The Tribune

THE Templeton World Foundation recently held its annual “Laws of Life” essay competition awards ceremony at the Melià Nassau Beach Resort.

This year’s winners were Denisha Demeritte, of Kingsway Academy, Ameir Taylor, of Queen’s College, and Rodnika François, of Columbus Primary. All three recipients won a $1,000 tuition scholarship. Kingsway Academy took home the floating trophy as the top scoring essay winner and the English department of the winners’ schools took home a cash prize of $1,000.

This year’s judges were Pastor Allen Lee, the chief judge, Fr Michael Gittens, Patricia Glinton-Meicholas, Pastor Lyall Bethel and Harriet Pratt.

Principal speaker at the event, Minister of Education Jerome Fitzgerald, told the students: “You are going to learn as you get older that you really have to persevere and be very determined and focused because there will be a lot of distractions, there will be a lot of persons who are trying to discourage from achieving your objectives in life or solving some of the problems facing our country and the world.”

Launched in December 2015, the 2016 “Laws of Life” Competition included four divisions: upper primary, junior, senior and college level. In total there were 2,058 entries, with 71 students achieving top honours. Participants came from throughout the archipelago, representing New Providence, Grand Bahama, Bimini, Abaco, Eleuthera, Andros, Exuma, San Salvador, Long Island, Ragged Island, Inagua and Acklins. Out of many entries 350 essays scored 90 per cent and above. Students who received top awards hail from 27 public and private schools located on the islands of New Providence, Grand Bahama, Andros, Abaco and Eleuthera.

The Templeton World Charity Foundation continues to fund this venture for the eighth consecutive year, with a donation of over $60,000 to defray the cost of the competition. The “Laws of Life” competition continues to reign as the largest essay competition in the country, based upon size and funding provided. The foundation continues its growth through wider participation of students throughout the Bahamas. The quality of essays produced each year also demonstrates the capabilities of Bahamian students from upper primary school through college to express themselves adequately regarding life’s laws.