The Cultural Education Division announces the winners of its second monthly essay contest entitled, the Virgin Island Personality Essay Competition. Middle, junior and senior high students in public, private and parochial schools were invited to write an essay on a famous Virgin Islands personality chosen by the Cultural Education Division. According to Assistant Director Gerard Emanuel, “The competition is designed to meet a goal of the division, which includes infusing history and culture into the curriculum. It also supports the Department of Education’s goals of student achievement, school culture, and teacher and leader effectiveness.”
Student-essayists in the St. Croix School District had the opportunity to write on Ullmont James,a renowned educator and diplomat, while the essayists in the St. Thomas-St. John District wrote on the accomplishments of Myra Keating-Smith,a distinguished nurse and midwife, who served the St. John community.
The winners are as follows:
St. Croix District:
1st Place 191 points Brittney Parillon St. Croix Educational Complex
2nd Place 183 points Thalia George St. Croix Educational Complex
3rd Place 180 Points Jah-Healla Daniel St. Croix Educational Complex
St. Thomas-St. John District:
1st Place 97 points Joyann Foster Charlotte Amalie High School
2nd Place 95 points Carla James Ivanna Eudora Kean High
3rd Place 90 points De’Quan S. Browne-Schmidt Charlotte Amalie High School
3rd Place 90 points Brianna Hairston Charlotte Amalie High School
Students have been invited to write about Eulalie R. Rivera, a distinguished educator and community activist,in the St. Croix District, and Ambassador Terrence A. Todman, a renowned career diplomat, in the St. Thomas-St. John District for the third Virgin Island Personality Competition.