President’s Medal winner ‘cool’

MARISSA LEUNG was described as “cool” and very spiritual. She is the President’s Medal winner for “other subjects” as well as an open scholarship winner in the Business category. The students achievement is the first of its kind for her school, Providence Girls’ Catholic School at Belmont. When the announcement was made by school principal Patricia Ho Koon to the students at the school, joyous noise erupted. Ho Koon told Newsday it was the first such achievement for the school and “we are very proud.” Moreso because the sixth form is relatively new and the school teachers have had to face numerous struggles.

She described Marissa as very “mature, focussed and a spiritual person.” Marissa got seven distinctions at CXC and four As in Math, Economics, Accounts and General Paper at the Advanced level exams. Her profiles were also described as “very good.” When Newsday spoke to Marissa’s mother Maria at her office at Western Main Road in St James, she said she was surprised when the school called and told her the news. She didn’t really understand the accomplishment Marissa had achieved and said “serious” when told that her daughter was indeed a top student in the country’s Advanced level results. Marissa is in the Faculty of Management at McGill University in Montreal, Canada.