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HomeCommunityOrganizationsCoral Bay Yacht Club Contest Awards 11 Scholarships Totaling $5,000

Coral Bay Yacht Club Contest Awards 11 Scholarships Totaling $5,000

Oppenheimer Beach, St. John

The Coral Bay Yacht Club (CBYC) awarded $5,000 in funds for scholarships and support for schools based on winning entries from 11 students on St. John and St. Thomas in the CBYC Scholarship Contest.

In March, the yacht club announced it would sponsor a contest for St. John students and grant $500 scholarships to four winners. Students were asked to write a story, poem or personal narrative to apply for the scholarship. They could choose any topic of interest and were encouraged to share a good post-storm experience. Young students were asked to draw a picture with captions.

CBYC received dozens of entries from students of all ages across St. John — and several from St. Thomas. Entries included colored pencil and crayon drawings, poems and essays, and were scored on creativity, originality and writing quality. Most entries portrayed the children’s experiences on island during and immediately after hurricanes Irma and Maria.

Due to the number of excellent entries, CBYC selected not just four, but eleven winners, including eight from St. John and three from Ivanna Eudora Kean High School (IEKHS) in Red Hook, St. Thomas, where many St. John students attend high school. If the winning student attends a private school, CBYC issued a check to the school that will be applied to the student’s tuition. If the winning student attends public school, CBYC wrote a check targeted to supply wish lists.

CBYC applauds IEKHS English teacher Monique Schmidt for using this opportunity to showcase the excellent writing skills that her 11th grade class is developing. The evaluators were impressed by all of her students’ exceptional work and creativity.

2018 CBYC Scholarship Winners:

• Smyrne Bertrand, Grade K, Julius E. Sprauve Elementary School, colored pencil drawing
• Nissi Obando, Grade 1, St. John Christian Academy, drawing
• Tangia George, Grade 1, Gifft Hill School, drawing
• Zach Wilson, Grade 3, Gifft Hill School, essay
• Zia Zucker, Grade 4, V.I. Montessori School & International Academy, poem
• Kim Coppens, Grade 7, Calvert School, poem
• Ajahni Jeffers, Grade 10, Gifft Hill School, essay
• Ki’Janne’ Alfred, Grade 10, Gifft Hill School, essay
• Shania Farrington, Grade 11, Ivanna Eudora Kean High School, essay
• Linique Dagou, Grade 11, Ivanna Eudora Kean High School, essay
• Kahlifah Powell, Grade 11, Ivanna Eudora Kean High School, essay

The Coral Bay Yacht Club thanks all applicants for their participation and Coral Bay Community Council for administrative support. CBYC is committed to the children of St. John and has raised funds through the annual flotilla to help students in the community. Traditionally, funds raised by CBYC support the KATS (Kids and the Sea) sailing program and general childhood education. CBYC is a group of about 40 local sailors and power boaters who combine a love of sailing and boating with service to the community. All Coral Bay boaters are welcome. Dues are $40 per year.
For more information about CBYC, visit www.facebook.com/theCBYC/

Photos: Winning entries attached:
1) Smyrne Bertrand, Grade K, Julius E. Sprauve Elementary School, colored pencil drawing
2) Nissi Obando, Grade 1, St. John Christian Academy, drawing
3) Tangia George, Grade 1, Gifft Hill School, drawing

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