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YOUNG INSPIRATION Photo: Mark Legendre/MK g Photography g p y
JAMAICA NATIONAL HELPING STUDENTS TO BECOME INSPIRED BY THEIR HISTORY
ALYSSA SA M MAHADEO/TORONTO AHAD AH ADEO EO//TO TORO RONT NTO O CARIBBEAN CARI CA RIBB BBEA EAN N Each February is recognized as Black History month here in Canada, a time to reflect on the inspiring men and women of color who strive to achieve greatness in times of oppression. This year Jamaica National hosted their 2nd annual Black History Month Essay Competition, encouraging students attending High School to submit a 400-500 word essay on a person of color that impacted their lives, and inspired them to be a better person, asking them to elaborate on how they intended to apply their experience in future endeavors. Students from all over the GTA submitted their essays, and the competition was fierce. Many of the essays were well written and very detailed in their accounts that it was tough to decide on a final winner. The judge’s panel included Keisha Johnson, Chief Administration Officer of The Pathfinders of Canada, Heather Lawrence a Teacher at TDSB, Mawuli Chia, Project Support Community Partnerships at George Brown College and Latoya Grindley, Corporate Communications Officer at JNBS Head Office in Jamaica. The judges were very moved by all of the entries, and
appreciated the efforts the students put forth in describing those individuals that inspired them the most. The winners were announced at a private event hosted by Jamaica National where the top five contestants and their parents were invited to come out and enjoy an evening of celebrating achievement and networking. The top five contenders were called up one by one as they placed and were asked to read their essays to the crowd. Ranking 5th was Grade 11 student Simone Swaby from St. Aloysius Gonzaga Secondary School in Mississauga. In 4th place Grade 10 student Ali Hassnad from Sir. Oliver Mowat Collegiate Institute in Scarborough. Placing 3rd was Jalen Fairclough the youngest contestant in Grade 9, from St. Mary Catholic Secondary School in Pickering. Finally, coming in as runner up in 2nd place was Dana Chisholm Grade 11 student from Loretto Abbey Catholic Secondary School in North York. The winner of the Jamaica National Black History Month Competition was Grade 12 student Tahnee Pitter-Duncan from Central Technical School in Toronto, who wrote a beautiful piece on a teacher that
inspired her to embrace herself for who she was and flaunt her intelligence for everyone to see. As a young black woman she feared that she would be picked on for sounding white, believing that intelligence had always been associated with lighter pigmented skin. Her teacher taught her to look past the stereotypes placed on people of color and that her beauty and intelligence cannot be judged based on the color of her skin. Tahnee was presented with an iPad Mini 3, a plague as a certificate of achievement for her efforts, as well as a $1,000 bursary towards enrollment in any Post-Secondary education or apprenticeship training that she chooses to pursue. Jamaica National extended a special thanks to the parents of all of the contestants, and they were recognized as being a huge part of their children’s achievements. With continued support and guidance of their parents these children will continue on towards much greater things. Read Tahnee Pitter-Duncan’s winning article on page 5