CUSTOM COMPUTERS AWARDS THE RIGHT TOOLS FOR SUCCESS IN EDUCATION
Several talented students will start their new academic year off right thanks to Custom Computers Ltd.
After randomly drawing 25 student names from the entries in the “As for Excellence” campaign, the winners of the top three prizes were recognized for their outstanding academic achievements with the latest technological gadgets sure to make project research and writing for school a little sweeter.
Eighth-grader at S.C McPherson Tariq Pratt won an Apple MacBook Pro laptop in the high school drawing, while fourth-grader at St. Francis & St. Joseph Catholic School won an HP Touchsmart personal computer in the primary school division. In addition, Selena Martinez, who is beginning middle school at St. Augustine’s College, won the latest iPad.
All of the winners expressed excitement over their prizes and cannot wait to use their new gadgets in school projects.
“I’m looking forward to using my new laptop for research and projects,” says Pratt. “It’s important to be focused and determined to do well in school. It definitely pays off in the end.”-
“I’m looking forward to searching for my notes for my essays on my new iPad—as well as to just have fun with it,” says Martinez. “If I want to become something in the future, I have to study and do well in school. I want to be a doctor so education is very important to be a success.”
Now in its fifth year, the “As for Excellence” campaign has steadily expanded--almost 600 students with at least one “A” grade in their report card entered the drawing this year, collectively representing a total of almost five thousand “A” grades, showing that despite news of academic struggle in the media, positive stories still abound.
Speaking on behalf of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Acting Director of Communications Valerie Gaitor commended Custom Computers ltd. to their commitment to recognizing academic excellence.
“Sometimes students get discouraged when they don’t have any spotlight on them, so they think they don’t have to excel and can just settle for mediocrity,” she points out. “But when things like this come around, they realize there is a bar to reach so they go for it.”
“We need programs like these to motivate them,” she adds. “These students here provide us with hope and the winners deserve high praise for doing something positive.”
Indeed the “As for Excellence” campaign is not the only way Custom Computers Ltd. fosters a commitment to education in the community—for three years now, the company has also awarded a scholarship in computer studies to one applicant heading into Bahamas Technical &Vocational Institute in memory of their committed and beloved employee Ted Nutt.
This year, twenty-year-old Cyril Sands will head to BTVI to realize his long-time dream of working with computer technology—and with a chance to intern at Custom Computers during the summer, he’s sure to get the tools he needs to succeed in his field as well.
“I didn’t expect to win but I am very glad I did and I will take on this responsibility and do the best that I can,” says Sands. “My advice would be to work hard because you won’t regret it.”
However, honoring the nation’s students would be nothing if our teachers were not recognized as well. Students had a chance to vote for their favorite teacher. Mrs. Henderson, a fourth-grade teacher at Queen’s College, was presented with a prize of a $1,000 gift certificate at the awards ceremony for earning the most votes. Runner-up Mrs. Greenslade from T.A. Thompson Jr. High had already received her $500 gift certificate prize during the drawing held before a large crowd the previous week.
Speaking at the awards ceremony, Custom Computers Ltd. Marketing Manager Pia Farmer remarked that the “As for Excellence” Campaign will continue not only to encourage academic excellence from students, but also honor the teachers and parents who have fostered that commitment to learning.
“Teachers every day go to the classroom, encourage our children, help them attain life skills, develop curiosity about learning, and find their interests so we would like to thank the teachers very much for the work they do every day.”
“We would also like to celebrate the parents without whom our children would not be able to succeed—because it doesn’t just happen, you need to have committed parents who are interested and encourage children in their education every day,” Mrs. Farmer assured the public that “Custom Computers is very thrilled to run this program every year, and we are looking forward to 2013!”
Pictured above (from left to right) is winner of the Favourite Teacher of the Year vote, Mrs. Henderson of Queen’s College, holding her $1,000 Gift Certificate from Custom Computers; Tariq Pratt, grade 7 student of S.C. McPherson who won an Apple MacBook Pro in the High School division; Pia Farmer, Marketing Director of Custom Computers; Serena Martinez, Grade 7 student of Saint Augustine’s College (formerly of St. Bede’s) holding her iPad 3 prize; Sania Russell, Grade 3, winner of the Primary schools division from St. Francis & St. Joseph Catholic School, who received an HP Touchsmart Elite PC; Cyril Sands who will attend BTVI on a Custom Computers annual scholarship to pursue an Associate Degree in Computer Studies, and Mr. Tommy Ferguson, Financial Aid Officer at BTVI. (Photograph by Tim Aylen)
