FOUR OUTSTANDING youths from the inner-city community of Franklin Town, East Kingston were honoured Thursday by Pat Den Promotions in collaboration with Grace, Kennedy and Company Ltd.
At a special awards function held at the Courtleigh All Suites Hotel, New Kingston, the four - Ricardo Laird, 18, student of Wolmer's Boys High; Ninotchra Clarke, 18, formerly of Vauxhall High; Michael Clarke, 17, St. George's College; and Dwayne Brown, an accountant and past student of St. George's College. Patrick Dennis, conveyor of the awards, dubbed the 'Top Youths of the East Award', said it honours youths within the inner city who are doing well in school.
TROUBLED INNER-CITY
COMMUNITIES
The award, now one year old, is meant to inspire the youths of the normally troubled inner-city communities in East Kingston to excel academically, despite the negative influences in their surroundings.
"It shows we appreciate (the hard work) and is seen by the others that education is the way forward not the drugs, guns or violence," Mr. Dennis said. Guest speaker Courtney Foster, a former Gleaner honour awardee and PALS young achiever award recipient, implored the four awardees to continue on the positive course and to be role models for their peers.
She further encouraged them to remove the thought of "ghetto" from how they perceive themselves, "as it is a label that lives in our minds."
ERADICATE CRIME, VIOLENCE
"Let us eradicate crime and violence from our homes, let us socialise our males into gentlemen of kindness and compassion, and groom our ladies to be ambitious and assertive," she said.
Ricardo, who was successful in passing 10 subjects at the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) level and is now a sixth form student at Wolmer's Boys, was presented with the top prize.
Ninotchra, a past student of Vauxhall High School, with seven CXC passes, got second prize and Michael, who is considered an 'A' student at St. George's, got third prize.
A special award was given to Dwayne for his exemplary contribution in helping to develop and inspire the youths in the Franklin Town community.
The four were presented with plaques and gift baskets courtesy of Grace, Kennedy.
Michael, now the captain of the St. George's College Schools' Challenge Quiz team was grateful for the recognition.
"I really work hard towards my goals (and) I hope that what I have achieved will have a big impact on those who look up to me in the community that I live in."
