Proud of Them: Isabella Hall and Tarec Francis
(CNS Local Life): The Ministry of Education, Youth, Sports, Agriculture and Lands has released another two biographies out of the group of 10 young people recognised in the latest round of Proud of Them recipients. Isabella Hall has been honoured for her academics and Tarec Francis for his community service.
Isabella Hall (18) has been “a consistent high achiever who has earned numerous academic awards beginning with her days at Red Bay Primary School”, the ministry said in a press release. When she started at John Gray High School in 2010, her leadership skills and friendly disposition were quickly identified, and she was made a deputy prefect.
While at John Gray, Hall was a member of the Save Our Youth (SOY) Foundation where she earned a medallion for Outstanding Community Service, Achievements and Contributions to the school. She was also involved in Key Club, the Business Education & Management Club and the Cayman Islands Youth Assembly which allowed her to lend her voice to the issues youth face and help promote positive leadership.
During her high school career she also tutored students who were struggling in math and then watched them pass their CXC exams.
She graduated with honours after attaining 12 subject passes, and received several awards including Best Report. Now at UCCI on a government scholarship, she is consistently on the Dean’s List for maintaining a grade point average above 3.5 in her pursuit of an Associate of Science degree in Computer Science.
Her goal is to continue her studies overseas and earn her bachelor’s degree as well as other IT certifications. Recently, she was asked to speak to the Year 9 students at Cayman Prep and High School about the real world of Information Technology (IT). She sought to motivate the female students in particular, telling them that they can do just as well as their male counterparts in the IT sector which is dominated by men.
In addition to her school obligations, Hall has a part time job and helps her younger siblings with their school work. Her philosophy is, “Education never stops, and you cannot let negativity keep you from your goals.”
Francis (17) excels in both sports and academics; he is a leader; and he cares for others, said the ministry, adding in the press release, “perhaps where he is at his best is in service to his community, both at school and in the wider society”.
A former Clifton Hunter High School student, among his activities were class monitor and representative, peer mentor, prefect, head boy and executive member of the student council body, Key Club member and ambassador for the STEM Conference held at UCCI.
In his last year of high school, Tarec represented the Cayman Islands and his school at the Global Young Leaders Conference (GYLC) held in Washington, DC and New York. As a result of his leadership skills and accomplishments, he was chosen as a delegate in the Asia Youth International Model United Nations in Bangkok, Thailand.
He has also competed for Clifton Hunter in track and field and cooking competitions, receiving numerous medals for his performance in both areas. He is the 2017 Bodden Town district cook-off champion, the national youth cook-off champion and winner of the Cayman Islands Upside Down Pineapple Cake competition.
In addition, as vice-captain for the academy track team at Clifton Hunter, he has received gold and silver medals at the inter-secondary championship competition.
Tarec is the director for the Cayman Islands Youth Assembly (CIYA), and a co-host for Youth Flex radio show. He is also a member of the Toastmasters youth leadership programme and the youth culinary programme.
He has also volunteered at several events around the island, including the DG’s 5K Run/Walk and Turkey Trot; cooking at the Gimistory festival; working at the Clifton Hunter uniform shop; cooking breakfast for Girl Guides leaders; helping with a rock clean up in East End for the new racing track, and helping to release turtles back into the wild.
Francis is a student at UCCI where he continues to give back to his school community as a member of the steel pan band, the choir, and the student council body.
Read the full biographies here
Category: Youth
