50k in Scholarships awarded at the 2012 Sunshine Insurance Elmira College Essay & Speech Contest.

Congratulations are in order for Menelik Thurston, a 12th grade student of St. Augustine’s College who earned first place and a $60,000 scholarship to attend Elmira College, in Elmira New York. His innovative idea included suggestions on Bahamian efficiency within the areas of eco-tourism, solar energy, labor services, shipping and even manufacturing.

The 11th Annual Sunshine Insurance Elmira Essay and Speech Competition gave numerous amounts of insightful 10th, 11th and 12th Grade Bahamian students the opportunity to submit essays describing their “Original Ideas to Boost The Bahamian Economy.” However, only ten students were selected to deliver speeches before a panel of judges, in order to win one of the four scholarships that were awarded on November 17th, 2012.

This year’s three runners – up were also rewarded scholarships of $30,000 each to attend Elmira College. This talented trio included Keiwana Walker, a 12th grade student of Kingsway Academy who shared the dynamic idea concerning the reformation of corn into ethanol for fuel. Also, traveling from the beautiful island of Eleuthera, Lyric Anderson, a 12th grade student of The Central Eleuthera Highschool elaborated on a possible pre-planned, all inclusive travel package for visitors that would afford them unique Bahamian activities on two Bahama Islands. Venturing from the resourceful Grand Bahama Island, Paige Rolle, a 10th grade student of the Sunland Baptist Academy conveyed the brilliant idea of Sea Erchant trading.

Sunshine Insurance extends congratulations to all of the finalists which also included Heidi Jo Meyer 12th grade student of The North Andros High School; Charles Rose 12th grade student of Anatol Rogers High School; LeAnnka Rigby, 12th grade student of St. Augustine’s College; Tahj Burrows, a 10th grade student of C. V. Bethel and Dominique Sears, 12th grade student of Aquinas College. We are humbled by the opportunity to assist young Bahamian students in achieving their goals of successful tertiary education through Elmira College; which is a private, Liberal Arts College located in Upstate New York. Elmira College has been historically ranked as one of the top colleges in America (ranking by US News) and the Chairman of Sunshine Insurance, Mr. Franklyn Wilson CMG, is on the Board of Trustees of Elmira College.