EVEN THOUGH SHE MISSED the mark and did not get the Barbados Exhibition she wanted, Zhaniah Gay has been rewarded by her alma mater, The Lodge School.
She was the recipient of the inaugural Arthur, Farmer, Gore, Ishmael Incentive Award.
Gay, who studied sciences, gained four Grade I and four Grade II passes at the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Exams (CAPE) and is pursuing medical studies at the University of the West Indies.
In tears, Gay said: “I am just so happy that although I did not get an Exhibition like I was striving for, I at least got an award, so I know that my hard work paid off. I worked my hardest because I always wanted to do well.”
Gay said her mother, also a former Lodge School student, told her on her entry that the school had a rich history, to embrace that history and have a wonderful time, but also work hard.
The award was inaugurated during the recent Founder’s Day activities as the school celebrated 271 years. It is named after old scholars Kenneth Arthur, Stephen Farmer, Hugh Gore and Dr Richard Ishmael. Any sixth form student is eligible.
Farmer told the students: “We, the donors of the award, are eternally grateful to The Lodge School and the dedicated teachers who equip us for life after school.
“We urge you to take full advantage of this wonderful opportunity and truly embrace all that this great institution has to offer you. I am sure that your further studies and life in the real world will become that much easier.”
Ishmael congratulated Zhaniah, and also spoke of her choice to get involved in medicine. He said The Lodge School had produced many doctors.
“In the 1980s, of the 60 consultants at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, more than half of them were former Lodge School students. The Lodge School has a tradition of producing doctors,” he said.
John Kellman, who led the morning’s presentation that took place during the general assembly, said the monetary award was a sizeable one.
He said the purpose of the award was to encourage sixth form students to perform well in their CAPE exams. (LK)
(LK)
