Monday, August 20 2012

The Lambeau Credit Union recently honoured 18 students who were successful at the Secondary Entrance Exam (SEA) and provided them with school supplies, flash-drives, computers, other tokens and in some instances cash awards.

Students who achieved a mark of 180 and above were given cash awards. One of the awardees, Elena Aaron was also the recipient of a five-year Bursary Award from the credit union which will see her receive $600 a year as long as she maintains a 70 percent average mark or above in her subject areas.

Elena, the second best Tobago achiever was one of 11 students of Lambeau Anglican School who passed for Bishop’s High School (BHS) and according to the principal, Elva Winchester-Romeo, that was a fantastic achievement for the school.

The Credit Union, in existence now for 66 years, has been rewarding SEA students since 1990. The “Vida Moses-Wellington SEA Awards” as it is officially called is named after the former member, now deceased, who served as secretary of the organisation’s board and who came up with the idea.

Over the past 22 years, the Credit Union estimated it has rewarded some 400 successful children of the Common Entrance Examinations now the SEA Exams. This year marks only the fifth year of the Bursary Award which is given to the top performing student that is a member of the Credit Union.

Originally, children of members of the credit union were eligible for the award, however, now, in order to qualify for the awards, the children themselves must be members of the financial institution. The credit union believes that with this approach, parents and guardians would encourage children to become members of the credit union.

At present the company is directly associated with the Lambeau Anglican School and the Dorothy Moses School also in Lambeau.

In her feature address to the students, educator Laurette Solomon said education does not mean a master’s degree or a doctorate, it is what is passed on to those not yet ready for life. She warned parents if they don’t pass on anything to their children, do not blame teachers.

She said children need more role models than critics because in today’s society they are being criticized too often. Parents, she emphasised, must give their children a spiritual upbringing and insist they follow rules and obey laws.

She advised the children to become involved in sports, leisurely and extra-curricular activities in order to have a well-rounded development. She told them that while attending school is free, their education is still is being paid for by Trinidad and Tobago taxpayers and with that in mind they are expected to become true patriots and “give back” to the country.

Among those in attendance were the Secretary of the Division of Tourism and Transportation, Oswald Williams; Carlton Guy representing the Division of Education, Youth Affairs and Sport; Verlyn John, TTUTA representative and president of the Board of the Lambeau Credit Union, Clarence Bacchus.