Bahamas News
Two Students Make History by Receiving the All Bahamas Merit Scholar Award
#Nassau, August 9, 2019 – Bahamas – For the first time in 25 years, two outstanding Bahamians have been recognized as All Bahamas Merit scholars.
The 2019 winners, Mahlia Neely, a graduate of Queen’s College High School and Dehron Smith, a graduate of Nassau Christian Academy, have received full scholarships valued at $140,000 to attend colleges abroad.
The Governor General, the Most Hon. Cornelius A. Smith, headed the list of dignitaries at a special ceremony to honour the 17 All Bahamas Merit and National Merit scholars in the Ballroom of Government House, Thursday, August 8, 2019.
Ministry of Education officials including the Hon. Jeffrey Lloyd, Minister of Education; Lorraine Armbrister, Permanent Secretary; representatives of the Scholarship and Educational Loan Division and the National Scholarship Committee, family, friends and well-wishers were also in attendance.
This year’s recipients represent six high schools, namely Queen’s College, St. Augustine’s College, Nassau Christian Academy, St. Andrew’s International School, St. John’s College and Lakeview Classical Academy.
For the first time a home schooled student, Madisson Symonette, a graduate of Lakeview Classical Academy, received a National Merit award. Luke Carey, a graduate of St. Andrew’s International School, is the 2019 All Bahamas Merit Runner Up.
Minister Lloyd said the All Bahamas Merit Scholar is the most coveted scholarship award in the Commonwealth of The Bahamas for a very significant reason, not only because of its signature profile, identifying the “smartest,” most “successful” student in the academic world in the country.
“It is because of the money; $35,000 a year, $140,000 across the four years; that is nothing to sneeze about. We are proud to be able to award these magnificent young people this privileged award here in The Bahamas,” he said.
The ceremony also included remarks by representatives of Queen’s College and Nassau Christian Academy, the top performing schools; reflections by Aaron Edgecombe, the 2018 All Bahamas Merit Scholar, a student at the University of Miami, remarks by the two 2019 All Bahamas Merit Scholars and an overview of the All Bahamas Merit and National Merit programme by Cheryl Carey, a member of the All Bahamas Merit Scholarship Committee.
She congratulated the scholars, thanked their parents for their support and commended the six schools represented for preparing their students to achieve high honours.
To the honourees she said, “Much has been given, therefore much is required from you. This investment by the Government of The Bahamas will yield unimaginable dividends as you build your bridge from this point to the next.”
The All Bahamas Merit Award is valued at $35,000 per annum for up to five years, it is tenable at accredited universities and colleges locally and abroad
The National Merit Scholarship is the second highest level of scholarship awarded by The Bahamas Government.
It has a maximum value of $25,000 per year for up to four years and is also tenable at accredited universities, colleges or institutions locally and abroad.
The Governor General presented the scholars with their awards.
By: Kathryn Campbell
Photo Captions:
Header: Governor General, the Most Hon. Cornelius A. Smith, is pictured seated in the centre among the All Bahamas Merit and National Merit Scholars. He is flanked to the left by the Hon. Jeffrey Lloyd, Minister of Education and Lorraine Armbrister, Permanent Secretary.
First Insert: Mahlia Neely, the 2019 All Bahamas Merit Scholar, receives her award from Governor General, the Most Hon. Cornelius A. Smith.
Second Insert: Dehron Smith, the 2019 All Bahamas Merit Scholar, accepts his award from Governor General, the Most Hon. Cornelius A. Smith.
(BIS Photo/Patrick Hanna)
NASSAU, Bahamas — Caribbean Bottling Company (CBC), local producers and distributors of Coca-Cola and Dasani products concluded their 10 weeklong Twist To Win campaign with four $5,000 Mall at Marathon shopping sprees.
The campaign which was available throughout the entire Bahamas allowed consumers to enter by purchasing a 20oz bottle with a yellow cap
from the following brands: Coca-Cola, Coca-Cola No Sugar, Sprite, Fanta Orange, or Fanta Grape. Each yellow-cap had a unique alpha numeric code underneath which they submitted to the Twist To Win WhatsApp number.
With each qualifying purchase, participants residing in The Bahamas were entered to win instant prizes and into a grand prize draw to win one of four $5,000 shopping sprees at the Mall at Marathon.
Participants also enjoyed exciting instant prizes such as: Airpods, JBL Speakers, premium Coca-Cola merchandise, $500 Visa gift cards and Amazon, Spotify and Apple Music digital gift cards.
Out of 76,000 plus submissions, Brian Bethel, Ashia Demeritte, Merlin Adams, and Taraceta Neely won the coveted Mall at Marathon shopping sprees at the following select stores, Kelly’s House & Home, The Sports Center, John Bull, Brass & Leather, and BTC.
Leading up to the grand finale shopping spree, Coca-Cola hosted a Trivia Showdown with the eight finalists to determine the four winners. Finalists were tested on their knowledge of World History, Pop Culture, Caribbean Bottling Company and Coca-Cola Facts!
After a few rousing rounds of trivia, the four winners were declared after each winning their spot in the shopping spree by answering their questions correctly and choosing the “Grand Prize” Coca-Cola labeled bottles at random.
The morning of the shopping spree Coca-Cola gave the winners exclusive access to the Mall at Marathon and its participating stores before
their usual operating hours. Grand prize winners were greeted with wide smiles from Coca-Cola brand representatives and morning bites before the big event.
At the start of the thirty-minute clock the grand prize winners along with each of their Coca-Cola shopping assistants ran to the various stores collecting items in their arms and carts.
Merlin Adams, a husband and father of four was proud to have executed his game-plan at the end of the shopping spree. With toys, a new phone and materials for his home from Kelly’s, Adams felt accomplished in what he gathered.
Taraceta Neely, a winner from Eleuthera collected beautiful bags for herself and relatives from Brass and Leather and Brian Bethel bought matching athletic and outdoor wear from The Sports Center for his family.
The final winner Ashia Demeritte bought linens and household items in addition to a new phone from BTC right in time for Christmas.
Caribbean Bottling Company is proud to share the real magic of Coca-Cola with the grand prize winners and the may instant prize winners across the Twist To Win campaign. For more updates on new products, promotions, and events follow www.cbcbahamas.com.
Bahamas News
The Coca-Cola Art Project Astonishes Art Lovers at The Bahamas Culinary & Arts Festival
NASSAU, Bahamas — Caribbean Bottling Company (CBC), local producers and distributors of Coca-Cola and Dasani products displayed
their astonishing Coca-Cola Art Project (CCAP), during Baha Mar’s five-day Culinary & Arts Festival. Earlier this year, Coca-Cola partnered with The University of The Bahamas’ Visual Art and Design Department for a culturally rich art competition. UB’s art students were challenged to create pieces surrounding the theme, Bahamian music.
As a result, 20 student works of art were made, with four students declared as winners at the CCAP exhibit opening in Baha Mar’s ECCHO: Art Gallery in August. To recreate the culturally stimulating magic felt at the exhibit’s premiere, the CCAP was featured at the FUZE Art Tent during The Bahamas Culinary & Arts Festival.
Nine incredible pieces of art lined the walls of the Coca-Cola Art Project, four of which included the winning pieces from Jhanaisia Cole,
with ‘Gaulin Bride’; Alyssa Pinder, with ‘Shotgun Wedding’; Nelson Gray, with ‘Untitled’; and Jaela Bowe, with the piece ‘Whims of Obeah, a Folktail’. Additionally, an intimate listening room was built. It displayed students’ artistic processes, UB Visual Art and Design representatives, and a recap of the exhibit opening for audiences.
Art enthusiasts also enjoyed premium limited-edition CCAP keepsakes at the booth. Journals which featured a collage of all 20 student submissions on the front and back cover, postcards with an art piece on the cover along with the student’s name, title, dimension and materials on the back and pens designed with the CCAP’s dynamic logo.
Throughout the art festival diverse groups of people visited the art tent taking in the displays while enjoying the artistic insights from the
listening booth.
Community and culture are always at the forefront of Caribbean Bottling Community, and it was boldly showcased during The Bahamas Culinary & Arts Festival for the third consecutive year.
For more details on the Coca-Cola Art Project, events and new products visit www.cbcbahamas.com today!
NASSAU, Bahamas — Caribbean Wines & Spirits (CWS), The Bahamas’ premier wines and spirits distributor delighted Jollification
attendees with bubbles from their Bottega and Bouvet Ladubay sparkling wines and Besserat de Bellefon champagne lines.
Located in the Monument Circle on The Retreat grounds, CWS transformed The Retreat Garden into a lush lounge with Besserat, Bouvet and their latest product addition, Bottega, during the two-day affair.
The festivities kicked off Friday during BNT Member’s Night. Guests enjoyed exclusive offerings from CWS’s catalogue, offered exclusively to members. Complimentary mixes or glasses on the rocks included El Tequileno tequila, Hard Truth whiskey, House of Angostura rum, Cross Keys gin, Nemiroff vodka and a slew of wines such as Fonesca Bin, Bottega and Besserat.
Guests also savored the ‘Jolly Paloma’ cocktail, an instant favorite made with El Tequileno tequila, Schweppes Grapefruit and Domaine de Paris rose wine. To end the night, guests were treated to branded limited-edition wine tumblers as keepsakes.
On Saturday and Sunday, Jollification attendees delighted in glasses or bottles of champagne and sparkling brut or rosé wines while taking
in the comfort of the chic lounge. In addition to purchasing bottles for onsite consumption, consumers were also able to purchase bottles as gifts whether for themselves or someone special.
The sophisticated “bubble lounge” lounge was decked with velvet couches, gold rimmed cocktail tables, blue and pink pillows, and a white floral branded backdrop created for capturing the perfect picture.
Caribbean Wines & Spirits, a historic partner of the Bahamas National Trust was pleased to support Jollification 2025 to kick off the festive season and share their expansive range of spirits.
To keep up to date with all CWS products and events, visit their website at www.cwsbahamas.com today.
