Office of the Prime Minister

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Twenty seven nominations have been received for the Prime Minister's Youth Awards for Excellence, to be presented on Sunday, December 6, at Emancipation Park, in Kingston, beginning at 5:00 p.m.

They are: Kerri Ann Allen, Zurie Johnson, Olivia Rose, Doneika Simms and Rochelle Whyne in the category of Academics; Danielle Hyde in the field of Entrepreneurship; Siaelda Green and Trudi Anne Howe in the category of Leadership; Kajha Escoffery, Christopher Gordon and Randy McLaren in the category of Arts and Culture; Ryan Small, Sean Hylton, Rackell Wilson and Oneil Clarke in the category of Youth in Service; Garfene Grandison, Simone Absalom, Donald Oliver, Rolando Smith and Andrew Wildes in the category of Journalism; Kevaughn Bonner for Agriculture; Chadwick Walton, Kaliese Spencer, Nesta Carter, Shericka Williams, Michelle Gabbadon, and a team - (Shannon March, Tashna Smith-Edwards and Michelle Ann Gabbadon), in the area of Sports.

Winners will be announced on that day and will be awarded by Prime Minister, the Hon. Bruce Golding. Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, Hon. Olivia Grange and Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, Senator Warren Newby, are among the many officials expected to attend.

Events Manager at the National Centre for Youth Development, Nyron Morris, told a Jamaica Information Service (JIS) 'Think Thank', today
(December 1), that about 200 awards have been presented since the event was introduced in 1998. He noted that the categories and awardees have been increasing over the years. The awardees in 1998 were Jody-Ann Maxwell, Dr. Tanya Clarke, Lawson Crawford and Ricardo Gardener in the categories of International Achievement, Scholarship, Scholarship and Sports, respectively.

A new addition to the ceremony this year will be acknowledgement of the work of a youth non-governmental organisation (NGO). The introduction of this award was recommended by Senator Newby.

The Prime Minister's Youth Award is the highest honour normally bestowed on Jamaicans between 15 and 24 years of age, who have achieved eminent national and international distinction in the categories of sports, youth in service, the arts and culture, academics, agriculture, leadership, journalism, international achievement and entrepreneurship.

The awards ceremony is the final event for Youth Month 2009 (November), celebrated under the theme: 'Jamaican Youth Embracing Support'.

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