Hard work pays off for winners

There was much to cheer about yesterday when the Ministry of Education officially announced the winners of this year’s Barbados Scholarships, Exhibitions and the National Award of Excellence.As revealed earlier this week in the DAILY NATION, Queen’s College topped the list with 13 scholarships and nine exhibitions while Harrison College collected eight scholarships and 11 exhibitions. Minister of Education Ronald Jones, at a Press conference at his ministry , also revealed that the Barbados Community College (BCC) had received eight exhibitions while Combermere had one exhibition winner.Those from the BCC were Ezron Alleyne, Mercedes Antrobus, Richeda Boyce, Danica Corbin, Leandra Griffith, Janielee Kelly, Ashlyn Scott-Williams and Cecile Sealy. Cecile Sealy, the daughter of Angela and Steven Sealy, said she had benefited from studying with several groups. She also cut out television and socialising while preparing for her examinations in biology, chemistry and mathematics. The Welches Heights, St Thomas lass plans to study medicine at the UWI, Cave Hill Campus.Leandra Griffith, the top student at St Catherine’s Primary a few years ago, studied French with Themes and Spanish with Themes and plans to major in French with a minor in Spanish at the University of the West Indies Cave Hill Campus.Griffith said she worked consistently through the semester and found none of her exams particularly difficult since she loved languages.The former Harrison College student is the daughter of Judith and George Griffith of No. 25 Marley Vale Development, St Phillip.Danica Corbin will be heading to Cave Hill. Study groups were also a part of her preparation to ensure that notes were consistent, but politics proved to be a bit challenging on the day, while maths was her easiest. She took exams in business studies.The former Louis Lynch and The St Michael School student of No. 42, Sunset Drive North, Fort George Heights, St Michael, is the daughter of Cheryl and Allan Corbin.Janielee Kelly expressed her gratitude on receiving the exhibition, although her heart was set on a scholarship.“I’m really happy, but to tell the truth I wanted a scholarship instead . . . but I find the requirements are harder when you are at BCC. You can’t get a single ‘B’ and you are graded on your overall performance, but I’m happy none-the-less.Kelly, the daughter of Anna and Roger Kelly of Mount Clapham, St Michael, says she would work for a year before heading to the University of Kent to study law and Spanish.Richeda Boyce, 18, the daughter of Richard and Katcheita Boyce of Prospect, St James, gained her associate degree in arts with triple majors in accounting, economics and information technology.She will be heading to Cave Hill to pursue a degree in accounts.Richeda, who is vacationing overseas, had been a straight “A” student during her days at Westbury Primary and Queen’s College. She missed out on a full scholarship after gaining 28 As [14 with distinction] and a solitary B over the course of her 29 areas of study.Joeleita Agard was the only one lucky enough to gain an award at Combermere School. The Reece Road, Brittons Hill, St Michael student plans to study medicine at UWI, Cave Hill. She took exams in biology, chemistry and pure mathematics alongside the compulsory communications and Caribbean Studies. Agard previously attended the Wilkie Cumberbatch school and is the daughter of Joel and Denneita Agard. (CT)