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Declaring that he is not a drop-off dad, Howard Williams is proud to be among the two most outstanding fathers involved in the Parent Teachers Association (PTA) at Bermaddy Primary School in Treadways, Linstead, St Catherine. He visits the school so often to check up on his seven-year-old daughter Monique, she now has an expectation that he will show up almost daily. “I am not the drop-off father; I don’t drop her off at school and gone. I am the type of father weh come inside the office and inside the classroom and mek sure I know what’s going on,” the single parent told TheRead More →

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Now pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in computer science through the University of London, former Junior Mayor of Black River Brandi Dennis is still basking in the highs she attained in recent months in academics and the performing arts. She has won a previously elusive national award in the speech competition hosted annually by the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC). Brandi also recently completed her sojourn at Hampton School for Girls, earning nine CSEC subjects from the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC). Putting the proverbial icing on the cake, she reaped the best grade attainable - Grade One - in eight of the subjects, namely: Physics, Mathematics,Read More →

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Despite fighting sickle cell disease, aspiring lawyer Melissa Blair managed to top the entire Caribbean in one subject, History (Unit 2), in 2021. She did it at the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency (CAPE) level, administered by the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC), which recently announced her regional placement. The recent graduate of St. Andrew High School for Girls did not only get the best grade possible (Grade One) in the subject. She also is among the only two students in the region to attain straight ‘A’ profile in it. “I felt so good; it was such a relief to see that grade and my other grades,” MelissaRead More →

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Rayon Smith has been making a name for himself in academics and leadership. And that’s the reason many are banking on him to continue bringing pride and joy to his family as well as his community of Long Road in Portland Eastern. “From Rayon was a little child, I knew that he would do well. I had no doubt,” said his mother, Malina Speid. “If he needed a textbook or anything for school, he would keep reminding me because he always wanted to get high marks. My son is very respectful, hardworking and diligent. He makes me proud every single day.” Already, Rayon has attainedRead More →

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Lasania Rodney faced harsh criticism and ridicule in her rural community of Lluidas Vale in St Catherine because she, by age 28, got pregnant three times. But she mustered the courage to enroll at Moneague College and graduate last month with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration, specializing in Finance and Management. She has dedicated the degree to her late foster mother, Nathlee Jones, whom she said offered her the “universe of opportunities” to make something good of herself. Rodney was at a tender age when she first met Jones, then a teacher and Justice of the Peace. She was left in Jones’Read More →

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For the second consecutive year, Matthew Wilmot from Jamaica is being declared the region’s top performer in a CSEC subject, administered by the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC). While he was in fourth form at Campion College in 2020, the aspiring engineer sat Technical Drawing and eventually was announced the highest scorer in it regionally. That was foreshadowing of what was to come for Matthew who, last year, attained nine other CSEC subjects - all of them with perfect grades. Those subjects included Information Technology, in which Matthew out-performed all other students in the Caribbean, CXC has disclosed. “I have a passion for technical subjects, includingRead More →

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Shaniel McLean’s academic excellence at the local and regional levels belies the sacrifices she makes, mindful that she is building a foundation for a brighter future. “My mom [Simone Thomas] is a single parent and so it is kinda stressing to her in terms of our financial situation,” she told The Beacon. “And with classes online [due to the COVID-19 pandemic], sometimes we don’t have any internet connection. But we just have to make it work.” Shaniel already earned a total 14 subjects from the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC). In 12 of those subjects, she scored the highest grade achievable - Grade One. “I amRead More →

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Anntonieka Garriques initially did not have a computer and she had to walk a mile away from her home daily to access internet for online classes in preparation for regional exams. Online classes had become the in-thing for countless students due to a ban imposed nationally on face-to-face classes to help slow the spread of the novel coronavirus. “My biggest challenge was when I was preparing for my CSEC exams and not having any internet at home. I had to walk one mile to use internet at my primary school. And I did not [initially] own a device, but received one at a later date,”Read More →

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Washing clothes and playing in the waters of the Rio Cobre is not the only childhood memory etched in Clair Henry-Wilson’s mind. She vividly recalls that, during childhood, her dream was to become a teacher - an extraordinary one. “Teaching has always been my love,” she said. “When I graduated from high school, I did not look anywhere else except teachers’ college because that’s what I wanted to do.” Henry-Wilson also knew what was required to make her dream more than a figment of her imagination. “Education was my way out to achieve,” she told The Beacon. Her parents, Beverly and Augustus Henry, a housewifeRead More →

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Staying positive amid financial challenges and transportation woes is paying off for David Burnett, who recently attained 11 CSEC subjects from the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC). To top it all off, he achieved the highest grade possible (Grade One) in eight of the subjects - Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Geography, Mathematics, Spanish, Agriculture, as well as Human and Social Biology. He got Grade Two in the other three subjects, including English A. “I believe that hard work and consistency is the key in succeeding,” the 17-year-old said, adding that he intends to study at the Florida Institute of Technology in the United States. His goal isRead More →

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Bent on making it big as a businessman in the real estate industry, Akeem Brickliffe is now pursuing a first degree in Business Studies at Moneague College in his native St. Ann. Prior to taking that educational leap, he accomplished a feat that is still being lauded by his family as well as his alma mater - Ewarton High School in St. Catherine. Akeem this year attained seven Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate subjects, set by the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC). He scored five Grade Twos, as well as Grade One in Caribbean History and Principles of Business. That performance placed him among his school’s topRead More →

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Known to voluntarily help students of his community to prepare for exams, Akieem Henderson is now basking in his moment of academic glory. He told The Beacon that he will graduate from the University of Technology (UTech) on December 12 with the highest quality degree - first class honours, which is usually acquired only by a small number of university graduates. In attaining his Bachelor’s of Science in Accounting, Henderson recorded a cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.6 out of 4.0. The writing appeared on the proverbial wall from as early as his first year at UTech, when he got the highest GPA (3.8)Read More →

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Adrian Rhoden has continued to live up to the billing as an academic genius. He completed sixth form at Cornwall College this year with a total 24 subjects from the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC). He achieved the highest grade possible (Grade One) in 22 of those subjects. The native of Flower Hill in St. James who was raised by a single mother since his father Oscar Rhoden died four years ago is ecstatic. “I am more than satisfied,” he told The Beacon. “In fact, I have genuinely impressed myself.” Of the 24 subjects that the aspiring medical doctor attained, 13 are at the CSEC levelRead More →

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Head Girl at Spring Vale Primary School near Bog Walk in St. Catherine, Ashanti Armstrong, has been awarded a place at The Queens School - her first choice of secondary educational institution. She earned her heart’s desire despite facing several odds, including the death of her father, Almanzo Armstrong, a construction worker who fell from a high building and died in Manchester in 2019. Ashanti is heading to Queens with a placement score of 116.1 in the Primary Exit Profile (PEP). She attained 90 percent in the Ability Test, and mastery of the Literacy and Numeracy components of PEP. Although her performance in Language ArtsRead More →

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Orville Mckellop from Waterloo district in Spanish Town, St Catherine, has overcome enormous medical hurdles to this year attain a whopping 10 CSEC subjects (General), presented by the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC). He is an aspiring chartered accountant and graphic artist, who is now a sixth former at his beloved Jonathan Grant High School. Orville, a past student of Eltham Park Primary, has a genetic condition known as osteogenesis imperfecta (brittle bone disease). It has caused him much pain and discomfort. Orville, however, defied all odds to end fifth form with a bang. He attained 4 Grade Ones in CSEC subjects such as English ARead More →