Excellence occurs when you achieve a goal to the highest standards, but success is what you do with it, Neha Kodi told her peers at Queen's College's eighth annual high school award ceremony. Kodi was one of 260 students recognized for their academic excellence.  And while she was glad to be recognized, the frank 12th grader said she also realized that she was not at the peak of her potential.  She encouraged her peers to never give up hope if they fail and to continue reaching for the stars, inspite of the achievements they have made.

To date, her achievements include 11 Bahamas General Certificate of Secondary Education (BGCSE) all with A grades and six Bahamas Junior Certificates (BJC)  with six A's.  And she is still reaching, having enrolled in five Advanced Placement (AP) classes, four SAT II classes and is scheduled to take the BGCSE exam in Geography next year.  She believes that it is when you create challenges for yourself, that the best person you can be is revealed.

"Although you may achieve your goals and excel academically, the true key to success is to raise your standards every time you reach your mark.  You have to keep challenging yourself and desiring more than ever to succeed on your own merit."

The senior admitted that she could not achieve what she had without the assistance of her parents who pushed her and assisted her in attaining her goals.  She also said she benefitted from teachers who offered afternoon, and even weekend classes to ensure student were well-prepared. The ceremony that took place in The Geoffrey Brown Auditorium to recognize the brightest minds in the school was one that inspired and encouraged students to achieve more.

It's through positive reinforcements like the annual award ceremony held in The Geoffrey Brown Auditorium that encourages students to aim higher says school principal, Andrea Gibson.  She says the numbers of students reaching the standards necessary to qualify to be recognized has increased steadily throughout the years.  She is looking forward to the day when most, if not all, of the students will have to walk across the stage due to their academic excellence.

"I am proud of what my students have been able to achieve," said Gibson.  "We have so many students who try really hard and are focused.  And it is through their desire to do well, combined with the efforts of dedicated teachers and vigilant parents that keep our students on top of their academics.  This team is one that is strong and many students are excelling even more because of it."

Gibson encouraged students who weren't recognized to continue to strive and seek the attention they need to do even better.  She urged students who were recognized for their academic achievements to not feel as if they had achieved perfection, because they hadn't.  She encouraged them to keep up the good work but to always know that they could do better.

Some fo the top honorees at the ceremony, included Q.C. headgirl, Markia Bowe, who achieved nine A's and one B grade; headboy Toby McCarroll, with five A's and one B; Ashley Fox with seven A's, Outhura Rahming with five A's, four B's and one C; Peter Henderson with six A's and three B's, Athena Cochinamogulos with four A's, four B's and two C's; Kenique Toppin with five A's, three B's, and two C' and Jasha Winter with four A's, two B's and one C grade.

More than 120 students who also did well in BGCSE examinations were also recognized, including students in grades 10 and 11.  To encourage the junior students to keep up their good work the 159 students who exhibited excellence in
their BJC results also received certificates.

The top students in the everyday lessons at Queen's College as well as the 47 students on the principal's list (3.70 grade point average or higher) were also given special recognition.  Students who took examinations in the Royal Schools of Music, Advanced Placement and Pitman received their certificates of excellence for their passing grades during the ceremony.  Showing that academics isn't everything, some students were recognized for their excellence in athletics.

Minister of Education, Desmond Bannister lauded the high-achieving students for their accomplishments and the fact that they were also community service-oriented as well, as some students tutored in primary schools and volunteered in community centers.

And while he said it was great to highlight the achievements of students, he said it was also important to ensure their moral and social skills were also up to standard so they can use their abilities unselfishly.  He challenged the students to use Facebook, the social network of the young people, as a means to assist other students who are struggling.  He told them that knowledge without knowing how to properly use it, or the willingness to share it, is just as bad as not having it all.

RECOGNIZED FOR EXCELLENT WORK IN THE SENIOR SECTION OF THE HIGH SCHOOL

Ashley Fox -  Economics
Dyah Neilson - Art
Brittany Strachan - Computer Apps
Pleshan Abraham - Computer Apps
Lynden Brown - A+ Computers
Crafton Thompson - A+ Computers
George Zonicle - Physical Education
Alexandro Mullings - Spanish
Markia Bowe - English Literature
Angelica Malone - French
Ashmeid Allie - Physics
Jasha Winter - Religious Education
Alexandra Marshall - Physical Education
Peter Henderson - English Language and Music
Shannon Butler - History and Chemistry
Neha Kodi - Chemistry and Geography
Toby McCarroll - Commerce, Biology, History and Craft
Bria Munnings - Accounts, Mathematics, Family and Consumer Sciences and Religious Education
 
BAHAMAS JUNIOR CERTIFICATE (BJC) EXAMINATION
(ALL STUDENTS RECEIVED A GRADES)
Grade 6 B.J.C. Student (sitting the examination three years early)
One Grade A Pass in Grade 6
Samuel Symonette
 
One Grade A Pass in Grade 8
Jazmin Ageeb
Jessica Cartwright
Daynah Charlow
Earisanne Collie
Jodenia Collins
Kristina Dames
O'Neil Dames
Andrea Davis
Valencia Dean-Simms
Kaitlyn Fox
Two Grade A Passes in Grade 8
Justin Blake
Wilnique Hart
Alexia Major
Gabrielle Pintard
 
Three Grade A Passes in Grade 8
Jasmine Bethel
Jordan Coope
Andre Delaney
Andrew Hennis
Rovan Humes
 
Four Grade A Passes in Grade 8
Kyla Basden
Chloe Clarke
Antoine Ferguson
Temaz Ferguson
Cyerra Gibson
Nanditha Gurumiah
Vincent King
 
Five Grade A Passes in Grade 8
Khes Adderley
Farion Cooper
Jo-Gianna Hall
Rebecca Henderson
Saskia Kemp
Domonic McDonald
 
The following students sat BJC examinations in Grade 9
One Grade A Pass in Grade 9
Malique Fernander
Ryan Francis
Kaurin Gibson
Tristen Ginter
Jaeterai Gipson
Juliann Grant
Ellison Greenslade
Romeka Hanna
Ashanti Johnson
Dominic Knowles
Breyant Marshall
E'Va McDonald
Jayde McKenzie
Mishael Taffin
Nelissa Thomas
Talia Thompson
Chelsea Toote
Lashanda Turenne
 
Two Grade A Passes in Grade 9
 
Miquie Bowe
D'Mitry Charlton
Christov Cornish
Kristy Daniels
Joshua Ferguson
Ashley Lewis
 
Three Grade A Passes in Grade 9
Cher Dacon
Ashley Ellis
Khadija Fraser
 
Four Grade A Passes in Grade 9      Five Grade A Passes in Grade 9
Darius McKenzie
Six Grade A Passes in Grade 9
Luke Stuart
 
Eight Grade A Passes in BJC, in Grade 9:
Selandia Toote
 
THE ROYAL SCHOOLS OF MUSIC (All students received Distinctions)
Grade One
Janelle Pyfrom
Jodi Pyfrom
Irwinique Storr
Alisha Woodside
Jonathan Pinder
 
Grade Two
Jo-Gianna Hall
Catherine Cheong
Savannah Obregon
Charmelle Williams
Andre Delaney
Saskia Kemp
Cyerra Gibson
Grade Three
Farion Cooper
Matthew Johnson
 
 
PITMAN EXAMINATIONS -- Book-keeping and Accounts (All students received First Class passes)
Courtney Kalender
Meghan Knowles
 
 
BAHAMAS GENERAL CERTIFICATE OF SECONDARY EDUCATION (BGCSE) CERTIFICATE PRESENTATION (All students received A grades)
Grade 9 (sitting the examination three years early)
One Grade A Pass
Benjamin Davis
Grade 10 (sitting the examination two years early)
One Grade A Pass
Jayson Braynen
Shannon Butler
Gemma Cambridge
Zachary Carroll
Avriel Cartwright
Xenia Cox
Harmelle Davis
Courtney Kalender
Dyah Neilson
Brittaney Pratt
Saheel Sakharkar
Hannah Thompson
Two Grade A Passes (sitting the examination two years early)
Catherine Miller
Grade 11 (sitting the examination one year early)
One Grade A Pass
Allena Albury
Kennedi Bethel
Lynden Brown
Ayana Burrows
Cargill Chan
Aaron Chea
Riche Dean
Brittney Graham
Olivia Hamilton
Lauren Haven
Keithres Hepburn
Brittney Johnson
Anya Lewis
Brenizka Marshall
Shantwon Martin
Jordan Phillips
De'Atra Scavella
Acacia Simms
Roshanne Smith
Crafton Thompson
Charles Turnquest
Sasha Wallace
Two Grade A Passes in Grade 11
Alaina Balfour
Vernique Chandler
Zarian Cleare
Adah Deveaux
Danielle Farquharson
Whitney Glinton
Karah Hepburn
Tenaja Knowles
Brittany Lindsay
Angelica Malone
Charlsea Maynard
Jerez Rolle
Warel Smith
Shea Stubbs
Three Grade A Passes in Grade 11
Alexander Albury
Ashmeid Allie
Sandeep Gupta
Bria Munnings
Amber Stubbs
Lauren Woodside
George Zonicle
Four Grade A Passes in Grade 11
Athena Cochinamogulos
Peter Henderson
Toby McCarroll
Kenique Toppin
Jasha Winter
Five Grade A Passes in Grade 11
Outhura Rahming
Six Grade A Passes in Grade 11
Ashley Fox
With eight Grade A Passes in Grade 11
Markia Bowe
With nine Grade A Passes in Grade 11
Neha Kodi
PRINCIPAL'S LIST (After the June reporting session of 2011)
Grade 8
Savannah Obregon
Chloe Clarke
Grade 9
Khadija Fraser
Grade 10
Courtney Kalender
Ahmad Pratt
Catherine Miller
Grade 11
Toby McCarroll
Bria Munnings
Jasha Winter
Warel Smith
Jerez Rolle
Principal's List for both reporting sessions in the 2010/2011 academic year
Grade 7
Broquell Wong
Shania Kemp
Ethan Knowles
Simone Cambridge
Eesha Kodi
Aimee Chea
Matthew Richardson
Anju Bimal
Nicholas Bower
Tatyanna Maynard
Grade 8
Nanditha Gurumiah
Farion Cooper
Rebecca Henderson
Keithan Smith
Saskia Kemp
Alexis Mackey
Meshach Roberts
Domonic McDonald
Antoine Ferguson
Jo-Gianna Hall
Charmelle Williams
Khes Adderley
Grade 9
Samann Pinder
Selandia Toote
Taryn Rolle
Blaire Evans
Dion Brown
Grade 10
Christa Lyons
Hannah Thompson
Harmelle Davis
Shannon Butler
Kerri Bascom
Grade 11
Markia Bowe
Neha Kodi
Ashley Fox
Peter Henderson

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