William Knibb High student wins TPDCo essay competition
Published:Saturday | January 14, 2012 | 12:00 AM
FALMOUTH, Trelawny:
Seventh-grade student at the William Knibb Memorial High School in Trelawny, Samantha Williams, has copped first prize in the Hileman/Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo) essay competition.
Writing on the topic 'My dream for Jamaica', Williams used just over 250 words to chronicle how she would love to see a reduction in teenage pregnancies and crime and violence, and more compassion being shown to the disabled, as well as unity in politically charged areas.
Second place went to Westwood High School's Karissa Jackson, while Lovette Malcolm of William Knibb placed third.
The essay competition was sponsored by retired United States-based educator Gaile Hileman to the tune of US$500, and was coordinated by TPDCo for schools in Trelawny.
"Girls, remember the spark within you. You are sacred. Say yes to God and to loving and honouring yourself. Say no to the boys and be the sacred flower of Jamaica," Hileman implored female students.
During the handing over of prizes at William Knibb High on Wednesday, Hileman - who lives in Texas - recounted her first visit to Falmouth on February 17 last year aboard the Royal Caribbean's Voyager of the Seas, which was making its maiden call at the newly constructed pier.
INSPIRE
Hileman said she and her husband, now deceased, were the first ones to disembark from the vessel and were excited to share in the historic event. Hileman said they chose to leave a small scholarship fund to inspire students to focus on their dreams by writing an essay on their dreams for Jamaica.
"This is part of what we do when we say we are sprucing up Jamaica. It involves sprucing up the minds and ourselves in a very holistic way and making sure we can touch each other's lives," said coordinator of the Spruce Up Jamaica campaign, Marlene Stephenson-Dalley.
For her winning essay, Williams received cash and gift packages from Spruce Up Jamaica, tour vouchers, and passes to Breezes Resort and Spa Trelawny, among other prizes.