Barbados: Harrison College won first place in the Science and Technology Festival’s Secondary Schools Speak-Off Competition which took place during the event’s closing and prize-giving ceremony at The University of the West Indies, Cave Hill, in Barbados last Saturday.
Barbados Children Directory took to Facebook and stated that the Speak-Off Competition is one of the anticipated features of the annual Science and Technology Festival, which challenges students to choose current and relevant topics in the areas of science and technology and debate them among their peers. The aim is to get students to sharpen their debating and research skills.
Thousands of students attended the event which spread over three days from 16-18 March and which show cased the vital role that technology plays in people’s daily lives, and how it could be harnessed to create a more equitable future for all.
The Speak-Off competition, which featured students from secondary schools across Barbados, was a testament to the enthusiasm and curiosity of our younger generation.
The Harrison College team of Emmanuel Sealy and Leah Persaud took the first prize in the team category while second place went to Sariyah Bailey and Ava Haynes of The St. Michael School and third was the team of Daniella Clarke and Jordan Gregg also from Harrison College.
Most Commendable Award went to Angilique Yearwood and Leonardo Azimuth of Princess Margaret Secondary School.
Most Outstanding Speaker (Impromptu Speech) went to Daniella Clarke of Harrison College and Most Outstanding Speaker (Prepared Speech) was awarded to Ava Haynes of The St. Michael School. Stepping Stones to Excellence Award went to Antoine Williams of The Lodge School.
The twin brothers are presently at school in England where they were playing cricket and studying for the past two years, after leaving the island in April 2021 to take up a term’s scholarship at Kings Bruton School in Bruton, Somerset, England.
It was the first time that Kings Bruton had offered any such scholarship to a Barbadian and after an excellent account of themselves in their discipline, academics and talent on the field, Kings Burton decided to offer another scholarship to another young Barbadian cricketer.
From the time Daniel and Darius arrived in England, their level of maturity and discipline was noticed and it assisted them in their transition to their new lives. They quickly settled into their new school in Somerset where they explored new studying techniques, new subjects, new friends and they enjoyed playing cricket on various grounds in England and for Kings Burton.
By the middle of the term, Darius and Daniel were recognised for their positive outlook to life, their ability to mix well and join in group discussions, even on topics such as misogyny, consent and gender bias. They received consistently good grades and performed exceptionally well on the school’s cricket team.
