The Courtney Walsh Award for Excellence being administered by the Culture, Health, Arts, Sports and Education Fund (CHASE), will again recognize the accomplishments of male and female high school students who excel in academics and sports, during the staging of its annual Award ceremony at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel on Thursday, October 15, 2015.
Four outstanding student athletes have already received this Award since its establishment in 2013. They are: Mark Parchment of Munroe College and Janell Dalberry of St. Jago High School in 2013; Natalliah Whyte of St. Jago High School; and Jaheel Hyde of Wolmer’s Boys School in 2014.
Last year’s winner in the female category Natalliah Whyte said she was really surprised at winning the award and thanked her mother for giving her the support so that she could attain her goals. “My mom is my greatest motivator… she is always pushing me and I know she is very proud of me; I am also proud of myself, as I worked very hard” said Natalliah on receiving her Award last year.
Outstanding Wolmer’s Boys’ High School footballer and gold medal hurdler Jaheel Hyde said, at the Awards last year, that it was a good feeling to add an award such as this to his collection. “It is really good to be recognized not only as an athlete, but for academic excellence… you have to balance both of them,” he added.
Schools at the secondary level (male and female) are asked to nominate students who meet the criteria for selection for having displayed exceptional qualities in their academic performance and for demonstrating team commitment and good tenets of fair play while representing their schools in sports. The students nominated must be Jamaican nationals and currently in grades 10 to 13. All nominations must be submitted by the principal of the secondary institution and should include a report explaining why the student is being nominated for the award.
The Student Excellence Award carries a handsome package which include: $250,000 from the Supreme Ventures Foundation towards the development of a specific school project to benefit the student of the institution as well as one year internet service; a trophy for the student; and a computer tablet from the Supreme Ventures Foundation.
Courtney Walsh Award in its 11th Year
The Courtney Walsh Award, which is in its 11th year was conceptualized by Former Prime Minister the Most Hon. P.J. Patterson, an avid cricket follower, who was prompted to establish the Award to celebrate excellence in sports, having observed the exemplary qualities demonstrated by Ambassador Courtney Walsh throughout his illustrious international career.
