Mannings School Student Tops them All

She’s soft-spoken, shy and unassuming. But it would be a big mistake to underestimate the academic prowess and determination of this petite 17-year-old.

With distinctions in 11 subjects at the Caribbean Secondary Examination Certificate (CSEC), you would think Miltonia Thompson is anxious to brag about her accomplishments, but the Mannings School student remains modest, placing the credit squarely on the shoulders of hard work, her parents and “the sustaining grace of God.”

“I am humbled. It’s a great privilege. It’s something that we have worked for, probably didn’t expect it to happen, but thanks be to God,” she tells JIS News in an interview. 

Miltonia, along with over 140 students from secondary schools across the island were recognised for their outstanding performances at the CSEC examinations, during the National Awards  ceremony for 2011, held at the Abe Issa Auditorium, St. George’s College, in downtown Kingston,  on March 9.

But, it was the ‘Westmorelite’ who walked away with the top award for the Best Overall Performance in CSEC,  with complete ‘A’ profiles in 11 subjects – Mathematics, English A, English B, Spanish, Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Information Technology, Office Administration, Principles of Business, and Social Studies.

Andrew Ellis and Paula-Kay Cousins of Glenmuir High School received the awards for second and third best performers, respectively.

Additionally, Chevano Baker of Manchester High School walked away with the top award for business subjects; Shanique Richards, Wolmer’s Girls School, received the best grades for the Humanities; Dea Thomas, Morant Bay High School came out on top for the Sciences; and Krystal Thomas of the Hampton School, was awarded first prize for Technical Vocational subjects.

Campion College received the award for the Top School in both CSEC and the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE).  

Miltonia, who is the eldest of five children, tells JIS News that her success is the result of her hard work and the dedicated efforts of her teachers and parents. “With God’s help we balanced our time and it all worked out well,” she says.

She is currently in Lower Sixth Form at the Mannings School where she is pursuing five CAPE subjects, namely: Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Communication Studies and Spanish.

Miltonia says  that after Sixth Form she is “willing to go wherever the Lord leads,” but admits that she is eyeing a career in medicine.

Impressively, the top student also finds time for extra curricula activities, skillfully balancing her time between studying and actively participating in several groups and clubs at her school. These include the Mannings School Quiz Club, Peer Counselling, Performing Arts Society, the Magazine Committee and the Newspaper Committee.

Her parents, Milton and Margaret Thompson, who are also both teachers, say they are proud of their daughter’s success, but not surprised.

“I’m really elated and overwhelmed, but I’m not surprised, because from a tender age I realised that she was an alert child and I expected her to do this well,” Mrs. Thompson, a teacher at the Godfrey Stewart High School, tells JIS News.

Mrs. Thompson admits that all her children excel in their studies, noting that Miltonia’s younger sister is also a Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT) government scholarship awardee.

Mr. Thomas, who teaches at the Unity Primary School,  tells JIS News that words cannot explain how he feels about the success of his children, particularly his eldest daughter.

“I’m very proud of her, because from a young age she has shown keen interest and has always been very organised,” he says.

The proud father recalls that even when she was much younger she would always ask for books as presents, rather than elaborate toys, like most children.

“They are all naturally interested in their school work. We don’t have to tell them to take up their books. They know when to take them up and know when to put them down and they are all organised,” he boasts.

The awards  ceremony is an initiative of the Jamaica Association of Principals of Secondary Schools (JAPPS). Students from over 60 high schools across the island are recognised for their outstanding performances, not only in the CSEC exams, but also in the CAPE and Caribbean Certificate of Secondary Level Competence (CCSLC) tests.

By Athaliah Reynolds-Baker, JIS Reporter