A&B TAKES ESSAY CONTEST BY STORM Tuesday 14th August 2012
 |
| 1st Place winner in the Regional Essay Contest, Terrikia Benjamin |
A 14-year old third form student of the Antigua Girls’ High School, Terrikia Benjamin, has been selected the 1st place winner in the senior division of the 2012 Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) Foundation Children’s Essay Contest which attracted entries from nineteen (19) Caribbean countries.
Terrikia will be awarded a cash scholarship of US$3,000 with her school receiving a monetary award of equal amount. On the invitation of the FCCA, Terrikia will travel to Curacoa to attend the Association’s Annual Conference and will receive her cash award and a plaque during the Opening Ceremony on Tuesday, October 2nd.
Writing on the contest topic “What are the memories you would like a cruise passenger to walk away with after visiting your destination?” Terrikia’s essay successfully made it through all three rounds of the contest as the number one entry. In the first round, her essay was selected by her school, the Antigua Girls’ High School, as the school’s best entry in the senior category and was received by the Ministry of Tourism among the other entries for selection of the country’s best. Terrikia’s entry was selected and was submitted to the FCCA’s Selection Committee.
In announcing Terrikia as the winner of the regional contest, FCCA’s President, Michele Paige writes “we would like to congratulate Terrikia on her excellent essay – it truly exemplifies Caribbean excellence.” Second and third places were awarded to St. Vincent & The Grenadines and Grenada respectively.
Country Coordinator of the contest, Cynthia G Simon, Manager of Tourism Education, Training and Awareness, within the Ministry of Tourism, extends heartiest congratulations to Terrikia on gaining the region’s top award. Continuing, she says: “Terrikia has shown keen interest in tourism, willing to give deep thought to tourism issues and to share her views. She also epitomises the essence of perseverance, having consistently been selected as the national winner and country representative for four consecutive years, and was named among the top three in the regional contest except for one year (2011). Nathan Dundas, President of the Antigua Barbuda Cruise Tourism Association also sent words of congratulations to Terrikia on her achievement, stating: “Your achievement comes at a time when we are facing many challenges with our cruise tourism product, and so it really gives us hope that if you can excel to the highest level among all other participants, we can as a destination do the same.”
As finalist in the regional contest, the country’s junior division winner, 12-year-old Ariana Joseph of Christ the King High School will receive a cheque in the amount of US$200. for her achievement. St. Maarten, Nevis and St. Thomas respectively secured the top three places.
At a date to be announced, all twelve (12) students who participated in the local leg of the contest will receive due recognition at a special ceremony.
Click here for all News and Specials for Antigua & Barbuda Tourism Authority
| 
