GOLDEN GIRLS

The golden girls’ names were announced yesterday at a press conference held at the Parliamentary press room, International Waterfront Centre, Port-of-Spain.

Persad topped the country in the category comprising Mathematics, Technology Studies and Environmental Studies while Prabhudial came up aces in Business Studies, Languages, Modern Studies, Technical Studies, Visual and Performing Arts and General Studies categories.

However, while congratulating both Persad and Prabhudial and other national scholarship winners, Education Minister Anthony Garcia said Cabinet was concerned about the fact that Government secondary schools including Queen’s Royal College (QRC), received a mere five percent of the 443 national scholarships (open and additional) while 95 percent were awarded to Government assisted- schools. He said 102 students were awarded open scholarships and 341 students awarded additional scholarships. (See Page 17A)

I PRAYED, I STUDIED Shivrani Prabhudial, 19, yesterday said she prayed, she studied, she took the teasing from her elder brothers and in the end, all of her sacrifices paid off as she won the President’s Medal. The only girl and last of four children to parents Ramdial and Lautee Prabhudial, she is now the pride and joy of the family and her alma mater, Lakshmi Girls’ Hindu College.

A happy Prabhudial yesterday gushed to Newsday that this was an award which she never expected.

“I never thought I would have reached this high or so far. I studied hard, I prayed a lot and I had a lot of help from my teachers,” Prabhudial said. While she was still taking in the surprising news of being awarded one of the country’s highest academic honours, in stride, Prabhudial who spoke from her Valsayn home, said she is most humbled by the award.

“I still can’t believe it, I never believed I would have ever been awarded like this. I mean, I know I studied hard, but this never occurred to me,” she said.

Prabhudial received the award for business studies, and intends to pursue her studies in ACCA (Association of Chartered Certifed Accountants) at the Student Accountancy Centre (SAC) in Montrose, Chaguanas.

Mom, Lautee, said she is very proud of her only daughter. “She prayed a lot. She believes in God.

Right now she is fasting and not eating any salt,” Mrs Prabhudial said said. She described her daughter as quiet and shy and was often on the receiving end of pranks and teasing by her brothers. “Her youngest brother likes to tease her. They even asked her what she would do if she got the President’s Medal and she just laughed it off saying she would never get that,” the proud woman said.

Principal of Lakshmi Girls’ Hindu College, Sonia Mahase-Persad, said she was elated that one of her students received such a prestigious national scholastic award.

“Well, this is first time we won the President’s Gold Medal. We are overjoyed and very grateful to all who made it possible. She is a child who ranked in the top five in the region in business. It is not surprising how well she has done,” Mahase-Persad said. “All things are possible with prayer and self-belief,” young Prabhudial said.

DOUBLE GLORY FOR ASHISHA The southland’s President’s Medal winner Ashisha Persad, 18, yesterday thanked God, her parents and teachers for helping her achieve such academic glory for the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations (CAPE), just two years after she won the President’s Medal Gold for the Caribbean Secondary Examination Council (CSEC) Ordinary Levels.

Speaking at her alma mater Naparima Girls’ High School in San Fernando, the young woman lauded her family, friends and teachers for her successes. An elated Persad of Gulf View, La Romaine noted that hard work was also a contributing factor and added she engaged in other extra curricular activities.

“I am happy to bring some glory to my school. I must say thanks for all they have done, my parents, sister, friends and teachers. It was not all studies. I like sports and I played badminton, cricket and I’m a member of the Math club. I was not expecting to get this medal but I was hoping to. I am really excited that I have gotten it,” Persad said.

Persad recalled that back in 2013, she got ten distinctions at the Ordinary Level of CSEC. Again she got ten distinctions but this time at the Advanced Level (CAPE) having completed studies in the field of Mathematics, Chemistry , Physics, IT , Communications etc.

Persad opted to take a break for a year from studies. Already she has applied to universities in the UK, US and at UWI. She plans on following a career in chemical engineering.

Persad’s elder sister Sitara, 21, also a former pupil of the prestigious high school in south, is also a past scholarship winner. Their parents are Dr Rambachan Persad and Carmen Persad. Referring to both his daughters, Dr Persad noted: “They both done very well. We are proud and very happy for their accomplishments. They are bright girls, very disciplined. To me it was not a surprise.” Mrs Persad chimed in saying, “We are absolutely excited. We are glad for her. She is a child who works very hard. She is a joy to have as a child.” School principal Carolyn Bally- Gosine likened the President’s Medal Gold as being, “the icing on top of hopefully, a very large cake.” Last evening the school was awaiting the official results of scholarships obtained by students.