The Tribune

A BUSINESS plan from a senior at Kingsway Academy that outlined the student’s aim to diversify the economy by creating a bush tea pharmacy has won her a $60,000 scholarship to attend Elmira College.

Brittney Wells, 17, walked away with the top prize during the 13th annual Sunshine Insurance Elmira College Essay & Speech Competition.

Runners-up Kiara Grant of Doris Johnson Senior High School, Meshach Roberts and Regina Smith, both of Queen’s College each won $30,000 scholarships to attend Elmira College.

“I was so surprised because the way the judges were questioning me was so critical. I think they were just trying to see if I could work under pressure and apparently I can,” Ms Wells said.

She plans to major in psychology and minor in business and linguistics when she heads off to college.

She devised a plan to have an all-Bahamian bush medicine pharmacy. In her plan, all of the products sold throughout the pharmacy – the food, snacks, drinks and household products – were all Bahamian-made.

“It’s different from herbal pharmacies because it’s just native Bahamian medicine in the form of lotions, ointments, tea bags, etc,” she said. “I actually have a medical condition – a sinus tumour and natural medicine actually helps it. I haven’t found the exact remedy for it, so I feel as though this kind of medicine would help it more than chemicals that would harm my body in the long run, so that inspired me to do it.”

Michael Rogers, vice president of government relations and chief of staff at Elmira College, said Ms Wells stood out because “she demonstrated great poise under pressure”.

“Obviously, she gave some thought to the way she presented herself right down to the branding of her original idea using the Bahamian flag colours in her logo as well as green – colours evocative of nature. I think it was a smart, clever way to present. She showed some thoughtfulness and some entrepreneurial thinking,” he said.

“That’s what we’re really looking for – someone who can kind of scan the environment they are in and think ‘what can we do differently’, ‘what can we improve on; what is out there that my product or service can fill in the economy and improve it.’ We were looking for someone who would make a great student, who can read, write, speak intelligently and not crumble when we ask very hard questions. She’s obviously a talented young woman and we expect great things from her.”

Many 10th, 11th and 12th graders were given the opportunity to submit essays during the competition. However, only ten students were selected to deliver speeches before a panel of judges in order to win scholarships that were awarded on November 22.

The ten finalists were: Danario Deveaux, Destinee Coleby, Regina Smith, Kaitlyn Fox, Lorette Cineus, Brittney Wells, Kiara Grant, Meshach Roberts, Jasper King and Troy Keily Jr.

Arawak Homes President Franon Wilson, who serves on the board of trustees of Elmira College, is also an alumni.