Sunland Baptist Academy Student named Student of the Year!
Nassau, Bahamas — Samaiya Lundy, 11, a student of Sunland Baptist Academy in Grand Bahama, was selected as the 2015 Bahamas Primary School Student of the Year which was recently held.
The 19th Annual Awards Ceremony was held by the Bahamas Primary School Student of the Year Foundation in conjunction with the Nassau, Bahamas Pan-Hellenic Council at Golden Gates World Outreach Ministries.
Samaiya was selected from among the 121 nominees who represented students from 14 islands. She received a $6,000.00 scholarship from RBC Royal Bank of Canada; a new computer from Jonathan and Michelle Ford of Gemini Consulting Services and a uniform from Carey’s Department Store.
Samaiya was selected by a Distinguished Panel of Judges independent of the Board of Directors of the Bahamas Primary School Student of the Year Foundation and the Nassau, Bahamas Pan-Hellenic Council. The nominees were judged on their contribution to school life, academic achievement, community involvement and the overall presentation of a portfolio submitted. She maintained an accumulative grade point average of 3.90.
The nominees submitted a portfolio which included a 500 word essay on the topic: “If you can change The Bahamas, what would you do and why?; a 20-250 word statement on ‘Why I should be selected as the 2015 Bahamas Primary School Student of the Year?”; and three letters of recommendations from the principal / vice-principal; a classroom teacher / sports coach and community, religious or civic leader. The portfolio should have included copies of their report cards, certficiates and awards and any newspaper clippings.
Mrs. Myron King, Principal of Sunland Baptist Academy noted that “Samaiya is a well rounded, disciplined and matured student who has maintained honour roll status throughout her primary years.” She represented her school in Junior Junkanoo and is a Member of the Junior Track and Field Team, Junior Girls’ Softball Team, House Captain, School Choir and Head Prefect. She is a Member of the Grand Bahama Youth Choir, the Academy for the Performing Arts and a former Brownies.
Samaiya is a young community activist and has volunteered many hours at the Freeport Veerinary Hospital and the Home for the Elderly. Samaiya and her family worships at St. John’s Jubilee Cathedral, where she is a member of the Children’s Ministry, Children’s Choir and Jubilation Station. She is the daughter of Mark and Shantell Lundy.
The Bahamas Primary School Student of the Year Awards Program is a premier national awards program for 6th graders in The Bahamas. The program was introduced by Ricardo P. Deveaux – Distinguished Charter President of the Nassau, Bahamas Pan-Hellenic Council and was designed to salute the achievement of our younger achievers. Mr. Deveaux was impressed with the prestigious Florida College Student of the Year Awards Program sponsored by Florida Leader Magazine and Oxendine Publishing Company and felt the need to establish a similar awards program in The Bahamas. Mr. Deveaux was one of the finalists in the 1992 Florida College Student of the Year Awards Program.
The 2015 Bahamas Primary School Student of the Year Awards Program awarded $103,500.00 in scholarships and over $20,000.00 in prizes. Between 1997 – 2015, The Bahamas Primary School Student of the Year Awards Program presented over 1 Million Dollars in scholarships and prizes.
