Daviot Kelly, Staff Reporter
LEFT: Shelly-Ann Thompson, Freelance Writer at the Gleaner Company, receives the Prime Minister's National Youth Award for Excellence in Journalism from Dr. Donald Rhodd, State Minister for Education, Youth and Culture, at the Awards ceremony, held at Emancipation Park, New Kingston on Sunday. RIGHT: State Minister for Education, Youth and Culture Dr. Donald Rhodd (left) presents Gleaner Staff Reporter Robert Lalah with The Prime Minister's National Youth Award for Excellence in Journalism at the Awards. - PHOTOS BY WINSTON SILL/FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER
GLEANER REPORTERS, Robert Lalah and Shelly-Ann Thompson emerged winners in the Journalism category of the Prime Minister's youth awards held at Emancipation Park on Sunday.
Lalah, whose series 'Roving With Lalah' has quickly become a hit with readers across the island, seemed destined to become a writer, penning short stories since high school. Thompson joined The Gleaner in 2000 as a clerical worker but quickly moved through the ranks. The former HEART trainee is a former YouthLink co-ordinator and currently works on the Lifestyle Desk.
"When I looked at the other awardees, I felt humbled to be named among them," said the reserved Lalah, a St. Jago High School past student. Thompson was equally humble in accepting her award.
"I think it is an honour to even have been short-listed from a field of 70 nominees. There are some very talented young people in Jamaica," she said.
The other award winners were Everaldo Creary, Clonmel Cultural Club and Uonie Lyn for Arts and Culture; Rushell Simmonds for Youth in Service; Terry-Ann Nicholson for Entrepreneurship; Damion Radcliffe for Leadership; and Nicholas Dusard, Anneisha McLaughlin, Sherone Simpson and Simone Forbes for Sports.
OTHER AWARDEES
Other awardees include Jaevion Nelson, Romaine Carter, Cleon Green and Keron Tooma for International Achievement; and Vanessa Chung, Donna Cheung, Sharma Taylor, Nadlae Downer, Stephanie Ewbank and Dr. Ramon Arscott for Academics.
The youths were definitely on show, whether as hosts, presenters or performers. The awards function was interspersed with outstanding performances, including from the Bridgeport High dancers, gospel group Chosen Vessell, as well as Daynea Deacon and Christopher Martin of Rising Stars fame. The hundreds that turned out for the event were treated to a fine show.
The Prime Minister's National Youth Award for Excellence is the highest award that can be bestowed upon Jamaicans between the ages of 15 and 24. Past winners include Chris Gayle, Jody Ann Maxwell, Courtney Foster and Parris Lyew-Ayee.
