Philip Simon remembers it well -- his daughter, Nadja, watching a student being named the Bahamas Primary School Student of the Year a few years back. He remembers his then fourth-grade daughter with tears in her eyes telling him that she wanted the award. And he and his wife, Sherry, telling her that if she did her best then her school may recognize her and enter her into the competition. Two years later, Nadja is the Primary School Student of the Year.
The Genesis Academy sixth grade student has won a $6,000 scholarship to the school of her choice, and a laptop computer.
"I was shocked that they were calling me to get the award," said Nadja about her recent honor. "I was very happy and excited. It was a good accomplishment for me."
But her accomplishment does not come as a shock to her dad. He described his daughter as a determined young woman. He said she set her mind to it and did it.
"[Nadja's win] shows that determination goes a long way in accomplishing your goals, and she's a very determined young woman," said her dad.
He said that when Nadja told him and her mother that she wanted to be primary school student of the year, he and his wife sat her down and told her that she had to do her best so that her school could recognize her and put her name forward to the Bahamas Primary School Student of The Year Foundation as a deserving student.
Of the seven students in the sixth grade class at Genesis Academy, Nadja got the nomination nod. She then had to write an essay on the subject "It's Still Better in The Bahamas", and submit a transcript of her grades from fourth through sixth grade, inclusive of all of her school and extracurricular activities. Her application also had to be accompanied by three letters of recommendation from the school's principal or vice-principal, a classroom teacher or civic or community leader and a religious leader or extracurricular activity coach.
Nominees were judged on their contributions to school life, academic achievement, extracurricular achievement, community involvement and overall presentation of their submitted portfolio. Academic achievement alone did not guarantee placement in the awards program.
And when all was said and done, of the 112 nominees from around the country, Nadja was declared the Bahamas Primary School Student of the Year.
She has a cumulative grade point average of 3.92, and leads an extremely active lifestyle -- so much so, that you wonder how she manages to get it all done. She learns dance, takes piano lessons, photography and videography lessons. She's taking swimming and art lessons. She's in her school's choir and after-school money club. She's a member of her school's cheerleading squad, and is active in Awana at Christ Community Church.
Despite all of that, education comes first to the 11-year-old who said she takes her education very seriously. Actually, she has aspirations of becoming a surgeon and wants to study medicine at Harvard University.
"I've been doing a lot of science and studying on the heart and brain and that has inspired me to want to be a surgeon," she said.
Nadja studies daily, revising what she did in school before she completes her homework. It's a study and work ethic she attributes to her mother. And the task doesn't seem to be too difficult for Nadja, as there are no subjects that she does not like, but if it's creative, then it's her favorite.
Nadja, who describes
herself as hardworking, friendly and fun, will attend Queen's College in the new school year.
The Primary School Student of the Year awards recognizes the best and brightest sixth grade students in the school system, and is a celebration of their successes.
Since the inception of the program in 1997, 1,069 students have been recognized among the Who's Who in primary schools in The Bahamas, and over $500,000 presented in scholarships and prizes.

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