The Tribune

ON MARCH 27, the faculty and students of Moore's Island All Age School formally celebrated the accomplishment of 10th grader Devin Major, the Abaco winner of the US Embassy's 2012 Dr Martin Luther King Jr Civil Rights Essay Contest.

On hand to celebrate the achievement was the US Embassy's public affairs officer Erica Thibault, who noted that of the more than 120 essays submitted by students throughout the Bahamas, Devin's essay was one of four selected for eloquently illustrating the power of a non-violent approach in advocating for justice and equality during the civil rights era.

In front of the 150 member student body, Principal Dinnea Cooper and Mrs Thibault presented Devin with this year's grand prize, an Apple iPad 2 as part of the school's weekly assembly.

Devin then read her essay, which focused on the contributions made by activists Dr Martin Luther King Jr and Rev Jesse Jackson.

She also shared through her essay how she plans to take an active stance in her community to promote peace by encouraging her fellow students to resist negative peer pressure.

"Many high school teens celebrate with their classmates when they do wrong. I know these students are behaving in this way because they are simply bored and have not found their calling in life.

"I believe that, if our school had enough after-school programmes, more children would begin to use their time and youth for good," Devin said in front of her peers.

Mrs Thibault also spoke to several classes, encouraging students to study hard and consider college opportunities in the US.

She noted that one of the highlights of the trip was an opportunity to meet Moore's Island's renowned youth track stars, who are making their mark in both national and international athletics thanks to the support of the community, including their volunteer coach.

A few Moore's Island track students have gone onto college in the US on athletic scholarships but many more students could do so with increased exposure and intensive academic preparation at an early age.

Throughout her visit to the school, Mrs Thibault met students who have been recognised locally and nationally for their academic achievement, demonstrating the impact that dedicated teachers can have on a community.

In an effort to encourage all of the students of Moore's Island All Age to continue to strive for academic success, the US Embassy made a commitment to donate a library worth of books that will arrive in the coming weeks.