Esi Naylor named Bermuda’s overall outstanding teen
A Warwick Academy pupil was crowned the overall winner of the 39th annual Bermuda Outstanding Teen Awards.
Esi Naylor was chosen from 11 exceptional youngsters during a ceremony at the Ruth Seaton James Auditorium yesterday.
Keechia Tuckett, a board member of Teen Services, one of the organisers of the ceremony, told the nominees: “Each and every one of you is already a success story.”
She added: “Your dedication, creativity, resilience and leadership remind us that the future of our island is in very good hands.”
The Bermuda Outstanding Teen Awards recognises the hard work and talent demonstrated by the island’s older high school pupils.
Nominees are judged on academic, artistic and athletic skills, as well as their charitable involvement, business acumen or personal attributes such as perseverance and leadership.
Teen Services this year nominated 101 youngsters for the 16 categories recognised by the awards.
The category of hospitality was included for the first time and it highlighted several pupils' promise in the tourism and service industries.
Deshay Caines, the OTA committee chairwoman, said that organisers made pupils complete the nomination process themselves for the first time.
She said that required them to submit all of the required materials and to take part in interviews with committee members.
Ms Caines said: “This shift not only empowered the teens to take ownership of the nomination but it also allowed us to ensure that each nominee met the criteria with clarity and fairness.”
David Burt, the Premier, and several other dignitaries attended after the funeral of Miranda Lister, the wife of Speaker of the House of Assembly, Dennis Lister.
Mr Burt said: “We know that in this world we live in, we are sometimes surrounded by negativity but these awards and the incredible achievements of our young men and women in this country recognise that our future is bright.”
Roxanne Christopher, the chairwoman of Teen Haven, which helps organise the event, said the awards were “the biggest amount of joy and pride” the group had.
She added: “This is our future, our future is great.
“We will be saying the names of these young people over and over again in the future.”
Ms Christopher honoured the late Mrs Lister, a former teacher and trailblazing advocate for youngsters.
Most Progress: Aleigha Trott (CedarBridge Academy); Kameron McNeil (CedarBridge Academy)
Community Service: Milan Nisbett (Bermuda Institute)
Spiritual Leadership: Kaelyn Fleming (Bermuda High School); Daequan Dixon (The Berkeley Institute)
Sport: Charlotte Millington (Bermuda High School); Jake Smith (Warwick Academy)
Public Speaking: Helena Thomas (Bermuda High School); Guyen Bean (Bermuda Institute)
Entrepreneurship: Shia Bean (CedarBridge Academy); Michael Scott (CedarBridge Academy)
Visual Arts: Ella Hubbard (Bermuda High School); J’yindae Preece (Somersfield Academy)
Stem: Sophia Perrin (Warwick Academy); Remy Donawa (Warwick Academy)
Perseverance: Alyssa Walsh (Saltus Grammar School); Mikale Willis (The Berkeley Institute)
Performing Arts: Hannah Taylor (Bermuda High School); Jack McDonnell (Warwick Academy)
Vocational/Technical Arts: Jordan Mello (Saltus Grammar School); Michael Darrell (CedarBridge Academy)
Leadership: Kaelyn Fleming (Bermuda High School); Elias Baia (The Berkeley Institute)
Academic Achievement: Ryanna King (Bermuda Institute); Jaden-Alex Walrond (The Berkeley Institute)
Hospitality: Canasia Wolffe (CedarBridge Academy) Olly Cherry (Suffield Academy, Connecticut)
Special Recognition: Kijali Jean-Marie (Saltus Grammar School)
Outstanding Overall: Esi Naylor (Warwick Academy)
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