Four Students Receive Kiwanis Club of Kingston Awards

Four students have received the Kiwanis Club of Kingston ‘Youth in Excellence’ awards, which were presented yesterday (September 5), at the Hilton Kingston Hotel.
The students were awarded the top prizes for outstanding performance in the categories of, the Arts, Academics, Sports and Leadership.
For the arts, Stephanie Channer came out on top; in the category of academics, Daniel Pottinger was the winner; for sports, Peta-Gaye Thomas emerged the winner; and in leadership, Kamesha Kelly took the top spot. “The Kiwanis Club of Kingston initiated this youth in excellence programme, which is geared to identify, recognize and provide inspiration to a generation of Jamaican youth under the age of 25 years,” said Past Director and Project Chairman of the Kiwanis Club of Kingston, David Hall.
The programme was launched in 1998 and renewed in 2005. Applications were open to all persons between 13 and 25 years of age. These were reviewed by a panel of Kiwanians who selected the winners and runners-up in each category.
Each winner of the various categories received cash awards valued at $30,000, with the runners-up receiving $15,000.
In his address, Governor-General His Excellency the Most Hon. Professor Kenneth Hall, said he was very pleased to hear of the excellent achievements of the outstanding young Jamaicans who were recognized for their performances in the various categories.
“We are all basking in your glory and you have all made us proud. You have all made us feel that we Jamaicans can achieve anything, anywhere at any time. In short, we are international people of value and of quality,” said the Governor General.
He added that in every field, whether it is in sports or in education, Jamaica has established international benchmarks.
“Our youths are doing exceptionally well, and what we have not yet done, to the extent that I wish to see it, is to acknowledge this, nurture this and reward it in a way that it can serve as an inspiration to the rest of our generation,” Professor Hall said.
The Governor-General stressed that Jamaicans needed to stop apologizing for its achievements. “Our young people, if nothing else, have demonstrated that what we need to do is to continue to acknowledge it (our achievements), to continue to give them encouragement and to make way for them when the time comes,” he added.
The Kiwanis Club of Kingston was chartered in March 1964 and is the oldest Kiwanis Club in Jamaica.