No one can say former national netball player and 2007 Courtney Walsh Award for Excellence recipient, Elaine Davis, is not giving back.

Davis was recently invited by Glenmuir High School in Clarendon to do a motivational speech for students at the institution - a request for which she was grateful.

"I feel quite at home. The students responding to my little speech makes my time here special. It's just like when I attended school here,'' said Davis, who graduated from Glenmuir in 1994.

Davis also spoke about the Courtney Walsh award she received two years ago, saying it was very special to her and that receiving it has helped her in her personal life and has also impacted on the lives of students she interacts with.

Ingredients for success

During her presentation at Glenmuir, Davis implored students to remain focused and, just as important, believe in themselves. According to her, self-belief, added to focus, were ingredients for success.

The netballer emphasised that hard work and self-belief did not come without setbacks, but it would mean those setbacks would not translate into failures. She said failed attempts were different from failures and that students should not give up.

Among the conditions on those who receive The Courtney Walsh Award for Excellence is that they continue to be good ambassadors.

"The award afforded me the opportunity to give motivational speeches at the University of Technology and York Town Primary. However, it feels really good to be back here,'' Davis said, about this particular instance.

Big boost for school

Heaven

Clement Radcliffe, principal of Glenmuir High School, described Davis as a humble individual who has helped to maintain the school's prominence in the wider society.

"We thank you very much, Elaine. You have brought a sense of pride and achievement to the school and this makes us feel very special,'' Radcliffe said.

His view was echoed by William Heaven, chief executive officer of the Culture, Health, Arts, Sports and Education Fund.

The fund is, in part, the group that plans the Courtney Walsh Awards for Excellence, for which there is a cash prize of $500,000.

"It is good to be associated with the persons who continue to do well despite the problems. We have Elaine, who is a very humble and hard-working young Jamaican,'' he said.

Davis was the third winner of the prestigious award.

- Rasbert Turner