Kahielia Levy - An appetite for excellence
Governor General Professor Sir Kenneth Hall makes a presentation to Kahielia Levy of St Thomas, at the Governor General's Achievement Awards at the Jamaica Crest Resort in Fairly Hill, Portland. - Peta-Gaye Clachar/Staff Photographer
Kahielia Levy, youth recipient of the Governor General's Achievement Award, has an insatiable appetite for excellence.
Levy, a 22-year-old graduate of the University of the West Indies, Mona, where she studied for her first degree in sociology and anthropology, now has her sights set on pursuing a master's degree in marketing.
"Learning is an ongoing process. I want to achieve all I can," said Levy, a bank customer care representative.
The God-fearing, yet adventurous and sociable Christian has ambitions of starting her own business.
A lover of the performing arts, Levy was an active member in her school choir at St Thomas Technical High. She also participated in speech, drama and dance, for which she received numerous awards.
Passionate
Levy, who has a passion for singing, is now director for the Moses Baptist combined choir.
In her first year at university, she was vice-president for the University Chorale.
She noted that performing at the Trelawny Multi-purpose Stadium during the opening ceremony of the 2007 Cricket World Cup was her most memorable accomplishment.
Verona O'Connor - Born to serve
Professor Sir Kenneth Hall makes a presentation to Verona O'Connor at the Governor General's Achievement Awards at the Jamaica Crest Resort in Fairy Hill, Portland. - photos by Peta-Gaye Clachar/Staff Photographer
"From the womb to the tomb" are the words 61 year-old Verona Blair O'Connor lives by.
That is because O'Connor, who was last Wednesday honoured with the Governor General's Achievement Awards at the Jamaica Crest Resort in Fairy Hill, Portland, has served both young and old.
Born in Belfield, St Catherine, O'Connor told The Gleaner that growing up was tough in the poor hamlet. Her mother, who had nine children, went blind when O'Connor was only two years old and her older sister had to drop out of school at age 15 and pursue dressmaking to make ends meet.
Determination
Before her 18th birthday, O'Connor had already started teaching. By age 19, she was married.
Her determination to overcome all of life's obstacles led her down several career paths - teaching, nursing, social work and gerontology. In 1969, she successfully completed midwifery studies at the Victoria Jubilee Hospital.
O'Connor, who calls herself a "traveller", told The Gleaner she has worked in several capacities islandwide.
Service is her mantra. Throughout her life she has mobilised people to become involved in their churches and communities. She was instrumental in encouraging 15 young men in Duhaney Pen, St Thomas, to participate in a farming project to become self-sufficient.
Clover Tobin - An agent of change
St Thomas recipient of the Governor General's Achievement Award Clover Tobin.
Youth recipient of the Governor General's Achievement Award, Clover Tobin, sees herself as an agent of change.
Tobin, who has bachelor's and master's degrees, is quick to encourage the disadvantaged not to be hindered by socio-economic circumstances.
"You can be poor and achieve anything you want to," said Tobin, who is a trained teacher. She is now a placement officer at St Joseph's Teachers' College in St Andrew.
Dedicated
Tobin's life has been dedicated to training youth. She taught at the Robert Lightbourne High School in St Thomas, where she helped with preparations for the school's involvement in the Jamaica Cul-tural Development Commission's annual dance competition. She also assisted and coordinated a Girl Guides club and a talent competition at the school.
She has taught at the Alpha Academy in Kingston as well.
An ardent Anglican, Tobin attends Christ Church in Morant Bay. She is a Sunday school teacher, a member of the Anglican youth fellowship and also represents the church's youth group committee.<
