Making a difference in the lives of children through The Bahamas Primary School Student of the Year Awards Program
History of The Bahamas Primary School Student of the Year Awards Program
Pictured above: Members of the Board of Directors of The Bahamas Primary School Student of the Year Foundation
The Vision
The Bahamas Primary School Student of the Year Awards Program (http://www.bahamaspstoy.org) is a premier national awards recognition program for 6th graders in The Bahamas. The program was introduced by Ricardo P. Deveaux - Distinguished Charter President of the Nassau, Bahamas Pan-Hellenic Council and was designed to salute the achievements of our younger achievers.
Mr. Deveaux was impressed with the prestigious Florida College Student of the Year Awards Program sponsored by Florida Leader Magazine and Oxendine Publishing Company (http://www.floridaleader.com/soty/) and felt the need to establish a national awards program in his country. Ricardo was one of seven finalists in the 1992 Florida College Student of the Year Awards Program.
The History
In November 1996, the idea of a Student of the Year program was submitted to the Council for acceptance by then Council President Ricardo Deveaux. The competition immediately received its endorsements from four educators who were serving as Executive Council Members at the time: Sharon Poitier (Alpha Kappa Alpha), Anastacia Brown (Delta Sigma Theta), Carolynn Hall-Knowles (Delta Sigma Theta) and Garnell Rolle (Zeta Phi Beta) and the Nassau, Bahamas Pan-Hellenic Council. The program also received the endorsement of Senator Dame Dr. Ivy Dumont - Minister of Education (later Her Excellency Governor-General of The Commonwealth of The Bahamas.)
A committee was formed and Ms. Anastacia Brown was selected as the Committee Chairperson. The Council selected June 9th, 1997 as the date for the first Student of the Year awards program. Thirty-one (31) students representing private and public school students in New Providence were the first nominees in the awards ceremony. The ceremony was held at the Ballroom at Government House with Their Excellencies Sir Orville Turnquest - Governor-General and Lady Edith Turnquest in attendance. In his remarks, His Excellency challenged the Council to include the Family Islands in future contest. Vashti Darling, a ten-year-old sixth grade student of St. John's College was selected as the 1997 Primary School Student of the Year.
In October 1998, The National Pan-Hellenic Council - Southern Region selected the Bahamas Primary School Student of the Year Awards Program as the Most Outstanding Original Program. This was the first international award won by the Nassau, Bahamas Council. The Bahamas Primary School Student of the Year Awards Program is the major educational thrust of the Nassau, Bahamas Council of the National Pan-Hellenic Council, Inc. Now in its fourteenth year, The Bahamas Primary School Student of the Year recognizes students who are academically gifted, civic and campus leaders and community volunteers.
Atlantic Medical Insurance was the first major sponsor of the Bahamas Primary School Student of the Year Award Program, donating a scholarship to a deserving student since 1998 - 2007. In 2006, Mr. Basil Neymour became the major sponsor by donating a $5,000 scholarship for the Student of the Year Winner. Since 2006, Mr. Neymour has donated some $30,000.00 to the Awards Program. In 2008, Bahamas Office & School Supplies (BOSS) became a major sponsor making a $10,000.00 donation. The 2007 Awards Program was also historic as Mr. Clarence N. Childs - Retired Vice-President of Student Affairs at Bethune-Cookman College became the first international scholarship donor of the Bahamas Primary School Student of the Year Awards Program.
Under the leadership of Ricardo P. Deveaux, The Bahamas Primary School Student of the Year Awards Program has recognized over 1,900 of the BEST and BRIGHTEST primary school students and have presented over $1.2 Million Dollars in scholarships and prizes.
The Foundation
Under the Presidency of Mrs. Cyndi Williams-Rahming, a proposal was submitted to the Nassau, Bahamas Pan-Hellenic Council for the Student of the Year Awards Program to be incorporated under a Foundation. The proposal was submitted and approved by the Council in May 2004 and incorporated under The Companies Act of 1992 of The Commonwealth of The Bahamas in June 2004. It was agreed that members of the 2004 Awards Committee would comprise of the Founding members of the Foundation Board of Directors.
Wednesday, August 4th, 2004 was a historic day for the officers and members of the Nassau, Bahamas Pan-Hellenic Council. The official launch was held in the form of a Luncheon at The Ballroom at Government House and it was hosted by Her Excellency Dame Ivy Dumont (then the Governor-General of The Commonwealth of The Bahamas). The thirteen member Board of Directors were officially presented with their letters of appointments. The founding Directors were Cyndi Williams-Rahming - President, Ricardo P. Deveaux - Chairman, Tanya Woodside - Vice-Chair of Development, Carol L. Smith - Vice-Chair of Administration, Andre' A. Moss - Treasurer and Margo Adderley - Secretary. Directors were: L. Gerard Archer, Vaughn L. Culmer, CC LaFleur, Myra Mitchell, Eugene 'Geno' Nairn, Phenton Neymour and Steven G. Strachan.
Attorney Debi Williams-Hancock of Williams Law Chambers completed the entire legal framework for the Foundation (gratis). Williams Law Chambers became the official registered office of the Foundation. The Bahamas Primary School Student of the Year Foundation was officially established with five hundred dollars ($500) from the Nassau, Bahamas Pan-Hellenic Council and a six thousand dollar ($6,000) grant from the First Caribbean International Bank. The Bank awarded the Foundation with a grant in recognition of Ricardo Deveaux being selected as the First Caribbean International Bank – 2004 Bahamas Unsung Hero. He was recognized for his work with the Bahamas Primary School Student of the Year Awards Program.
Pictured above: Members of the Board of Directors of The Bahamas Primary School Student of the Year Foundation
The Vision
The Bahamas Primary School Student of the Year Awards Program (http://www.bahamaspstoy.org) is a premier national awards recognition program for 6th graders in The Bahamas. The program was introduced by Ricardo P. Deveaux - Distinguished Charter President of the Nassau, Bahamas Pan-Hellenic Council and was designed to salute the achievements of our younger achievers.
Mr. Deveaux was impressed with the prestigious Florida College Student of the Year Awards Program sponsored by Florida Leader Magazine and Oxendine Publishing Company (http://www.floridaleader.com/soty/) and felt the need to establish a national awards program in his country. Ricardo was one of seven finalists in the 1992 Florida College Student of the Year Awards Program.
The History
In November 1996, the idea of a Student of the Year program was submitted to the Council for acceptance by then Council President Ricardo Deveaux. The competition immediately received its endorsements from four educators who were serving as Executive Council Members at the time: Sharon Poitier (Alpha Kappa Alpha), Anastacia Brown (Delta Sigma Theta), Carolynn Hall-Knowles (Delta Sigma Theta) and Garnell Rolle (Zeta Phi Beta) and the Nassau, Bahamas Pan-Hellenic Council. The program also received the endorsement of Senator Dame Dr. Ivy Dumont - Minister of Education (later Her Excellency Governor-General of The Commonwealth of The Bahamas.)
A committee was formed and Ms. Anastacia Brown was selected as the Committee Chairperson. The Council selected June 9th, 1997 as the date for the first Student of the Year awards program. Thirty-one (31) students representing private and public school students in New Providence were the first nominees in the awards ceremony. The ceremony was held at the Ballroom at Government House with Their Excellencies Sir Orville Turnquest - Governor-General and Lady Edith Turnquest in attendance. In his remarks, His Excellency challenged the Council to include the Family Islands in future contest. Vashti Darling, a ten-year-old sixth grade student of St. John's College was selected as the 1997 Primary School Student of the Year.
In October 1998, The National Pan-Hellenic Council - Southern Region selected the Bahamas Primary School Student of the Year Awards Program as the Most Outstanding Original Program. This was the first international award won by the Nassau, Bahamas Council. The Bahamas Primary School Student of the Year Awards Program is the major educational thrust of the Nassau, Bahamas Council of the National Pan-Hellenic Council, Inc. Now in its fourteenth year, The Bahamas Primary School Student of the Year recognizes students who are academically gifted, civic and campus leaders and community volunteers.
Atlantic Medical Insurance was the first major sponsor of the Bahamas Primary School Student of the Year Award Program, donating a scholarship to a deserving student since 1998 - 2007. In 2006, Mr. Basil Neymour became the major sponsor by donating a $5,000 scholarship for the Student of the Year Winner. Since 2006, Mr. Neymour has donated some $30,000.00 to the Awards Program. In 2008, Bahamas Office & School Supplies (BOSS) became a major sponsor making a $10,000.00 donation. The 2007 Awards Program was also historic as Mr. Clarence N. Childs - Retired Vice-President of Student Affairs at Bethune-Cookman College became the first international scholarship donor of the Bahamas Primary School Student of the Year Awards Program.
Under the leadership of Ricardo P. Deveaux, The Bahamas Primary School Student of the Year Awards Program has recognized over 1,900 of the BEST and BRIGHTEST primary school students and have presented over $1.2 Million Dollars in scholarships and prizes.
The Foundation
Under the Presidency of Mrs. Cyndi Williams-Rahming, a proposal was submitted to the Nassau, Bahamas Pan-Hellenic Council for the Student of the Year Awards Program to be incorporated under a Foundation. The proposal was submitted and approved by the Council in May 2004 and incorporated under The Companies Act of 1992 of The Commonwealth of The Bahamas in June 2004. It was agreed that members of the 2004 Awards Committee would comprise of the Founding members of the Foundation Board of Directors.
Wednesday, August 4th, 2004 was a historic day for the officers and members of the Nassau, Bahamas Pan-Hellenic Council. The official launch was held in the form of a Luncheon at The Ballroom at Government House and it was hosted by Her Excellency Dame Ivy Dumont (then the Governor-General of The Commonwealth of The Bahamas). The thirteen member Board of Directors were officially presented with their letters of appointments. The founding Directors were Cyndi Williams-Rahming - President, Ricardo P. Deveaux - Chairman, Tanya Woodside - Vice-Chair of Development, Carol L. Smith - Vice-Chair of Administration, Andre' A. Moss - Treasurer and Margo Adderley - Secretary. Directors were: L. Gerard Archer, Vaughn L. Culmer, CC LaFleur, Myra Mitchell, Eugene 'Geno' Nairn, Phenton Neymour and Steven G. Strachan.
Attorney Debi Williams-Hancock of Williams Law Chambers completed the entire legal framework for the Foundation (gratis). Williams Law Chambers became the official registered office of the Foundation. The Bahamas Primary School Student of the Year Foundation was officially established with five hundred dollars ($500) from the Nassau, Bahamas Pan-Hellenic Council and a six thousand dollar ($6,000) grant from the First Caribbean International Bank. The Bank awarded the Foundation with a grant in recognition of Ricardo Deveaux being selected as the First Caribbean International Bank – 2004 Bahamas Unsung Hero. He was recognized for his work with the Bahamas Primary School Student of the Year Awards Program.
Members of the Board of Directors of The Bahamas Primary School Student of the Year Foundation who serve along with Ricardo P. Deveaux with the United States Ambassador Her Excellency Nicole Avant
Board Members of the Bahamas Primary School Student of the Year Foundation with His Excellency Sir Arthur Foulkes - Governor-General of The Bahamas
Members of The Bahamas Primary School Student of the Year Foundation paid a courtesy call on the Hon. Jerome Fitzgerald, MP - Minister of Education, Science & Technology.
Members of The Bahamas Primary School Student of the Year Foundation paid a Courtesy Call on His Excellency Sir Arthur Foulkes - January 2013
