NASSAU, Bahamas -- United States and Bahamian government officials together with principals, teachers, students, and family members attended the U.S. Embassy’s fourth annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., essay competition awards ceremony on Friday, February 5.  The ceremony was held at the British Colonial Hilton Hotel.  A total of 65 essays were received from fourteen public and private schools in New Providence and the Family Islands. 

Students were asked to use a quote from Dr. King about personal integrity and responsibility to answer one of the following questions: “How can you or how have you demonstrated personal integrity and responsibility to improve conditions in your community?” or “Choose an important figure in your life who best exemplifies Dr. King’s quote and explain how that individual has demonstrated personal integrity and responsibility.” 

In her remarks United States Ambassador Nicole A. Avant told the audience that Dr. King and countless other activists that she would not be able to thank in person, paved the way for her to be where she is today.  She said, “I believe it is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who deserves the credit for keeping the African American people hopeful, focused and determined.” The Honorable T. Desmond Bannister, Minister of Education also gave remarks and presented prizes to the winners.

The first place winner from a New Providence school was Shaquille Sands, a grade 12 student from C.W. Saunders Baptist School.  Ms. Sands received a laptop computer and books about Barack Obama and Dr. King.   Her essay detailed her efforts to improve her grade point average from a ‘D’ to an ‘A’.  Ms. Sands is currently the Deputy Head Girl at C. W. Saunders. 

The first place winner from the Family Islands was Michael Cooper, an 11th grade student from Bishop Michael Eldon School, Freeport, Grand Bahama. He also received a laptop computer and books about Barack Obama and Dr. King.  Mr. Cooper wrote about his math teacher Mr. Hewitt Taylor, who put his students’ needs before his own, and worked extra hours to ensure that no one failed his class. 

The Second Place winner was Traimine Thompson, a 10th grade student from Mangrove High School, Mangrove Cay, Andros.  Thompson described his father as a role model who taught him the importance of treating people with respect and being accountable for his actions. 

The Third place winner was Nakhaz Gay, an 11th grade student at Faith Temple School, New Providence.  He wrote about the importance of setting an example for young boys to follow through his involvement in youth activities. 

The fourth place winner was Na’eem McIver, an 11th grade student at Westminster College, New Providence. Mr. McIver said his late grandfather John Edward Alfred Johnson was the Martin Luther King of his family. He wrote about how his grandfather risked his job and fought against racial discrimination in The Bahamas.  

Miciah Bostwick Bostwick, grade 11, Westminster College, New Providence, D’Anthra Adderley, grade 12, St. Andrew’s, New Providence, and Kalene Jones, grade 12, San Salvador High, San Salvador all received “Honorable Mentions.”  These students were awarded with books about Dr. King. 

The U.S. Embassy thanked The Bahamian government and corporate sponsors who all contributed to making the event a success.  These sponsors included the British Colonial Hilton Hotel which provided the venue and refreshments; Bahamasair Holdings Ltd., which provided airfare for the First Place Family Island winner and a parent; Flamingo Air which provided airfare for the second place Family Island winner and a parent, Breezes Bahamas (Superclubs) which provided hotel accommodations for both Family island winners and their accompanying parents; the Ministry of Education which provided books about Dr. King, and Cable 12 for taping the program for future broadcast.

Photo 1 - Family Island Winner, Michael Cooper, 11th grade student at Bishop Michael Eldon High School, Freeport, Grand Bahama receives his awards from U.S. Ambassador Nicole A. Avant and Minister of Education, The Hon. Desmond Bannister.

Photo 2 - New Providence winner Shaquille Sands, 12th grade student at C.W. Saunders High School receives her awards from U.S. Ambassador Nicole A. Avant and Minister of Education, The Hon. Desmond Bannister.

Photo 3 - U.S. Ambassador Nicole Avant; Minister of Education, The Hon. Desmond Bannister and the Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, The Hon. Charles Maynard pose for a photo with the top finalists in the Martin Luther King Jr. Essay Competition, essay committee judges, sponsors and education officials from the participating schools.

Photo 4 - U.S. Ambassador Nicole Avant; Minister of Education, The Hon. Desmond Bannister and the  Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, The Hon. Charles Maynard pose for a photo with the top finalists in the U.S. Embassy's Martin Luther King Jr. Essay Competition.