May 20, 2007 — Nearly $20,000 worth of prizes will be handed out to scores of V.I. teens as a result of this year’s Laws of Life essay contest.
Students, teachers and administrators from Charlotte Amalie High School, Ivanna Eudora Kean High School and Julius Sprauve’s ninth grade gathered Sunday afternoon at St. Peter Mountain Greathouse to learn who the winners were and to honor the best of the best.
On Saturday, May 26, a second award ceremony and reception at Whim Plantation Museum will honor winners from St. Croix’s Central High School.
To view this year's winning essays, click here.
The contest is actually several separate competitions: one for each grade level at each high school. First place garners $500, second place, $250 and third, $150. There are also lesser cash awards to the teachers of the winning students, as well as three honorable mention student awards of $50 each for each grade level.
The Laws of Life contest is a character-education program designed to motivate students to think and write about their personal values. Introduced in the Virgin Islands in 2001, the essay contest is a joint effort between the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands (CFVI) and the Peter and Patricia Gruber Foundation and is funded by the Gruber Foundation and Globalvest Management Company, Peter Gruber’s investment management firm.
English teachers at the schools present the essay as a writing project and then submit the top essays – without names attached – for the contest. A panel of distinguished members of the community in each island district acts as jury to choose the winning essays.
The following are the St. Thomas-St. John District Winners for 2007
CAHS 9th
HM: Tabari Davis, Marissa Duberry, Johnny Henley Jr.
3rd Shelani Birmingham, Mrs. Gayle Benjamin
2nd Anisha Jacobs, Mrs. Gayle Benjamin
1st Krythemer Edmead, Mrs. Gayle Benjamin
CAHS 10th
HM: Jarell Mason, Ekeobong Utibe, Estelle Williams
3rd Shinnola Alexander, Mrs. Antis Birmingham
2nd Vernicia Rogers, Mrs. Antis Birmingham
1st Lindeon Davis, Mrs. Antis Birmingham
CAHS 11th
HM: Kandeah Brooks, Shawn Brown, Shasta Corbette
3rd Lalique Richardson, Ms. Nigenda Griffin
2nd Dulani Hill, Ms. Ingrid Thomas
1st Bianca Moscia-Harley, Ms. Ingrid Thomas
CAHS 12th
HM: Darnell Brooks, Jordan Ledee, Yolanda Thorpe
3rd Kiannie Barthlett, Mrs. Diane Heskey
2nd Re’Neesha Thomas, Mrs. Erma Skelton
1st C’Neesha Williams, Mrs. Erma Skelton
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Julius Sprauve
9th grade only
HM: J’moi Powell, Jonte Samuel
1st Danella Joseph, Julius Sprauve School
(Ms. Mary Jo Wilder, teacher all 9th grade)
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I. E. Kean 9th
No contest for this grade
I.E. Kean 10th
HM: Allan George Jr., Germarie Smith, Shania Dawson
1st Dieudonne Sanon, Mrs. Barbara Young
I.E. Kean 11th
HM: Vanessa Tamar, Sharee Miller, Angelica Claxton
1st Sandy Bellot, Dr. Thomas Unger
I. E. Kean 12th
HM: Devoncia Martin, Vinay Ramsay, Robelynn Green
1st Maive Jackson, Ms. Amy Roberts
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