Naps President schol winner ‘brilliant and humble’

KEVIN SINGH was browsing the internet on Friday when he saw that he had placed first in the world in Advanced Level Accoun-ting and third in Mathematics. On Friday night Singh’s principal, Maureen Attwal of Naparima Collge, broke the news to her top student in Canada via a voice message on his telefax answering machine, that he had won the President’s Medal in Science and Mathematics. Singh was one of two students who won the President’s Medal. The other is Summer Alston Smith of St Joseph Convent, Port-of-Spain (Business/Modern Studies).

Singh, of Mendes Village, Siparia, is studying Actuarial Science in Canada. His parents, Tom and Romatee Singh, are currently holidaying in Canada with their son. Sunday Newsday was unsuccessful in reaching Singh at the Wall Par Hotel, Toronto, where the family is staying. Attwal described Singh as a mixture of brilliance and humility. His grades were always in the 90’s, she added. Singh gained four A’s at Advanced Level in Accounts, Add Maths, further Maths and General Paper. Singh is a devoted Hindu and is actively involved in a religious group at Mendes Village. His father, Tom, is an accountant at a commercial bank while his mother is a school teacher. A remarkable characteristic of Singh, principal Attwal emphasised, is his “unassuming nature.” Always a boy, she added, willing to help other students with their work. “We knew he was intelligent and was heading there, but he was always helpful and never above anyone,” Attwal said. She attributed credit to Singh’s maths teacher, Fyad Ali (Head of the Department), Hansragee Jaikissoon, Rodney Pardasie and Ramzan Ali. Naparima College copped 15 scholarships, including the President’s Medal. “I think the learning climate we created here at Naparima College and the dedication of the teachers who give of their extra time, have indeed paid off,” Attwal said.