Six young men won praise in the House of Assembly after being named Bermuda’s Outstanding Teens.

Public school S4 students Sekai Wainwright, Kenji Robinson, George Frost, Yasser Baia, Angelis Hunt and Jay-Quan Dill were noted for their talents and achievements at the Outstanding Teen Awards Ceremony in March.

Education minister Diallo Rabain told MPs: “We applauded our students for their willingness to stand as leaders in their respective schools, which we know at times, can mean significant personal sacrifice.

“Students were reminded that it was their conduct, their attitude, their achievements, how they serve other students, and how they demonstrated selfless leadership, that positioned them to be selected as leaders in their schools.

“These are the leadership characteristics can be found in all great leaders. These are leadership characteristics that align with our Plan 2022 vision for public school students.

“In these current times of social challenge, it is critically important to remind our students of the potential that lies within them. It is our intention to do this not just once but continuously throughout their education experience in public school.”

Mr Rabain made the following remarks on the six winners:

• Sekai Wainwright of CedarBridge Academy is the 2018 Outstanding Teen Awardee for the Vocational and Technical Arts category. He has completed the NCCER Core Curriculum with a grade of ‘A’ and Mechanics courses with grades of ‘B’. Presently, Sekai is on the President’s List at Bermuda College with a GPA of 3.36. He has excelled and thrived in many of the technical courses, gaining ‘A’ grades. After graduating from the Dual Enrolment Applied Technology programme in May 2018 with both his High School Diploma and a Certificate in Applied Sciences and Technology from the Bermuda College, Sekai will further his studies at the New England Institute of Technology, where he has gained acceptance for the fall term to obtain qualifications for becoming a Diesel Mechanic.

• Kenji Robinson of CedarBridge Academy won the 2018 Outstanding Teen Award for Perseverance. Despite dire family issues caused by grave social problems, our winner kept his eyes focused on upward mobility and his future goals. He possesses all of the intellectual acumen and skills that are required to make it academically and to achieve his aspiration of becoming an actuary. Kenji entered high school having already earned IGCE’s. He took several IGCSEs in his S1 year, completing the two-year course of study in one year. He has “A” Level courses, in addition to Advance Placement courses. He has achieved passes in five IGCSEs; English, Math, Physics, Physical Education, French, and AS Physics. He also took home the award for Excellence in GCSE Math and received subject prize awards for French III, AS Mathematics II and Citizenship. He is a Principal’s Honors student who has maintained an overall average of over 90 per cent for the duration of his time at CedarBridge Academy. Despite his circumstances, Kenji has persevered and excelled academically and athletically as one of the top ten students in his year.

• Berkeley Institute student George Frost won the 2018 Outstanding Teen Award for Most Progress. It was an initial experience with failure, combined with a challenge given to him from one of his teachers that caused him to change his personal philosophy about academic achievement. George was singled out for having an overall average 92 per cent and for being a student who sets goals and competes against himself. His efforts have enabled him to maintain Principal’s Honours through hard work, dedication and his commitment to excel.

• The 2018 Outstanding Teen Leadership Award was won by Yesser Baia. Yasser is a Berkeley Institute student who holds several leadership roles inclusive of Grade 12 Representative, Head Male Student and Chief Officer in a virtual business run within the school. Yesser has played a pivotal role in competitive debating tournaments on the local and global circuit resulting in much success and notable accomplishments. Yesser Baia has had the distinct honour to represent Bermuda at the 42nd Regional Commonwealth Youth Parliament Summit to pass a motion with respect to the new US Immigration Policy. This young leader has also participated in The Global Young Leaders’ Conference and Presidential Inauguration Delegation for Change in 2016 and 2017. He has developed his creative capacity through the establishment of a fledgeling clothing company, Lit Gala, which has enabled him to develop an impactful medium through which he can convey bold messages.

• One of Bermuda’s most talented performing artists, Berkeley Institute student Angelis Hunt, won the 2018 Outstanding Teen Award for Performing Arts. Angelis was a runner — up for the Bermuda Idol Competition. He was also given the distinct privilege of being the opening act for the 2013 NatWest Games hosted in Bermuda. He won Troika Bermuda’s Best New Male Artist Award in 2015 and under the wings of Troika Bermuda, Angelis took on an ensemble role in the 2016 and 2017 production of The Colour Purple: The Musical. Later that year, Angelis received a partial scholarship to attend camp with ‘Up With People’ in Virginia over the summer where he was as a member of Cast B 2017. In the fall of 2017 Angelis secured the role of the Wizard in The Wizard of Oz under the organisation of Gilbert and Sullivan, Bermuda.

Berkeley Institute student Jay-Quan Dill won the 2018 Outstanding Teen Award for Academics. Jay-Quan was one of the first students on island to be invited to the Stanford University High School Summer College Chemistry course in the summer of 2017 and he completed the course with a B- grade. Currently, his GPA is 3.89, one of the highest in the school, while being enrolled in Advanced Placement courses. At the age of fourteen while still in middle school, Jay-Quan took the extended (IGCSE) examination in Mathematics, two years before his designated time and earned a grade (A). He is also the youngest student at the school to write AP Calculus and earn a grade (4). At the end of his S3 year he took the AS and “A” Level Mathematics examination and earned a (B) and (D) respectively. He currently holds nine IGCSE certificates with 3 A*, 4 A’s, 1 B and 1 C and he completed seven of these IGCSEs in one year. His SAT score is over 1300 — making him a well sought after candidate for established learning institutions. He is Head Boy and a Bronze Award member of the Duke of Edinburgh Society.

• To read Diallo Rabain’s statement in full, click on the PDF under “Related Media”