Friday, September 10 2010

JESSICA SCOTT has been selected to receive the 2010 Scholar- Athlete Squash Challenge Trophy.

Scott got the nod ahead of Mandela Patrick because of her extraordinary academic achievements alongside her continuous squash successes for the year.

The award was inaugurated in 2008 by national player/coach Ryan Abraham who said that this year’s scholar-athlete winner was the toughest to choose so far.

The two short-listed finalists were Scott and Patrick, who also featured last year. And although last year’s decision was clear, this year Abraham had to call in a neutral judge to assist with the selection of the winner.

In the end, Scott emerged the winner. The national Under-19 squash champion has produced remarkable results throughout her Grade 12 courses at Maple Leaf International School in Westmoorings.

She achieved an average of over 95 percent for the year and has also gained numerous awards at the MLIS graduation ceremony including the Ontario Scholar Award, the Principal’s Award of Excellence, and the most prestigious and coveted Governor General’s Academic Medal. The Governor General’s Award is awarded to the student with the highest average in all Grade 11 & 12 courses.

In addition to these, Scott also earned the Sagicor Bursary for the student with highest overall grade 12 average continuing in the field of business and the PTA Academic Award for the student with the highest average in six university-level courses.

These monetary awards will no doubt be of assistance to her after being accepted into McGill University in Canada to continue her tertiary education.

Over the past year, Scott was crowned the national Under-19 champion and Vita Malt Under-19 winner. She was also the Girls team captain of the National Junior Team which took part in the Caribbean Junior Championships in Cayman Islands in July.

Scott led the girls team to a hard-fought third place finish and was voted the Girls Team MVP having placed fifth in the Caribbean Girls Under- 19 category and also defeated the fourth place girl in the team event.

She was the runner-up for the Scholar-Athlete Challenge Trophy over the past couple years but proved to be the worthy winner this year over Patrick.

He had won it last year having been crowned the Caribbean Under-15 champion as well as maintaining top honours throughout the academic year.

This year, Patrick was the national Under-17 Champion and Vita Malt Under-17 winner and finished third in the Caribbean Under-17 category. And although he also had high academic standards, Scott’s awards and honours, along with the Governor General’s Award swayed the judges..

Abraham has wished Jessica the best in her academic endeavours at McGill and expects that she will continue her well-balanced lifestyle of sport and schoolwork.