EXCELLENCE HIGHLIGHTED, COMMENDED AT CEREMONY FOR 60+ STUDENTS
DISCOVERY BAY, St Ann; August 16, 2025
Excellence was celebrated in a ceremony in Discovery Bay, St Ann, on Thursday, August 14, 2025, to honour top achievers in the Primary Exit Profile (PEP) examinations, from more than 30 schools.
The children were from schools, mainly from the Discovery Bauxite operation and mining areas of St Ann and were being honoured by the company.
(Guest speaker at the Discovery Bauxite PEP High Achievers Awards Dr Venesse Morrison-Leon, stands with top boy Shaundane Williams, left, and T’Yandra Thompson )
In a ceremony chaired by Community Relations Superintendent Kent Skyers, there were many exhortations to excellence and greatness and advice to the PEP honourees to make the best of the high schools to which they will go in September.
(One of Discovery Bauxite’s five tertiary-level scholarship recipients, Sasha Marston, receives the latest installment on her scholarship, from General Manager at Discovery Bauxite Chris Cargill)
One of the company’s tertiary-level scholarship recipients, and a former PEP scholarship awardee, gave inspiring insights into their own mindset and academic journey. Stasha Marston is completing a PhD in Pharmacy at UWI, and Jordan Edwards, a graduate of York Castle High, where he made the Dean’s list every year during his stay at the school, is entering UWI to study electrical engineering.
(Princial of Aabuthnott Gallimore High School, Eloise Panton addresses the awardees)
The main presentation came from the Project Lead for TREND, in the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, Dr Venesse Morrison-Leon. She congratulated the scholarship winners and praised Discovery Bauxite for the initiative. She gave updates on efforts at the Ministry at the primary and secondary levels to help transform the education system.
Another educator addressing the students was Eloise Panton, Principal at Aabuthnott Gallimore High School, Alexandria. She encouraged the students to “go out and make your mark.”
Also addressing the students was senior Education Officer Dr Fabian Wainwright, who was deputizing for the Director of Region 3 in the Ministry of Education, Karlene Segre.
(D’Jhanae Wilson of York Castle High thrilled the audience with her songs. At left is Nordia Tracey, HR Manager at Discovery Bauxite.
The acting Vice President and General Manager of Discovery Bauxite, Chris Cargill, encouraged the students to respect their parents and their teachers who continued to sacrifice for them. He committed Discovery Bauxite to continue assisting in education and said, “Education for us is more than just a social obligation. It is an important part of nation building…”
(Kent Skyers stating Discovery Bauxite’s commitment to supporting education)
Mr Skyers mentioned that there was a long tradition of awards to students leaving primary school as top performers. The awards ceremony was last held in 2019 because of COVID-19. He said, however, the support for the top achievers was made every year since, continuing the tradition of the bauxite companies in Discovery Bay, from Kaiser, through St Ann Bauxite, Noranda, and now Discovery Bauxite, He said Discovery Bauxite had several grants and programmes it funded from the primary to tertiary levels.
Each of the students recognized (the top boy and the top girl from each school), will receive a grant of $25,000.
(Principal of Servite Primary School, Nigel Palmer, receives the Discovery Bauxite Outstanding Award for the school’s consistently high performance and it’s PEP achievements this year, from the General Manager of Discovery Bauxite, Chris Cargill )
The two top students overall will receive $100,000 a year for each of their first five years at high school. Those winning that award (and who got the top grades) were identified as Shaundane Williams and T’Yandra Thompson, both of Servite Primary School, Brown’s Town. They were said to have received the top grades in Region 3, Trelawny, and St Ann.
Exemplary school leadership that had resulted in significantly improved performance was also honoured.
Servite Primary received the special award for Outstanding Achievement, recognized for its consistently high performance. The plaque was received by Principal Nigel Palmer.
The Discovery Bauxite Special Achievement award went to Philadelphia Primary and Infant and Clydesdale Primary, which had both seen a sharp rise in their PEP performance. Principals Nicholas Wisdom of Philadelphia and Theresa Brown of Clydesdale received the award on behalf of their schools.
The student awardees themselves played a major part in the function. Shalom McFarlane of Charlton Primary prayed, D’Jhane Wilson of York Castle rendered two items in song; Contaye Taylor of Discovery Bay Primary introduced the guest speaker, and top girl overall T’Yandra Thompson gave the vote of thanks.
D’Jhanae Wilson of York Castle High was brilliant in her two songs.
The Jabali Generation Dancers entertained with two energetic pieces.
