Cindy Thompson, Jaynelle Rahming and Evan Rahming learned that hard work pays off and were rewarded for the outstanding grades they received in the last academic year through the Custom Computers Ltd. seventh annual "'A's for Excellence" campaign.
Primary, high school and college students who received at least one "A" grade on their final report cards for the 2013-2014 academic school year were invited to enter random drawings for a chance to win a desktop computer, laptop or tablet.
Thompson, the winner in the college category, won a Samsung 3 Galaxy Tab. The College of The Bahamas student who is pursuing her second degree - a bachelor of science degree in mathematics - has already earned an accounting degree while holding down a job.
The college winner's goal is to eventually become a lecturer at COB. She was also recently accepted into a school in Belgium, where she will pursue a master's degree in statistics at Ghent University, which is known for its wide-ranging scientific research.
Jaynelle, a student at St. John's College, received a 15.6-inch Samsung laptop during the award ceremony at the Custom Computers Know-How Store in Harbour Bay.
The soft-spoken eighth grader, whose favorite subject is English, had earned eight "A" grades on her final report card.
At the presentation event, the award winner was accompanied by her parents, Danielle and Jason Rahming; twin brother, Jason, who also participated in the campaign; younger sister, Jada; two grandmothers and two aunts.
Evan, the son of Eddie and Deidre Rahming, is a student at Maurice E. Moore Primary School in Grand Bahama; he won an HP 18.5-inch all-in-one desktop PC. As he was traveling, his prize was received on his behalf by his two aunts, Dandria Miller and Valencia Rahming.
The parents of the Grand Bahama student wrote an email to Custom Computers detailing that one of their son's initial comments was that he had to thank his teachers for pushing him so hard.
"As he now enters high school, this achievement will hopefully serve as an impetus for him to continue to excel at his studies. Having a desktop of his own will most definitely be of practical assistance in this regard," they wrote.
In a new category, the Family Island school with the most entries received a multifunction machine (printer/fax/scanner/copier). The award was won by Ulric H. Ferguson Primary in Crooked Island; 15 of its 24 students were able to take part by earning at least one "A" grade.
Principal Gretchen Rolle was accompanied by her senior assistant, Glendamae Thompson, to pick up the school's prize. Rolle said that, during the past academic year, she and her staff had been determined to establish a computer lab at the school, and were able to do just that after conducting a fundraising effort that netted them financial assistance and a donation of seven computers. Having achieved that goal, they were in the process of requesting help with the purchase of a copier for the lab, when Rolle received an email from Custom Computers.
"When we saw that the "'A's for Excellence" campaign said that a Family Island school that had the most entries could win a multifunction machine, I told my staff about it, and I said to Mrs. Thompson, 'We need to get the kids to enter this competition'," said Rolle.
She thanked Custom Computers for creating a category for Family Island Primary Schools and thanked her hardworking teachers for teaching the students and encouraging them to always do their best. She also thanked the parents, because, she said, without their support the school's students would not have been able to make the grade.
Every student at Ulric H. Primary will also receive a Custom Computers goodie bag containing school supplies.
A total of 724 students from across the country took part in this year's "'A's for Excellence" campaign. Together, they earned 5,712 "A" grades.
"We have more than 700 good news stories we are celebrating today," said Pia Farmer, Customs Computers director. "We really want to honor all of the students who entered, and also the support system that the children have, because they can only excel when they have people around them to lift them up, to give them ideas, to support their creativity. And the teachers, because every day they go enthusiastically into that classroom to impart knowledge and to create our lifelong learners."
Farmer encouraged students to continue to work hard in school and participate in next year's "'A's for Excellence" campaign.
Minister of Education, Science and Technology Jerome Fitzgerald thanked Custom Computers for once again holding the event, and congratulated all of the entrants, their family members, mentors and educators for their hard work and dedication to academic excellence.
"Everything begins and ends with education," said Fitzgerald. "We understand how important education is and the role it plays in our national development. That's why it's so important that we look at education as a national collaborative effort. As the minister of education, I welcome every opportunity I get to meet with the private sector to encourage private-public partnership, because we're all in this together," said Fitzgerald.
Click here to read more at The Nassau Guardian