THE Jamaica Information Service (JIS) hosted an essay competition targeted to Primary and Preparatory School students across Jamaica in observance of this year’s Heritage Month celebrations.

Jamaica International Insurance Company (JIIC) was onboard to sponsor the event. JIIC was invited to support the Heritage Essay Competition by way of providing gifts for the winners. The insurance giant was proud to be a part of the competition.

Marketing manager Elizabeth Chung states, “We welcomed this opportunity to support the education of our children especially that specific to knowledge about our heroes. We are pleased to be associated with this initiative and applaud the JIS for developing this concept. The quality of the essays written by the children is heart warming. As with our support of the creative arts, JIIC is keen on contributing to preserving our culture and heritage, and ensuring that the people and events that form our legacy as a nation is not forgotten.”

Entrants were asked to write on the topic: Who is your favourite National Hero or Heroine and why? Entries came from all the parishes in Jamaica. The competition was started on September 19 and ended on October 28.

Prizes were awarded to the eligible students who wrote the essay which best explored the topic. The essays were read by a select committee not limited to persons within the JIS, but included individuals with a background on the topics being discussed. Emphasis was placed on originality of thought, including a clear statement of the student’s own assessment of the issue.

Ten primary school students were recognised for outstanding performance in the competition. Kathryn Gooden, a nine year old from St Hugh’s Preparatory copped the top prize. Gooden walked away with several prizes, including a JIS first place trophy, a weekend for four at Franklyn D Resort, Sangster’s Book Store voucher, an MP4 Player and $10,000 cash.

Rounding off the top three were: 10-year-old St Hugh’s Preparatory student, Matthew Irons, who finished second; and 11-year-old, Tajrakae Bryson, who copped the third prize. Irons, the only male in the top 10, was awarded $6,000 cash, a digital camera, a flash drive, Sangster’s Book Store voucher and a JIS trophy. Tajrakae, a student of Corinaldi Avenue Primary School in St James also received a JIS trophy, a flash drive, a printer, book voucher and $4,000 cash.

There were also a number of sectional prizes, including the Best Entry in the nine-year-old category, which went to Kathryn Gooden. Ten-year-old Kori-Ann Hermitt of St Richard’s Primary School received the award for the Best Entry in her age group, while Tajrakae Bryson got best entry in the 11-year-old section and 12-year-old Sudandiee Stewart, of Marie Cole Primary in St Elizabeth, received the prize for her age group.

The prize for Best Use of Language went to Ashli Francis of St John’s Preparatory in St Ann. Best Researched Entry was awarded to Tajrakae Bryson and Most Creative Entry went to Jenieve Malcolm.

Three students also received the Judges’ Special Award. These were: Elizabeth Benjamin, St Andrew Preparatory; Jhonalee Gardner, Inverness Primary and Infant school in St Ann; and Tomoya Palmer, Mile Gully Primary School.