MIAMI – Two South Floridian students were awarded as winners of this year’s annual Jamaica Independence Essay Competition in Florida.
The winners were 13 year-old, Rhyssa Kathryn-Marie Beckford of Miami, and 18 years old, Christina Pengelley of West Palm Beach.
The competition now in its eighth year is organized by the Jamaica Information Service in Miami, and invites entries from all Jamaican children, first and second generation and residing in Florida State.
This event forms part of the annual Independence celebrations in Florida and is intended to advance community awareness while exposing the young Jamaicans to their roots.
All students chose from a selection of seven topics relating to the history and culture of Jamaica.
Miss Beckford wrote an exciting story on her two favorite places in Jamaica and that earned her first place in the age group category nine to thirteen (9-13) years old while Miss Pengelley placed first in the 13 to 18 age category, with her story about a Jamaican individual who has made an outstanding contribution to her community. She paid tribute to well-known community activist, Mrs. Marcia Bodden, a member of the community organization, Jamaicans of Palm Beaches.
The topics while relating to the culture and history of Jamaica also challenged the students to address issues affecting the Jamaican Diaspora.
Some of these include community leadership, entertainment, education, history and culture, geography and national development.
In an interview with JIS, Miss Beckford was enthused about entering the Independence Essay competition because of her interest in writing stories and poems and reading as well. A resident of Miami, she enjoys participating in both the Drama and Debate clubs at her school and is also actively involved in the youth group at her church. This semester, Miss Beckford enters South Miami Senior High School as a freshman.
A second-generation Jamaican, Miss Beckford expresses pride in her heritage because of the island’s vibrant culture and interesting history. She looks forward to her yearly visits every summer, and enjoys a good Jamaican meal of oxtail or stew peas and rice.
Miss Pengelley also begins this fall semester, as a freshman at Florida International University where she will pursue studies in the nursing faculty.
She also is actively engaged in leadership programs through membership in community association, school and church youth activities, and interacts regularly with the Jamaican Diaspora through those events.
A second-generation, Miss Pengelley also appreciates reading interesting information about Jamaican people, their culture and heritage, at the same time she ‘enjoying the island’s food, music, loves the people and their accent,’ she added.
