While congratulating the 2015 All-Bahamas Merit Scholar and finalists on their outstanding achievements, Minister of Education, Science and Technology Jerome Fitzgerald admonished them to serve as ambassadors and aid in the further development of this country.
He made this comment as he addressed the All-Bahamas Merit Scholarship Awards Ceremony at the Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium conference room on Wednesday.
The ‘2015 All-Bahamas Merit Scholar’ is Domonic McDonald, a graduate of Queen’s College High School who received a $150,000 four-year scholarship to study at the prestigious University of Western Ontario, in London, Ontario, Canada.
He intends to pursue studies in international relations and diplomacy. His ultimate goal is to become a United Nations diplomat and prime minister of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas.
Runner up is Khes Adderley, also a graduate of Queen’s College High School, who was awarded $100,000 and plans to major in biology and minor in history at Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA. Upon her return to The Bahamas, she intends to become a public health care lawyer.
The All-Bahamas Merit Scholarship has been one of the most coveted awards in The Bahamas and is given to the most promising Bahamian High School graduates accepted to college.
“This year, the government of The Bahamas is demonstrating its commitment to ensuring that our bright, young leaders of tomorrow are afforded the best opportunities for tertiary education locally and abroad,” Mr. Fitzgerald said.
The total contribution to this year’s scholarship is an estimated $405,000 per year or $1.62 million over the next four years.
“This year, the caliber of merit scholars is unprecedented because we have awarded 21 recipients,” the minister noted.
Collectively, the group has taken more than 250 BGCSE examinations, averaging 10 exams per student.
Five of them have received 10 or more and four of them have received a phenomenal SAT score of 2000 or higher. As a group, they have been awarded close to 200 BGCSE ‘A’ grades and have been accepted to the following universities: Rutgers, Georgia Institute of Technology, The University of Richmond, Brown University, Penn State University, Lipscomb, The University of Toronto, Dalhousie and the University of Western Ontario.
The All-Bahamas Merit Scholarship Finalists for 2015 are: Summer Bain, a graduate of St. Augustine’s College pursuing studies in Aerospace Mechanical Engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology; Mikhail Bethell, a graduate of St Andrews School pursuing Biology at the University of West Virginia; Daphne Carroll, a graduate of Central Eleuthera High School — Marine Science at Eckerd College; Robert Cartwright, a graduate of Bishop Michael Eldon School — Engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology; Farion Cooper II, a graduate of Queen’s College High School — Neuroscience at American University; Joanna Evans, a graduate of Bishop Michael Eldon School — Engineering at the University of Texas at Austin; Cyerra Gibson, a graduate of Queen’s College — Engineering at Dalhousie University; Beautisca King, a graduate of C R Walker Senior High School currently enrolled at The College of The Bahamas pursuing a degree in Biology to continue studies in Chemical Engineering and Biology at the University of Toronto; Alexis Mackey, a graduate of Queen’s College to study Chemistry at Acadia University; Donovan McDonald, a graduate of Queen’s College to study Biomedical Science at Texas A & M University; Rochea Morley, a graduate of Kingsway Academy pursuing Chemical Engineering at the University of Illinois; Shabethany Sawyer, a graduate of St Augustine’s College — Biochemistry at the University of Richmond; Keithan Smith, a graduate of Queen’s College — Engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology; and Charmelle Williams, a graduate of Queen’s College — Biology at Texas A & M University.
The National Scholarship Merit Award goes to: Natalie Lester, a graduate of Queen’s College to study Communications Sciences and Disorders; Jesse Greene, a graduate of Kingsway Academy to pursue a dual degree in Civil Engineering and Mathematics at St Edwards University; Savannah Obregon, a graduate of Queen’s College studying Information Technology at Lipscomb University; Dashane Knowles, a graduate of Forest Heights Academy — an Associate Degree in Mechanical Engineering at Harrisburg Area Community College with intent to pursue a Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering at Penn State University; and Nicholas Knowles, a graduate of St. Andrew’s School – International Relations at Brown University.
“I want to say thank you. Every year I am impressed with your insight, brilliance and fortitude. You make us proud with your commitment to your schools, to your communities and to your education. As scholarship recipients, I want to remind you of your responsibilities to your donor, The Commonwealth of The Bahamas – to do your best work and to represent it well,” Mr. Fitzgerald said.
He also thanked the All-Bahamas Merit Selection Committee, The College of The Bahamas, the Lyford Cay Foundation, parents and teachers for supporting the programme over the past years.
