature of the curriculum of the IB Programme offered at LIShas better prepared me to enter my college as an open minded butanalytical student” further proof that LIS’ IB Programme allows students to be fully prepared for a higher education and develop diversity in their studies. The program studies range from the humanities to the sciences and educates students in the writing skills expected by universities. Shane who was chosen as Valedictorian for his academic achievements throughout the 2-year IB Programme and was also the recipient of the subject honors in Chemistry, Spanish and Math.

Alongside the Grand Bahama Port Authority Scholarship, which will entitle Shane to a scholarship of $2,000 for being his class Valedictorian, he has been elected as one of the recipients of the National Merit Scholarship. The National Merit Scholarship is awarded to candidates from the Commonwealth of the Bahamas. The scholarship enables the chosen candidate to attend an accredited university or college in the Caribbean, United States of America, Canada or in the United Kingdom for four years. The total award is $25,000 per year and covers tuition fees, room and board, clothing, personal and book allowance and one round trip ticket.

The National Merit scholarship is not an easy task to attain, the recipient of the award must maintain a 3.25 grade point average for the first year and a minimum grade point average of 3.00 for the remaining years.

“I am so pleased that Shane has been able to realize his dreams of further education. His outstanding result in the IB Diploma is true testament of his intellectual capabilities and being awarded the Merit scholarship is a great honour,” noted Nigel Kirkby Head of High School

Shane will now begin a new chapter of his life as he works towards a degree in Chemistry. With the beginning of the new school, Lucaya International School hopes that many other students will follow in his footsteps.