You really have to wonder what’s in the drinking water, or what mysticism led to Soufriere Comprehensive Secondary School (SCSS) winning three School Sports titles so far this term. Athletes attending SCSS were rewarded for excellence in School Sports with a huge celebration Wednesday morning on the school grounds-courtesy of the Ministry of Youth Development and Sports in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Human Resource Development and Labour.
The celebratory party included not only the student population and staff at SCSS, but government officials including Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Ports Services and Transport, Philip J Pierre; Minister of Youth Development and Sports, Shawn Edward; Parliamentary Representative, Harold Dalson; along with staff of both ministrys and sponsors.
SCSS Principal, Joan Hippolyte was not at all surprised by the schools outstanding performance in the sporting arena. During her brief remarks Hippolyte said: “Soufriere Comprehensive School has always been and will continue to be a school for sports and athletics. The students have the potential and have shown us they can excel and will always excel whether it is in sports or academics.”
Dr Lewis congratulated SCSS for their achievements in sports in this athletic year in winning three competitions and told students “with certainty you can say you are one of the best schools in the country, because you are excelling at the top in sports and there is inextricable connection between sports and academics.”
The minister went on to say it is not only in the world of academics that we can make a career for ourselves. He pointed out there are opportunities for students who engage in sports to get athletic scholarships to further their education and urged them to use the sporting arena as “one of the pathways to your education.”
During his remarks, Minister of Youth Development and Sports, Shawn Edward while congratulating the school for their success in the sporting arena he told students “let me urge you to apply the same level of determination effort and pride in your academic pursuits which is very important.”
Edward assured the gathering that his ministry is committed towards the development of sporting excellence among students and has established a sports scholarship desk to support talented athletes. The minister who vowed to take school sports to the next level said “this ceremony here this morning is a true manifestation of what taking it up to the next level is all about.”
Minister Pierre told students that sports can be an avenue for education and employment and economic independence regardless of one’s social standing. He mentioned that most of the great footballers, cricketers, basketball players etc came from humble beginnings, but had the discipline and the persistence to go forward.
He went on to say: “Students I want you to be very proud of yourselves. Applaud yourselves because you are achievers and you are among the best that St Lucia can offer.”
Pierre went on to announce that the government is presently resurfacing the Soufriere mini stadium and that a multi-purpose court is being built in Fond St Jacques.
List of awardees for the Soufriere Comprehensive Secondary School: The following students received sneakers. Netball: Mercher Julien, Sharlene Cyril, Dalphur Paul. Basketball: Chang Williams, Tevin St Jean, Greg Charles, Aaron Laurencin, Yohance Cazaubon. Football: Lendell Perpie, Jordan Henry, Dimitri Modeste, Camrand Henry.
Awards were presented to following outstanding players. LUCELEC St Lucia Ltd Under 16 Netball Tournament Best Attacking Player, Mercher Joseph; Consolidated Foods Ltd Under 16 Basketball Tournament Most Valuable Player, Chang Williams; Consolidated Foods Ltd. Under 16 Basketball Tournament Most Valuable Player Overall, Chang Williams; LUCELEC Under 19 Basketball Tournament Most Valuable Player, Greg Charles; LUCELEC Under 19 Basketball Tournament Most Valuable Player Overall, Tevin St Jean; LUCELEC Under 19 Football Tournament Most Goals in Group E, Tevin St Jean.
In addition to the individual awards previously mentioned, SCSS came away with trophies in the following sports: LUCELEC Under19 Football Tournament Group E winners; LUCELEC Under 16 Netball Champions; Consolidated Foods Ltd 2012 Under 16 Basketball Champions; LUCELEC 2012 Under 19 Basketball Champions. In addition Recognition Plaques will be presented to the School for the three Tournaments they won.
In addition to these awards Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Youth Development and Sports, Fortuna Belrose presented a special award to the MC Marcellus Cazaubon, who served with distinction as St Lucia’s Commonwealth Youth Ambassador for the last four years. He also played a key role in the Commonwealth Youth Council and sat on the international committee to design the constitution of the council. And that’s only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to this gentleman who Belrose said “we should all be proud of for the wonderful work he has done with young people.”
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