Hawthorne CASH PRIZES valued at over $250,000 were presented to 13 top scholastic achievers at Oberlin High School last week during a special 60th anniversary ceremony in the school's auditorium at Lawrence Tavern, St. Andrew.
In keeping with a theme of self-reliance and a strong work ethic, all 13 students were assisted in opening new accounts in the Jamaica National School Savers Programme by representatives of Jamaica National Building Society.
The top prize of $33,000 went to Oberlin High student, Germaine Stephens for being named top CXC scholar. Stephens passed all ten of his subjects, including seven at grade one, two at grade two and one at grade three. Addressing the students in her congratulatory remarks, long-time Oberlin principal, Thelma James, praised the prize winners and the parents who were in attendance for emphasising excellence in their lives.
Mrs. James pointed to the academic and business successes of recent and past students and singled out Lowell Hawthorne, president of New York-based Golden Krust Caribbean Bakery and Grill, as "our own boy from west rural St. Andrew". She also praised his dedication in investing in the future of Jamaican children.
Foundation of discipline
Mr. Hawthorne recounted his own years at Oberlin and the foundation of discipline, respect and spirituality he was able to garner while there. Citing the examples of former head-master, Reverend Richmond Nelson and Mrs. James herself, he said they were instrumental in setting him on a path to success after leaving Oberlin.
"I'm a proud graduate of Oberlin High. All the discipline I learned in life I got right here," he recalled. "I commend the winners, their teachers and their parents for doing a tremendous job."
Mr. Hawthorne, who presented this year's prizes, pledged prizes for 2008, ranging from $9,000 to $33,000, for up to 100 students who are to maintain an 'A' average or perform at the level of Friday's awardees.
Accompanied by his wife, Lorna, and Marketing and Public Relations Director at Golden Krust, Pauline Bennett-O' Leary, he later travelled to his hometown of Border, St. Andrew, to visit the Norman Hawthorne Basic School, which is named for his grandfather, who served as a pastor in the community. At the school, he handed out book bags, toys, books and educational material to the students, aged three to six.
Founded in 1981, Mr. Haw-thorne's Golden Krust Caribbean Bakery and Grill is ranked as the top Caribbean business in the United Sates and is consistently placed among the leading black businesses in that country.
