Tywana Cranston of the Charlestown Secondary School in the Federation of St Kitts and Nevis and Kesan Samuel a former student of the Vieux Fort Comprehensive Secondary School in Saint Lucia are the first place winners in the respective categories of the 2013/2014 OECS Essay Competition, hosted and sponsored by the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB).
Tywana emerged winner of the age 14 – 16 category with her essay on the topic: “Young people’s constant engagement with social media has the potential of advancing or stifling their development.” Tywana is of the view that social media provide vast potential for the advancement of young people as they encourage connectivity, foster creativity and the spread of knowledge across borders and provide an avenue for access to information. She however cautions that if young people do not manage or use social media tools properly, their development could be compromised.
Kesan, who has since graduated from school, won the age 17 – 19 category with her discussion on the topic:
“Developing the creative talents of young people of the OECS is critical to the advancement of the creative arts industry in the region.” Kesan suggests that creative arts are as important to a child’s development as reading, writing and arithmetic and should therefore be included at all levels of the school curriculum. She also recommends that parents, teachers, churches, government agencies and voluntary groups should collaborate with young people to develop the creative arts industry.
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The OECS Essay Competition, which is part of the ECCB’s community outreach programme, is aimed at encouraging critical thinking and raising the awareness of secondary school and college students in the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union (ECCU) on issues of economic and social development.
Three hundred and forty-six (346) students, from 25 schools submitted entries. The essays were assessed for content, soundness of points, logical development, knowledge of the subject, command of language and presentation.
Makahyla Brown of the Charlestown Secondary School and Bethany Greene, former student of the Washington Archibald High School in St Kitts and Nevis were adjudged second and third place winners respectively in the age 14 – 16 category. In the age 17 – 19 category,
Kemba Hughes of the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School, Anguilla captured second place while Jean-Vel Gabriel of the Antigua Girls’ High School placed third.
The first place winners in each of the categories will each be awarded a $2,500 cash prize and a grant of $1,500 will be awarded to their respective schools. The students who placed second will each receive $1,500 and their schools will be presented with a grant of $1,000; while the third place winners will each receive $1,000 and their schools a grant of $500.
The Antigua Girls’ High School will be awarded a grant of $500 for submitting the most entries. Certificates of recognition will also be awarded to students in each category for the essays which did not place among the top three but were adjudged the best in the respective countries.
2014 OECS Essay Competition – Best in Country Winners
Name of Student Country/School
Category: Age 14 – 16
Kyiv Edwards Anguilla – Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School
Terrikia Benjamin Antigua and Barbuda – Antigua Girls’ High School
Joanice George Commonwealth of Dominica – Pierre Charles Secondary School
Kevin Charles Grenada – Grenada Boys’ Secondary School
Tuyen Osborne Montserrat – Montserrat Secondary School
Kaleb Lay-Estwiek Saint Lucia – St Mary’s College
Summer Warrican St Vincent and the Grenadines – St Vincent Girls’ High School
Category: Age 17 – 19
Sherdica Chelsea Moses Commonwealth of Dominica – Dominica State College
Princess Davis Montserrat – Montserrat Secondary School
Kelon Caton Grenada – Grenada Christian Academy
Clayticia Daniel St Kitts and Nevis – Nevis Sixth Form College
Note: No entries were received from St Vincent and the Grenadines for the Age 17 – 19 category.