Twenty-Three Kittitian Boys Recognized for Outstanding Achievement

The 2025 Boys of Excellence Award Ceremony, held on Friday, June 13th at the St. Peter’s Community Centre in Basseterre, Saint Kitts, celebrated 23 exceptional young men from primary schools across the island. The event recognized their positive attributes, acts of kindness, and active participation in both school and community initiatives. The ceremony underscored the government’s commitment to nurturing and empowering the youth, with several prominent officials in attendance, including Her Excellency, the Governor-General, Dame Marcella Liburd, the Honourable Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Dr. Geoffrey Hanley, and other distinguished ministers. The presence of these dignitaries served to emphasize the importance placed on recognizing and fostering positive development in young boys.

Minister of State, Isalean Phillip, lauded the program, highlighting the Department of Gender Affairs’ ongoing efforts to create supportive initiatives for boys and men. This year marked the third national ceremony for the awards, signifying the program’s growing success and its continued impact on young lives. Minister Phillip commended the awardees for their exemplary character and representation of themselves and their families, emphasizing the significance of their achievements. The ceremony served as a platform to publicly acknowledge and celebrate their positive contributions to their communities.

The 23 boys honored at the ceremony represented a diverse range of primary schools across Saint Kitts. Awardees included Quezon Elign Jr. of Tucker Clarke Primary, Nathan Liddie of Beach Allen Primary, Rajarn Morton of Immaculate Conception Catholic School, Amari Kelly of George Moody Stuart School, Tzuriel Percival of St. Kitts Seventh Day Adventist School, Bijon Alexander of Halliday-Smith Primary, and Dimaggio Grant of Epworth Maurice Hillier Memorial Junior School. The list continued with Za’Nai Watson-Descartes of Tyrell Williams Primary and Dwaynan Giraudel of Cotton-Thomas Comprehensive, highlighting the program’s reach across the island.

Further awardees included Joshua Challenger from Sandy Point Primary, Wazem Warren from Newton Ground Primary, Jaquandre Dasent from St. Paul’s Primary, Jaquan Warner from Dieppe Bay Primary, Desrian Williams from Saddlers Primary, and Dwevaughn Matthew from Edgar T. Morris Primary. Also recognized were Collin Thomas from Violet Petty Primary, D’Quan Procter from Joshua Obadiah Primary, Emijah Maynard from Deane Glasford Primary, Tivaun Patrick from Cayon Primary, and Kemar Kareem Clarke from Dr. William Primary. The final group of awardees included Allanjé Cannonier from Bronte Welsh Primary, Kayode Tafari Kelly from Ross Preparatory, and Valentino Esposito from St. Kitts International Academy, demonstrating the inclusivity of the program.

The recognition of these boys from various schools highlights the program’s effectiveness in identifying and encouraging positive role models within diverse communities. The Boys of Excellence Award Ceremony not only celebrates the individual accomplishments of these young men but also underscores the collective effort of schools, families, and communities in nurturing their potential. The program’s continued success demonstrates its potential to make a lasting impact on the lives of young boys in Saint Kitts.

In a gesture acknowledging the important role of fathers in the lives of their sons, Deputy Prime Minister Hanley presented tokens of appreciation to the fathers present at the ceremony. This thoughtful gesture, preceding Father’s Day, further emphasized the importance of positive male role models and parental involvement in the development of young boys. The ceremony’s theme, “Building Self-Esteem in Boys: Stand Up, Be Heard, Be Seen!”, served as a powerful call to action, encouraging young men to embrace their potential, express themselves confidently, and make a positive impact on the world around them.