Great Bay:--- Shemar Abdul Hamid, 11 years of age, of the Rev. John A. Campus, Methodist Agogic Center, (MAC), has been selected as the second place winner in the junior division (ages 12 and under) at the 2010 FCCA Foundation Children's Environmental Poster Competition which was held recently.Announcing the results, George Orellana of the FCCA disclosed that 15 nations participated in this year's poster contest.
"As you can imagine, it was very difficult for the Member Lines (of the FCCA –ed.) to choose the overall winner in each age category," the FCCA official said.
"All the posters we received exemplified Caribbean excellence and expressed useful depictions of ways in which to preserve the environment," Orellana said, adding that Shemar's
"Excellent poster ...truly exemplifies Caribbean excellence and creativity."
As the winner in his age category, Shemar will receive a cash scholarship of US$1,500 while his school would be awarded the same amount in lieu of art supplies.
Commissioner of Tourism, Frans Richardson, was among the very first to congratulate Shemar and his school. "You have done us proud, and I'd like to encourage you to continue to reach for excellence in everything that you do," the commissioner said.
According to Regina LaBega, Director of Tourism, for Shemar to come second out of 15 participants from around the region who were chosen as the best in their respective countries is indeed a very good achievement.
"As organizers of the local competition, we are very pleased to congratulate Shemar, his art teachers, his school and his parents for a job well done," LaBega stated.
Noting that "the competition seeks to promote and stimulate environmental awareness among Caribbean students, while effectively educating our younger generation on the importance of environmental protection," LaBega expressed the hope that Shemar's win would further serve as an encouragement to other students to strive for excellence.
Shemar himself was elated at the news. "I feel very happy that I came second in the entire Caribbean," he said of his achievement.
"All the hard work that went into the contest has finally paid off," he said while thanking all his teachers and parents who assisted him.
What will he do with his cash prize?
"I would like to save some of it," he replied. He also added that he has a passion for drumming and would therefore use part of the money to buy himself a drum set, and since he loves drawing, another part of the prize would go to buying art supplies.
In congratulating Shemar, Vice-Principal of the Rev. John A. Campus of the Methodist Agogic Center, (MAC), Mr. Richard White said the school "feels honored to have him as a student who can perform at that level and bring joy to our hearts."
The winning entry for the junior category came from Nevis, while Jamaica won in the senior category (13-16 years old).
The posters depicted three ways in which the student's destination can make a difference in preserving the environment.
