Republic Bank Limited on Friday honoured the country’s top performers in the various fields of academic pursuits within the last year. Five students were recognised and awarded for their outstanding achievements at the primary, secondary and tertiary levels of education, continuing the bank’s decade long tradition.
Receiving the awards were Anthony Ferreira, top performer at the National Grades Six Assessment 2016; Kayshav Tewari, the Caribbean Secondary Education Council (CSEC) Most Outstanding Candidate 2016; Larissa Wiltshire for the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE); Tishana Rajkumar, Diploma in Business and Finance; and David Cole, the best graduating student in Social Sciences at the University of Guyana.
Awardees joined by their family and management of Republic Bank Limited
This initiative falls under Republic Bank’s social investment initiative, the “Power to Make a Difference” which is aimed at widening group efforts to serve, honour, encourage and empower Guyana’s youths so as to guarantee a successful future. The honouring of the top performers is an undertaking which the Bank has embarked on for 11 years now.
Speaking at the award ceremony hosted at the Head Office of RBL Guyana was the Managing Director of the corporation, Richard Sammy, who congratulated the students and their support system for the successful outcome which was well deserved.
In an effort to highlight the objectives of the initiative, Sammy pointed out that, “We view education as a means to assuring the positive development of our families, communities and the nations as a whole.”
He then went on to encourage the recipients to be confident in their future endeavours while at the same time to recognise and focus on truly the important aspects of life.
Also in attendance on Friday was the Vice Chancellor of the University of Guyana, Ivelaw Griffith, as well as the Education Minister, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine, who delivered the featured remarks. The UG Vice Chancellor referred to the words excellence, integrity and respect as he encouraged those in attendance to always strive for better result.
On the other hand, the Education Minister lamented on the many deficiencies in the current education system but nonetheless congratulated the students and their families. Dr Roopnaraine stated that, “This event is an occasion for celebration; celebration of exemplary academic achievement, exemplary corporate social responsibility, both crucial pillars upon which this society is going to develop and thrive.
Awardee Kayshav Tewari told Guyana Times that, “It felt great to know that all my hard work paid off.” The former student of Queen’s College went on to say that, “I am really proud to represent my country, to represent that my country has potential and that our country can do well at education.”
Moreover, Justice Roxanne George-Wiltshire received the award on her daughter’s behalf as Larissa is current at the University of the West Indies pursuing a medical degree in dentistry.
The delighted mother urged parents to be supportive of their children’s ventures even in the cases when it may be difficult to relate. She noted that simple efforts such as staying awake while they study may go a far way to ensure fulfilling outcomes.
The award ceremony to honour the outstanding performers at the various levels of examinations in the past year was the result of a longstanding partnership with the Bank and the Education Ministry, as well as the University of Guyana. This collaboration is projected to expand in the near future as the Minister indicated a further connection with RBL in the impending works Education Ministry to improve the level of education offered in Guyana.
