The Tribune

DESTINY Cooper, a fourth-grade student at Garvin Tynes Primary School, won the 2013-2014 Voices of Hope championship speech competition.

Lukajanae Kellman of Bartlett Hill Primary School in Grand Bahama won second place, Equoia Gibson of Governor’s Harbour Primary School in Eleuthera claimed the third place position and Bernisha Crawley of Nicholl’s Town Primary School received an honourable mention.

The theme of the competition, organised by the Primary Religious Studies Unit, was “Arise and Shine”.

Every November, the competition is held as a part of the celebrations for Religious Studies Month.

The purpose of the competition is to provide an opportunity for students to express their beliefs and opinions about spiritual, moral and ethical issues, and to enhance their literacy skills.

Destiny gave examples of figures from the Bible and Bahamian persons to encourage her listeners to “Arise and Shine”.

She listed Hannah, the mother of Samuel the Prophet; Joseph, who became a ruler in Egypt; the late Sir Lynden Pindling, the first Prime Minister of the Bahamas and Sir Sidney Poitier, the first black actor to receive an Oscar.

These individuals, she said, were able to fulfil their purpose against all odds.

The eloquent fourth-grader said: “If you desire to make a difference in the world, you must be different from the world. Hold up the name of Jesus and let His light shine through your life, in everything you do and say.”

For winning the competition, Destiny received the first place trophy, the Southwestern District winner’s trophy, a Samsung Tablet and a cash prize.

Second place winner Lukajanae Kellman was the district winner for West Grand Bahama.

In her speech, she told the audience: “I let my light shine at home, at school, at church and everywhere I go. Too often, valuable time is wasted on pretending to be what some of us will never be, but if our efforts and energy can be directed on who we are and all that we can be, then our lives can serve a greater purpose here on earth”.

Lukajanae took home the second place trophy and a gift certificate from 100 % Bible, Books & Gift Shop.

Equoia Gibson walked away with the third place trophy and a gift certificate from 100% Bible, Books & Gift Shop. According to the Governor’s Harbour Primary School student, “You don’t have to be perfect, rich, highly educated, in good health or exceptionally intelligent to arise and shine.

“Regardless of whom you are, where you live, where you were born or how often you have failed at doing something, you can still make a difference”.

The chief judge, Corporal Leonardo Burrows, applauded the eleven participants for displaying high skill in delivering their speeches.

He emphasised the students’ use of creativity through song and dance; rhetorical questions; poems; scriptures; props and smooth transitions.