Belize student tops CSEC for first time

Press Release - October 27, 2010 - BRIDGETOWN, Barbados- For the first time, a student from Belize is the Most Outstanding Candidate Overall in the Region in the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) May/June examinations.

He is Dorien Villafranco of St John’s College in Belize City.

Dorien won the award for 2010 by achieving 15 Grade Is at one sitting. He achieved Grade I in Biology, Caribbean History, Chemistry, English A, English B, Information Technology, Integrated Science, Mathematics, Physics, Principles of Accounts, Religious Education, Social Studies, Spanish, Physical Education and Sport and Human and Social Biology.

Dorien achieved A on all is his Profile Grades, except in Caribbean History and Integrated Science in which he received one ‘B’ each.

She`niele Grant of Wolmers Girls’ School, Jamaica receives the award for the Most Outstanding Candidate in Business Education. She achieved Grade I in 11 subjects, including five business subjects with all A Profiles. The five business subjects are Economics, Information Technology, Office Administration, Principles of Accounts and Principles of Business. She`niele also achieved Grade I in Chemistry, English A, English B, Mathematics, Physics and Spanish.

Two other students from Jamaica have won CSEC awards. Ayala Bennett of Ardenne High School is the recipient of the award for the Most Outstanding Candidate in Humanities. Ayala achieved Grade I in 11 subjects including six Humanities subjects - Caribbean History, English B, French, Geography, Social Studies and Spanish. She also achieved Grade I in English A, Information Technology, Mathematics, and Human and Social Biology.

The other Jamaican student to receive a prize this year is Adrian Kellyman of Seaforth High School. Adrian wins the award for the Most Outstanding Performance in Visual Arts, 2-Dimensional work. Adrian produced a piece of work in the Imaginative Composition Section entitled “The City Dump.” The piece depicts various scenes and activities in a city dump.

The other Visual Arts award goes to Hemawati Lochansing, a student of Rio Claro West Secondary School, Trinidad and Tobago. Hemawati receives the award for the Most Outstanding Performance in Visual Arts, 3-Dimensional work. She designed and produced a container for saving coins. Using ceramics, the container was designed in the shape of a tree trunk with two iguanas looking over the opening for the coins.

Oliver Maynard of Presentation Boys’ College, Grenada receives the award for the Most Outstanding Candidate in Technical/Vocational Education. Oliver achieved Grade I in 10 subjects, Grade II in one subject and Grade III in one subject. He achieved Grade I in three Technical/Vocational subjects – Agricultural Science, Technical Drawing and Electrical and Electronic Technology. Oliver also achieved Grade I in Biology, Chemistry, English A, Information Technology, Mathematics, Physics and Principles of Business. He achieved Grade II in Caribbean History and Grade III in Spanish.

Navindra Baldeo of Queen’s College, Guyana wins the award for the Most Outstanding Candidate in Sciences. Navindra achieved 12 subjects at Grade I and one subject at Grade II. He achieved Grade I in six Science subjects – Agricultural Science, Biology, Chemistry, Information Technology, Integrated Science and Physics. He also achieved Grade I in English A, English B, Geography, Electronic Document Preparation and Management and Human and Social Biology, and Grade II in French.

The prize for the Best Short Story in the English A examination goes to Zoie Hamilton of Washington Archibald High School, St Kitts and Nevis.

Zoie’s story is entitled “Grasping Death” and is based on the stimulus: it was the middle of the mathematic class. Mrs. Taylor our teacher suddenly collapsed and sprawled unconscious on the floor. It was terrifying...

As a result of Dorien’s performance, St John’s College will receive the CSEC School of the Year award, a prize which was held by Queen’s College, Guyana for the last four consecutive years.

The awards was were approved last Thursday 21st October 2010 at the meeting of the Sub-Committee of the School Examinations Committee (SUBSEC) held at the Barbados Beach Club.

Awardees will receive their prizes at a ceremony scheduled for Turks and Caicos Islands on Thursday 2nd December 2010. The prize package includes a full scholarship to the University of the West Indies, monetary prizes, plaques and books.