Dalton Laing, Gleaner Writer
Natoya Janeen Peart, upper sixth form student at the Manning's School, catches up on her reading at her school in Savanna-la-Mar, Westmoreland. - PHOTO BY DALTON LAING
SAVANNA-LA-MAR, Westmoreland:
SHE WAS not the most popular student at Manning's School, even after achieving eight distinctions from the eight subjects taken at the CXC level. But when news of her acceptance to the prestigious Yale University in the United States reached home, all eyes were on Natoya Janeen Peart.
The 18-year-old sixth form student received a full scholar-ship valued at US$48,000 (J$3,168,000) for the first year with renewable capabilities for the ensuing ones.
"I was shocked at first because I didn't know I would get through at Yale," Natoya told The Gleaner. "When I got the call I was wondering if it was some kind of a joke, but afterwards I started to believe and even now I am still in shock but very elated."
The scholarship, which she intends to take up in September, is a financial aid award which is awarded based on the applicant's financial need as well as academic achievement.
With Grade one passes in Mathematics, English language, English literature, Spanish, social studies, chemistry, biology and physics, Natoya intends to pursue studies in oncology. The scholarship will include full payment for tuition, boarding, books, travelling and vacation allowance.
"I decided to be a cancer specialist because my mother is a survivor, a cousin of mine survived a brain tumour and another cousin has skin cancer," she said.
Her mother, Nalda Peart, senior Public Health Inspector at the St. James Health Depart-ment, still holds a report from the Savanna-la-Mar Infant School where the principal, Mrs. Pearl Ottey, foresaw that Natoya "has great things ahead".
Manning's principal, Gloria Wagstaff, who describes Natoya as respectful, helpful, alert, said it was not a surprise to the school when news broke of her achievement.
Natoya's father, James Peart, a minister of religion at the Suite Cliff Mount Baptist Church in Whithorn, Westmoreland, where the family resides, has just one advice for his children: "Aim for the sky."
