Matteo Giancyr Davies, 11, a sixth-grade student at Bishop Michael Eldon School (BMES), was selected for the 27th top honor from among 123 nominees in the 2023 Bahamas Primary School Student of the Year Foundation (BPSSYF) awards program.
Matteo was awarded the REV You & Us Together $7,000 scholarship.
Matteo, who was described as a smart, critical thinker and well-rounded student, was on Saturday named the 2023 Bahamas Primary School Student of the Year by the board of directors of the BPSSYF and the Nassau, Bahamas Pan-Hellenic Council.
The Grand Bahama native, who is a member of the prefect body at BMES, maintained an accumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.89. He was an honor roll and chairman's list student for the duration of his time at BMES.
When asked why he should be selected for the honor, Matteo, the son of Nivea and Andrew Davies, said he would use the opportunity to enlighten his fellow Bahamians on the importance of caring for the planet, starting first by protecting his island.
In his portfolio, Sheryl Wood, Matteo's principal, wrote that although Matteo is quiet and reflective, he was unquestionably a leader, reliable, and an infallible discipline.
"Matteo is that student to whom his peers will go for sound, practical advice and guidance," wrote Wood.
Matteo's sense of responsibility, they said, is also evidenced in his passionate advocacy for protection of the environment. He is a committed ECO ambassador and is a member of the school's ECO club.
He presents early for beach cleanup, and planting of propagules for reforestation of devastated mangroves. Matteo led his BMES peers on a wide relay to promote environmental global awareness.
He is also a member of Nimble Minds Chess and the YMCA Mako Aquatics Club.
Queen's College sixth-grade student Nylah Symonette, 11, was first runner-up.
Nylah, the daughter of Nakera and Richard Symonette, was awarded the Fidelity Bank Bahamas $6,500 scholarship.
Nylah, a 3.92 GPA student, was described as an "innovative, eloquent, focused, intelligent, passionate, gifted and caring student leader".
She is described as an excellent role model for her peers in church, community and the country at large. She organized and initiated a charitable gesture at her church during the Christmas and petitioned the church members, her school family and the wider community to bring in their unused Quality Stamps to purchase food items for families in need.
Nylah is described as an attentive leader who is observant, confident and exemplifies good character, discipline, determination and respect for others.
Sylvia Beneby, Queen's College vice president, head of Primary Years, described Nylah as an exemplary leader and role model for her peers.
"Within her school community, she demonstrates excellent leadership skills and is able to maintain a high level of academic performance while playing an active role in community-based projects," wrote Beneby. "As an inspiring humanitarian, she successfully raised the consciousness of her peers to eradicate hunger as well as her tangible and notable contributions to the Children's Emergency Hostel."
Nylah is a member of Bahamas Star Gymnastics; Lawrence Carroll Dance Academy; Queen's College Performing Arts and Choir; engages in track and field; spelling bee; peer tutoring and St. Agnes Church Sunday School.
Among the 28 ranked finalists, three received $6,000 scholarships - Andria Wilkinson from Sts. Francis & Joseph School - who received the Oaktree Medical Center scholarship as the second runner-up; Seth Moxey, the third runner-up from Summit Academy who received the Scotiabank scholarship; and Genesis Academy's Isaac Wright, the fourth runner-up who received the Rigby Legacies scholarship.
Fifth runner-up Sydnee Lockhart, a student at Nassau Christian Schools, received a $5,000 K.W. Paving scholarship.
Sixth through ninth-place students received $4,000 scholarships - Freeport Gospel's Christian Sawyer (Oaktree Medical Center); Kingsway Academy's Tracey Johnson (Lombard Odier & CIE); Grace Christian School's Travonte Saunders (Commonwealth Brewery); and Lyford Cay International School's Felipe Souza (Scotiabank).
Six students were awarded $3,500 scholarships for their 10th through 15th-place rankings - Aiyanna Hernandez from Eva Hilton Primary (Fidelity Bank (Bahamas) Ltd.); Anwar Rolle, Sadie Curtis Primary (Sun Oil Ltd.); Adrian Dean, Xavier's Lower School (Higgs & Johnson); Emila Anderson, Lucaya International School (Bahamas Power & Light); Alexia Bain, St. Thomas More Catholic Primary (We Buy U Sell Group Co. Ltd.); and Destiny Hield, St. Francis de Sales Catholic Primary (McKinney Bancroft & Hughes).
Twelve students were awarded $3,000 scholarships for their 16th through 27th respective placings - Adriana Cooper, Hugh Campbell Primary (Minus Family Memorial); Anaelle Gay, Windsor School (Colina Insurance Ltd.); Kyle Higgs, Samuel Guy Pinder All Age School (Bahamas Cooperative League Ltd.); Caci Major, St. Andrew's Anglican School (ARM Caribbean Ltd.); Jiselle Bodie, Temple Christian Elementary School (Zachary Lyons Student of the Year 2002); Amari Taylor, Jordan Prince William Baptist Primary (CG Atlantic); Araya Campbell, Sunland Baptist Academy (CIBC FirstCaribbean); De'Ann Bostwick, St. John's College (Eva & Livian Mortimer); Torrinae Evans, St. Cecilia Primary (Hayley Wilson Student of the Year 2020); Kriston Rolle, St. Anne's School (BTC); Tyreke Vega, Tabernacle Baptist Christian Academy (Dr. Adrian & Christie Cargill); and O'Brea Forbes, Maurice E. Moore Primary (Albany Bahamas).
Rounding out the ranked finalists at 28th and 29 places respectively were two students who were awarded a $2,500 scholarship - Elise Jean, Mary, Star of the Sea Catholic Academy (Prescription Parlour Deyvenne & Anthaya Charlton); and Geneva Elison, Harbour Island Green School (Eugenia T. Butler former nominee).
Twenty eight students were awarded $2,000 scholarships as finalists; another 23 were awarded $1,500 finalists scholarships.
Forty-two semifinalists received $1,000 scholarships.
The 27th Annual Bahamas Primary School Student of Year awards program was held at Evangelistic Temple, Collins Avenue, on Saturday, June 10, at 5 p.m.
The medal presentation ceremony took place on Friday, June 9. All nominees were awarded with a medal of academic excellence.
This year, some $246,000 was presented in scholarships and over $50,000 in prizes, which included paying for travel for the Family Island nominees, trophies and medals for all nominees.
Twenty-seven students walked away with laptops and gift certificates for school supplies.
Since 1997, the foundation has recognized over 3,000 of the best and brightest primary school students in The Bahamas, and awarded over $2.2 million worth of the scholarships and prizes.
BAHAMAS PRIMARY
SCHOOL STUDENT OF THE YEAR PAST WINNERS
1997 - Vashti Darling, St. John's College, New Providence
1998 - Andrea Moultrie, St. John's College, New Providence
1999 - Tiffany Moncur, Carmichael Primary School (now Sybil Strachan Primary), New Providence
2000 - Sasha Bain, Walter Parker Primary School, Grand Bahama
2001 - Kenny Roberts, Spanish Wells All Age School (now Samuel Guy All Age School), Eleuthera
2002 - Zachary Lyons, Queen's College, New Providence
2003 - Tanielle Curtis, Sts. Francis & Joseph, New Providence
2004 - Saul Salonga, Mary, Star of the Sea Catholic, Grand Bahama
2005 - Shirdat Jadoo, Maurice Moore Primary School, Grand Bahama
2006 - George Zonicle, Bahamas Academy of SDA, New Providence
2007 - Taran Carey, Tarpum Bay Primary, Eleuthera
2008 - James Boyce, Hope Town Primary, Abaco
2009 - Khes Adderley, Temple Christian School, New Providence
2010 - Jared Fitzgerald, Xavier's Lower School, New Providence
2011 - Anna Albury, Hope Town Primary, Abaco
2012 - Nadja Simon, Genesis Academy, New Providence
2013 - Lauryn Rolle, St. Thomas More Catholic Primary, New Providence
2014 - Donovan Butler, Xavier's Lower School, New Providence
2015 - Samaiya Lundy, Sunland Baptist Academy, Grand Bahama
2016 - Lila Nottage, Lyford Cay International School, New Providence
2017 - Hannah Edomwonyi, Clara Evans Primary School, Andros
2018 - Remington Minnis, Eva Hilton Primary (formerly Oakes Field Primary School), New Providence
2019 - Lauren Scriven, St. Francis de Sales Catholic, Abaco
2020 - Hayley Wilson, Summit Academy, New Providence
2021 - Chelsea Smith, Windsor School at Albany
2022 - Jerlea Adderley, Sts. Francis & Joseph Catholic Primary
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