First there was the Regional Top Award for outstanding performance in CSEC. In 2006, the Council added the Dennis Irvine Award and Regional Top Awards for outstanding performance in CAPE. Now, in an effort to recognize more of the region’s top performers in a diversified range of disciplines, the Council has teamed up with other institutions and agencies to offer other regional awards.
CARDI Award for Outstanding Performance in Agricultural Science
The Caribbean Agriculture Research and Development Institute (CARDI) in collaboration with CXC introduced the CARDI Award for Outstanding Performance in Agricultural Science in 2008 after discussions between the two regional organisations.
The winner of the 2009 CARDI award is Joshua Hammichand, a student of St Joseph’s High School, Georgetown, Guyana. In addition to achieving Grade I in Agricultural Science (Double Award), Joshua also achieved Grade I in English A, English B, Mathematics and Principles of Business, with A’s in all subject profiles.
Joshua was presented with his monetary prize of US$250.00 at the Guyana Agriculture Week opening ceremony in October by Dr Arlington Chesney, Executive Director of CARDI.
CXC/US Embassy CSEC Awards
CXC and the United States Embassy in Barbados have teamed up to offer the US Embassy/CXC National Awards for Outstanding Performance in CSEC. The awards are for the Most Outstanding CSEC candidate in Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia and St Vincent and the Grenadines.
The awards were introduced in 2008 and the 2009 recipients were presented with their prizes between November 2009 and March 2010.
Antigua and Barbuda
Ariel Maynard of the Baptist Academy of Antigua won the award for Antigua and Barbuda with Grade I in ten subjects. Ariel achieved Grade I in Biology, Chemistry, English A, English B, Mathematics, Physics, Principles of Accounts, Principles of Business, Social Studies and Spanish. She was presented with her prizes at a ceremony at the Ministry of Education in March, 2010.
Barbados
Brittany Evason of St Winifred’s School won the award for Barbados with eight Grade Is. Brittany achieved Grade I in Caribbean History, Chemistry, English A, English B, Food and Nutrition, Information Technology, Mathematics and Spanish.
Dr Didacus Jules, Registrar of CXC and Dr Brent Hardt, US Charge d’Affaires Officer presented the commemorative plaque and cheque to Brittany at her school’s general assembly on 20 November last year.
Dominica
St Mary’s Academy’s Sidney Jules was the winner in Dominica. Sidney achieved Grade I in nine subjects – Biology, Chemistry, English A, French, Mathematics, Physics, Principles of Business and Spanish.
Mr. D.R. Seckinger, an officer with the US Embassy and Jennifer Lafond, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development presented the prizes to Sidney at the St Mary’s Academy on 25 February.
Grenada
Arlene Hayes of St Joseph’s Convent took the prize for the Spice Isle with 10 Grade Is. Arlene achieved Grade I in Biology, English A, English B, French, Geography, Information Technology, Mathematics, Physics, Spanish and Technical Drawing.
Arlene received her prizes on 10 February at a ceremony at St Joseph’s Convent.
St Kitts and Nevis
Zoe Gonsalves of Convent High School copped the award for St Kitts and Nevis. She achieved Grade I in 13 subjects – Biology, Chemistry, Electronic Document Preparation and Management, English A, English B, Human and Social Biology, Integrated Science, Mathematics, Office Administration, Physics, Principles of Accounts, Principles of Business and Spanish.
Zoe received her prizes on 19 February at a ceremony hosted at Convent High School. Blondell Franks, CXC Local Registrar and Nazima Razick, US Consular Officer presented the prizes to Zoe.
St Lucia
Lena Taupierof St Joseph’s Convent with 12 Grade Is walked away with the award for St Lucia. Lena achieved Grade I in Biology, Chemistry, English A, English B, French, Human and Social Biology, Mathematics, Physics, Principles of Accounts, Social Studies, Spanish and Visual Arts.
Lena received her award at a ceremony hosted at the St Joseph’s Convent on 10 February, 2010. Dr Brent Hardt, Chargé d’Affaires at the US Embassy-Bridgetown presented the cheque, while Phelomene Alexander, CXC Local Registrar in St Lucia presented the CXC plaque.
St Vincent and the Grenadines
Gregory Tuayev-Deane of the St Vincent Grammar School won the award in St Vincent and the Grenadines. Gregory achieved Grade I in 11 subjects – Biology, Chemistry, Economics, English A, English B, French, Geography, Information Technology, Mathematics, Principles of Business, Physics, and Spanish and Grade II in English B.
He received his prizes from Cheryl Thomas, CXC Local Registrar in St Vincent and the Grenadines and Dr Joseph Schaller, the US Embassy’s Deputy Public Affairs Officer.
The award included a cheque of USD$500.00 from the US Embassy and a commemorative plaque from CXC. In addition, the US Embassy donated a collection of books to the awardee’s school.
The Eric Williams CAPE History Prize
The Eric Williams CAPE History Prize was introduced in 2008 in honour of former Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister, Dr Eric Williams; and is donated by the Eric Williams Memorial Collection. The award is for the Most Outstanding Candidate in CAPE History. The candidate is required to achieve Grade I in both CAPE History Units 1 and 2.
The 2009 recipient of the award is Ojeda Vanterpool of the Albena Lake Hodge Comprehensive School in Anguilla. She achieved Grade I in History Units 1 and 2 with five As and one B in the Module Grades.
Ojeda is currently studying Law at Queen Mary College, University of London and received her prize on 31 March at the Trinidad and Tobago High Commission in London.