Melecia Wright (left), Scotiabank Jamaica Foundation 2000 awardee, listens keenly to Dr. Leachim Semaj, chief executive officer of the Job Bank, during Scotiabank's Scholarship Awards ceremony for 2007 GSAT scholars, held yesterday at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston. - Peta-Gaye Clachar/Staff Photographer

She applied to 12 Ivy league universities across the world, including Princeton and Oxford, and got accepted to them all.

But Melecia Wright, Scotiabank Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT) top girl for 2000, has chosen Princeton - one of the top-ranked universities for 2007, to pursue studies in molecular biology.

"I am elated as is expected. I have always wanted to go to a world-class university and I am glad and grateful that I have been given the opportunity," Ms. Wright told The Gleaner yesterday, following the Scotiabank Jamaica Foundation Scholarship Awards for 2007 GSAT scholars.

Planning for many activities

She added: "I am looking forward to it very much. I am planning to get involved in as many activities as I can and to prove myself intellectually able to cope with the work load."

The 19-year-old is no stranger to excellence. For the six years when she attended Howard Cooke Primary School in St. James, she placed first in her class. While at Montego Bay High School, she was The Gleaner's Spelling Bee Champion for two consecutive years, and she copped nine grade ones in the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate.

In 2005, Melecia was awarded a scholarship to attend the United World College of the Atlantic in Wales, where she pursued the International Baccalaureate (equivalent to sixth-form study in Jamaica).

Melecia encouraged her peers who were awarded the Scotiabank Foundation Scholarship to not be discouraged and allow anyone to tell them that they cannot achieve.