PHILIPSBURG:--- G.I.F.T.E.D. Foundation is hosting its second annual youth awards ceremony on June 30, 2016 in collaboration with the University of St. Martin entitled the GIFTED Royalty Awards. Last year, G.I.F.T.E.D. celebrated eleven nominees and honoured five young men as Young Kings in the categories of Academics, Athletics, Community Service, Leadership and Expressive Arts. This year, the foundation will be honouring a young man and a young woman in each of these categories as Young Kings and Young Queens. Nominations were received from seven high schools for the students they wish to recognize for their outstanding performance in each category. The participating high schools are: St. Maarten Vocational Training School, Milton Peters College, St. Maarten Academy – Academic Section, MAC Comprehensive Secondary, St. Maarten Academy PSVE, Sundial School and Charlotte Brookson Academy of the Performance Arts.
The nominees per category from the among the high schools are:- Athletics - Okefa Benfield, Wilfred Chittick, Tyrell Pantophlet, Allinton Augustine, Malik Odonoghue, Jamaiah Newton-Herbert, Angelina Percy, Stanley Holaman, Joline Williams, and Kai Piscione; Community Service - Davidson Charles, Antonia Joseph, Ria Khudan, Brandon Blake, Darwin Pena Ventura, Jenisque Violenes, Nadricia Liburd, Travin Joseph, Anthonio Voglezon, Selena Valrose, and Audrey Richardson; Expressive Arts - Carina Alcin, Zacquel Phipps, Rouvelta Gumbs, Jennifer Dinzey, Sion Thomas, Geniquah Thewet, Manukiell Edwards, Leonel Alexandre, Mahealeney Kemper, and Lisa Marie Henry; Academics - Stefany Dabrassi, Oreisha Raymond, Mawoli King, Anaya Van Heyningen, Terrelle Thomas, Habeebullaah Mohammed, Candace Ford, Cecilia Richardson, Odnel Gaspard, Morency Saint Fleur, Xochiquetzal Gonzales-Toro, and Ray- Angel Boasman; Leadership - Shemar Abdul-Hamid, Akyl Arrindell, Maria Prince, Annesia Edwards, Marie Lucy Vital , Dayanara Abad, Julio Valencia Burgos, Ketiskia Hodge, and Elston Harregan.
The photos and profiles of the nominees were posted to the GIFTED page where the public was able to show their support for the students by clicking “Like” and by sharing the photo. Public support accounts for forty percent of the final score. The other sixty percent was based on the total score from a panel of judges. At the awards ceremony, all nominees will be recognized and the winners will receive their prizes.
The GIFTED Royalty Awards are aimed at turning the spotlight on the positive things that the youth in our community are doing. Too often, the minority who commit crimes receive negative publicity and cast a wrong perception on the future generation. As positive role models excelling in their areas, these young people between the ages of 13 to 20 years old are being celebrated as Worldchangers. Lenworth Wilson, Jr, president of GIFTED, said “We believe that whoever you are, wherever you're from, whatever you do, you change the world. With every choice and subsequent action we all change the world for the better or the worse. The choice is yours.” Worldchanger t-shirts are available for sale at $15 each while stocks last. The World-Changer T-
