Lorna Bell. - Ian Allen/Staff Photographer

Another outstanding past student of the Convent of Mercy Academy (Alpha), will receive the 2007 Alpha Academy Alumnae Association's Woman of Excellence Award. She is Lorna Bell, executive director of Special Olympics, an organisation which allows physically challenged athletes to compete on the world stage.

The Award will be presented at a banquet at the Terra Nova Hotel on Friday, May 25.

Lorna has dedicated her life's work to the upliftment of the disadvantaged, the less privileged and the challenged members of the society. During her tenure as Assistant Executive Director at the Mustard Seed Communities, she worked with over 200 abandoned and/or disabled children and adults who, she said, have made a profound impact on her life. As an outreach project of the Mustard Seed Communities, Lorna lived and worked in Haiti for three months, assisting to establish homes for the poor, abandoned and disabled children there. She admits that seeing the need by way of the television cameras was just not enough, but living among the poor of Haiti and helping to make a difference has been for her 'the most significant accomplishment in her life'.

Murray Mount Home

Ms. Bell also assisted in forming the Murray Mount Home for children in St. Ann and also worked on the establishment of the 'Dare to Care' home for children with HIV/AIDS in St. Catherine.

This woman of excellence is a Kiwanian with a distinguished track record of service. She received the Kiwanian of the Year Award for 1990/1991and a number of distinguished service awards for innovative, far-reaching service to the less fortunate.

Lorna attributes her natural affinity to caring and sharing, to the Sisters of Mercy at her alma mater, Convent of Mercy Academy. "This has laid the foundation for my life's dedication to serving others," she said.

An avid lover of sports, this, combined with her strong administrative skills, led her to become the first female secretary of the Jamaica Football Federation and her present position as executive director of 'special Olympics'.