Father's Day is this Sunday, June 21 and to celebrate fathers and all they do for their children, Primary 5 and Primary 6 students in the Bermuda Public School System shared why their father should be Father of the Year in an essay competition.
The Ministry of Education in partnership with the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc sponsored the Minister of Education's third annual Father of the Year Essay competition which honoured eight fathers.
The Minister of Education, the Hon. Diallo Rabain JP, MP stated, "The role parents play in the success of their children is immeasurable, and to quote Charles Kettering, "Every father should remember one day his child will follow his example, not his advice ."
"Three years ago, we revived the Annual Father's Day Essay competition to allow our students to show how much they appreciate their fathers and to celebrate our fathers. Now in its third year, I look forward to reading these essays as they are written from the heart and gives our children a chance to put on paper what special moments they have shared with their fathers. I have been told the judging was tough this year. I wish to congratulate the winners and encourage all Fathers to continue to be the shining light in your child's life".
"Students were asked to share their thoughts of love and appreciation in a handwritten essay describing why they felt their father was deserving of the top honours. Winners were chosen across the eastern, central and western school zones with an overall winner in each year group. The prize for students in each category is a Google Chromebook."
Dr Tim Jackson, President of the local chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc also stated "Our Fraternity was founded on the ideals of Scholarship, Manly Deeds and Love of All Mankind. When Bro. Rabain reached out to ask the chapter to partner with the Ministry to help provide prizes for this competition, the brothers reached in their own pockets and readily supported. We are proud of the students who have participated and even more proud of the fathers who provide a strong example for their children to follow and write about. On behalf of the Epsilon Theta Lambda Chapter, we congratulate the winners."
The winners of the essay competition were as follows:
Overall Winner Primary 5 – Mataio Cameron – Northlands Primary
Overall Winner Primary 6 – Azari Jones – Dalton E. Tucker
Eastern Zone P5 Winner - Darian Seymour – St. David's Primary
Eastern Zone P6 Winner - Xazi James – Francis Patton Primary
Central Zone P5 Winner - Prince Domingo – Gilbert Institute
Central Zone P6 Winner - Santonio Cherrington – Victor Scott
Western Zone P5 Winner - David Scott - Heron Bay
Western Zone P6 Winner - Keante Simmons – Dalton E Tucker
Primary 5 overall winner Mataio Cameron, described his father as a "hardworking man" who treats his friends as his own children. Mataio feels he is very lucky as his father Cavon Spencer is a cancer survivor and cites Mataio as the reason why he fights so hard. Azari Jones, the Primary 6 Overall Winner called his father a "family man" who shows his family how important they are to him.
