May 18, 2008 — Nearly 100 of the territory’s public high school students received cash awards that totaled more than $15,000 this weekend in the Virgin Islands’ eighth annual Laws of Life essay contest.
Gov. John deJongh Jr. and first lady Cecile deJongh hosted the award ceremonies this year, welcoming St. Thomas and St. John students to the Governor’s Catharineberg Residence on Saturday afternoon, and St. Croix students to Government House in Christiansted on Sunday.
The character education program is a joint effort by the Peter and Patricia Gruber Foundation and the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands; it is funded by the Gruber Foundation and Peter Gruber’s company, Global Financial Strategies, LLC, through a grant to CFVI. The program is designed to get students thinking about their values and expressing their thoughts in writing.
All four of the territory’s public high schools participated: St. Croix Central High School, Educational Complex, Ivanna Eudora Kean High School and Charlotte Amalie High School. St. John does not have a public high school, but the small ninth grade class at Julius Sprauve School also participated.
In class discussion and instruction, English teachers guided the students through the process, grading the finished products as a writing assignment. The essays, minus the student’s names, were then evaluated by a panel of anonymous judges comprised of distinguished members of the community.
Prizes were awarded in each grade level in each school. First place in each grade is $500, second place $250, third place $150. Additionally, three students in each grade at each school receive honorable mention prizes of $50.
Teachers of first, second and third place students also received cash awards of $250, $150 and $100 respectively.
LAWS OF LIFE STUDENT WINNERS
Ivanna Eudora Kean High School
Note: The 9th and 12th grades did not have full contests this year, thus there are only three awards for each grade instead of the usual six.
9th Grade
Brandon Rhymer 1st Place
Roshanna Malone Honorable mention (HM)
Lacoya Ramsey HM
10th Grade
Shakima Plunkett 1st Place
Karlen Talbert 2nd Place
K’nyshau Cameron 3rd Place
Irah Christian HM
Joelle Dawson HM
Jenelle Henry HM
11th Grade
Zaid Sewer 1st Place
Kamaria Penn 2nd Place
Dieudonne Sanon 3rd Place
Leeanna Mahoney HM
Tanasia Monsanto HM
Germarie Smith HM
12th Grade
Antonette Boynes 1st Place
Sandy Bellot HM
Keisha Riviere HM
Charlotte Amalie High School
9th Grade
Amara Leader 1st Place
Byron Todman 2nd Place
Brianna Thomas 3rd Place
Shamoy David HM
Jaanai Forbes HM
Shadeia Sheridan HM
10th Grade
Lawrence Larsen 1st Place
Marika Williams 2nd Place
Keithroy Charles 3rd Place
Shelani Birmingham HM
Asha Joseph HM
Devera Leonard HM
11th Grade
Shinnola Alexander 1st Place
Karence De Costa 2nd Place
Michele Carty 3rd Place
Annathar Alexander HM
SheRea DelSol HM
Darrell Farrell HM
12th Grade
Virgil Campbell 1st Place
Mario Efrain Stout 2nd Place
Maurice Tanner 3rd Place
Stanley Dawson HM
Gisele Marcelin HM
Odari Thomas HM
Educational Complex High School
9th Grade
Lizandra Cruz 1st place
Garfield Henry 2nd place
Vincent Anduze 3rd place
Shantal George HM
Leraia Rosa HM
Kymberli Simon HM
10th Grade
Gemel Joseph 1st place
Nicholas Cromwell, Jr. 2nd place
Sharifa Renee 3rd Place
Kamaria Alexander HM
Sasha Chastanet HM
Bianka Telemaque HM
11th Grade
Lennox Mark 1st place
Haley Allick 2nd place
Michelle Adams 3rd place
Emanuel Morales, Jr. HM
Trevon Nelson HM
Resia Thomas HM
12th Grade
Shanya Hanley 1st place
Kerisha Vanterpool 2nd place
Tramaine Creighton 3rd place
Kristin Joseph HM
Jonelle Rosario HM
Makaila Sylvan HM
St. Croix Central High School
Note: There were no entries for 10th grade.
9th Grade
Gloribel Rivera 1st Place
Orville O’Reilly 2nd Place
Charles Sutton 3rd Place
Jose Bess HM
Shada Simmonds HM
Tishaura Swanston HM
11th Grade
Shernelle James 1st Place
Ephraim Rodriquez 2nd Place
La’Tonya Nesbitt 3rd Place
Kinnisher Ducreay HM
Krystal Jacobs HM
Aliyah Parris HM
12th Grade
Michelle Rivera 1st Place
Olanna Morales 2nd Place
David Mohammed 3rd Place
Estefany De La Cruz HM
Shandell Francis HM
Amy Leo HM
Julius E. Sprauve
Note: There is only one small high school level grade at Sprauve School, so there is only one winner.
9th Grade
Miriam Jones, 1st Place
To read the winning essays click here .
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