Proud of Them recipients celebrated
Proud of Them recipients and government officials
(CNS Local Life): The Ministry of Education and the National Youth Commission recently feted 12 young Caymanians named under the Proud of Them, youth-recognition initiative. The round nine recipients hail from Stake Bay in Cayman Brac, George Town, and Bodden Town and range from 11 to 21 years old.
Recipients were nominated and recognised for outstanding contributions in the categories of academics, sports, career, culture, business or community service, stated a press release.
The latest group to be acknowledged comprise Tya Bovell (17), culture; Rasheem Brown (18), sports; Trevor Carmola, Jr (11), academics and community service; Anissa Hoyte (17), academics; Zolla Jones (14), community service; Taneil Lee (21), academics, culture and community service; Zachary Moore (15), sports; Deija Myles (17), academics and community service; Keanu Oliver (17), academics and community service; Gabriela Ritch (17), academics; Julius Smith (15), academics and community service; and Janelle Smith (18), business.
Each awardee received a Proud of Them certificate and a $500 cheque.
Minister of Education, Youth, Sports, Agriculture and Land (EYSAL) Juliana O’Connor-Connolly told the recipients at the ceremony, “Your commitment and achievements are where the future hopes of our country rest. Some of you have overcome adversity, many of you challenge yourselves to do more and all of you inspire others to try harder and give more.
“Having already achieved so much, we know that you can and will continue to excel. We are in awe of your inspiring stories and by the many qualities that made you stand out from what was a highly competitive pool. Over the coming weeks, your billboards will be put up and your profiles will be made public. In these ways, the wider community will come to know of you and learn of the diverse ways that make us proud to have you be a contributing member of our community at such a young age.”
Chairman of the Proud of Them Committee and emcee, EYSAL Assistant Chief Officer Joel Francis, who helped set up the recognition initiative in 2012, read out the bios of each honouree, which will be released shortly.
Past Proud of Them recipient Chanelle Scott (18) spoke of the pivotal role becoming an awardee had in reinforcing her academic goals. “The award in itself does not end when you come off the billboard,” the Li Po Chun United World College, Hong Kong, graduate said. “You will forever be an ambassador for this programme and expected to carry out the level of excellence you were nominated for.”
The round’s youngest recipient, 11-year-old Trevor Carmola Jr, proved that childhood is no barrier to being a leader, the press release stated.
Honoured for community service and academic achievements, he said, “I was very surprised and happy to find out I was recognised for this award. I enjoy school and the leadership roles I’ve taken up there and in places like church and the cadets. What I’m most proud of is fundraising for childhood cancer and donating 22 inches of my hair for children’s wigs.”
Category: Youth
