The Vision
The Bahamas Primary School Student of the Year Awards Program is a premier National Awards Recognition program for 6th graders in The Bahamas. The program was introduced by Ricardo P. Deveaux - Distinguished Charter President of the Nassau, Bahamas Pan-Hellenic Council and was designed to salute the achievements of our younger achievers.

Mr. Deveaux was impressed with the prestigious Florida College Student of the Year Awards Program sponsored by Florida Leader Magazine and Oxendine Publishing Company (http://www.floridaleader.com/soty/) and felt the need to establish a national awards program in his country. Ricardo was one of seven finalists in that Awards Program.

The History
In November 1996, the idea of a Student of the Year program was submitted to the Council for acceptance by then Council President Ricardo Deveaux. The competition immediately received its endorsements from four educators who were serving as Executive Council Members at the time: Sharon Poitier (Alpha Kappa Alpha), Anastacia Brown (Delta Sigma Theta), Carolynn Hall-Knowles (Delta Sigma Theta) and Garnell Rolle (Zeta Phi Beta) and the Nassau, Bahamas Pan-Hellenic Council. The program also received the endorsement of Senator Dame Dr. Ivy Dumont - Minister of Education (now Her Excellency Governor-General of The Commonwealth of The Bahamas.)

A committee was formed and Ms. Anastacia Brown was selected as the Committee Chairperson. The Council selected June 9th, 1997 as the date for the first Student of the Year awards program. Thirty-one (31) students representing private and public school students in New Providence were the first nominees in the awards ceremony. The ceremony was held at the Ballroom at Government House with Their Excellencies Sir Orville Turnquest - Governor-General and Lady Edith Turnquest in attendance. In his remarks, His Excellency challenged the Council to include the Family Islands in future contest. Vashti Darling, a ten-year-old sixth grade student of St. John's College was selected as the 1997 Primary School Student of the Year.

In October 1998, The National Pan-Hellenic Council - Southern Region selected the Bahamas Primary School Student of the Year Awards Program as the Most Outstanding Original Program. This was the first international award won by the Nassau, Bahamas Council. The Bahamas Primary School Student of the Year Awards Program is the major educational thrust of the Nassau, Bahamas Council of the National Pan-Hellenic Council, Inc. Now in its fourteenth year, The Bahamas Primary School Student of the Year recognizes students who are academically gifted, civic and campus leaders and community volunteers.

Atlantic Medical Insurance was the first major sponsor of the Bahamas Primary School Student of the Year Award Program, donating a scholarship to a deserving student since 1998. In 2006, Mr. Basil Neymour became the major sponsor by donating a $5,000 scholarship for the Student of the Year Winner. Between 2006 - 2008, Mr. Neymour donated some $30,000.00 to the Awards Program. In 2008, Bahamas Office & School Supplies (BOSS) became a major sponsor making a $10,000.00 donation. The 2008 Awards Program was also historic as Mr. Clarence N. Childs - Retired Vice-President of Student Affairs at Bethune-Cookman College became the first international scholarship donor of the Bahamas Primary School Student of the Year Awards Program.

The Foundation
Under the Presidency of Mrs. Cyndi Williams-Rahmingn, a proposal was submitted to the Nassau, Bahamas Pan-Hellenic Council for the Student of the Year Awards Program to be incorporated under a Foundation. The proposal was submitted and approved by the Council in May 2004 and incorporated under The Companies Act of 1992 of The Commonwealth of The Bahamas in June 2004. It was agreed that members of the 2004 Awards Committee would comprise of the Founding members of the Foundation Board of Directors.

Wednesday, August 4th , 2004 was a historic day for the officers and members of the Nassau, Bahamas Pan-Hellenic Council. The official launch was held in the form of a Luncheon at The Ballroom at Government House and it was hosted by Her Excellency Dame Ivy Dumont (then the Governor-General of The Commonwealth of The Bahamas). The thirteen member Board of Directors were officially presented with their letters of appointments. The founding Directors were Cyndi Williams-Rahming - President, Ricardo P. Deveaux - Chairman, Tanya Woodside - Vice-Chair of Development, Carol L. Smith - Vice-Chair of Administration, Andre' A. Moss - Treasurer and Margo Adderley - Secretary. Directors were: L. Gerard Archer, Vaughn L. Culmer, CC LaFleur, Myra Mitchell, Eugene 'Geno' Nairn, Phenton Neymour and Steven G. Strachan.

The official launch was held in the form of a Luncheon at The Ballroom at Government House and it was hosted by Her Excellency The Governor-General.

Attorney Debi Williams-Hancock of Williams Law Chambers completed the entire legal framework for the Foundation (gratis). Williams Law Chambers became the official registered office of the Foundation.

The Bahamas Primary School Student of the Year Foundation was officially established with five hundred dollars ($500) from the Nassau, Bahamas Pan-Hellenic Council and a six thousand dollar ($6,000) grant from the First Caribbean International Bank. The Bank awarded the Foundation with a grant in recognition of Ricardo Deveaux being selected as the First Caribbean International Bank – 2004 Bahamas Unsung Hero. He was recognized for his work with the Bahamas Primary School Student of the Year Awards Program.

The Nassau, Bahamas Pan-Hellenic Council, through the Bahamas Primary School Student of the Year Foundation looks forward to continuing to sponsor this awards program as outstanding primary school students are recognized for their accomplishments.

Highlights from the 2010 Awards Ceremony

One hundred and six (106) outstanding primary school students representing Abaco, Acklins, Andros, Andros, Berry Island, Bimini, Cat Island, Crooked Island, Eleuthera, Exuma, Grand Bahama, Inagua, Long Island, New Providence and San Salvador were nominees in the 2010 Bahamas Primary School Student of the Year. There were sixty  (60) students from Grand Bahama and the Family Island and forty-six (46) from New Providence.

The 2010 Awards Program was divided into two segments: the Medal Presentation and the Awards Ceremony:

On Friday, May 14th, The Honourable Chrales Maynard, M.P. - Minister of Youth, Sports & Culture presented each of the 2010 nominees with Medals of Excellence. The Ceremony was held at British Colonial Hilton Hotel. 

Saturday, May 15th, over one thousand, four hundred parents, guardians, principals, family members and friends gathered at the Golden Gates World Outreach Ministries for the 2010 Student of the Year Awards Program. The highlight of the evening was the naming of the 2010 Student of the Year – Jared Fitzgerald, a 6th grade student at Xavier's Lower School, New Providence. Yelena Persaud, a 6th grade student at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Primary, Abaco was named First Runner Up. Fifty-four (54) students received scholarship awards, increasing the amount of scholarships given in one program year. The Foundation awarded some $100,000.00 in scholarships and prizes. 

The Foundation was proud of the fact that 2010 marked the fourth time in the Awards Program history that efforts were made to track former nominees. One hundred former nominees were randomly selected. It was discovered that the students were still doing well academically and making a difference in the community.

Since the inception of the Awards Program in 1997, nine hundred and sixty nine (1,069) students have been recognized among the "Who's Who in Primary Schools in The Bahamas" and over $500,000.00 presented in scholarships and prizes.