Gingerland student wins OECS competition

ZIZ News…May 13, 2010 – A student of the Gingerland Secondary School in Nevis has won ‘hands down’, this year’s staging of the Dr Martin Luther King Jr essay competition, that was launched in February of this year which was designated as Black History Month.

The American Embassy in Barbados was responsible for the competition, to honor the life and legacy of Dr Martin Luther King Jr. The competition was opened to secondary school students from across the OECS.

Chaim Walters, of form 3a1 at the Gingerland Secondary School challenged himself on the topic, ‘does the election of President Barack Obama represent the fulfillment of Dr King’s dream or is it only one milestone along a longer road to full equality?’

Joseph Schaller, the Deputy Public Affairs Officer at the Embassy was sent to Nevis, to personally present the award to Mr Walters.

Mr. Walters impressed the delegation at the Embassy and easily captured the top prize. Mr Schaller spoke about what was most remarkable about Chaim’s essay.

Vocalizing his opinion on the topic, Mr Schaller admitted to ZIZ News that he agrees with Chaim, that tremendous progress has been made.

The top prize winner was awarded a plaque and $750 US dollars.