The awardees who attended The Gleaner's National Spelling Bee GSAT scholarship awards luncheon held yesterday at the newspaper company's 7 North Street, central Kingston office. From left are, Khandae Wright, county winner for Surrey; Sade Dunbar of Middlesex; Jahmar Brown, champion boy from Cornwall; and Tiffany Robinson, county winner from Cornwall. - Andrew Smith/Photography Editor

The recipients of the 2007 Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT) County Scholarships were yesterday presented with their scholarships at a luncheon held at The Gleaner Company's North Street, central Kingston office.

"The Gleaner is very proud of you, and very happy to have you here," Oliver Clarke, chairman and managing director of The Gleaner Company Limited told the four students - Khandae Wright of Surrey, Tiffany Robinson of Cornwall, Sade Dunbar of Middlesex and Jahmar Brown, the champion boy of the county of Cornwall, along with their parents, teachers and coaches, who were all in attendance.

Rev. Glen Archer, coach of Khandae and Sade, saluted The Gleaner for its consistent commitment to education, citing that the Children's Own Spelling Bee competition, "shifts a child from zero to hero ... from the morass of mediocrity to the echelons of excellence".

His sentiment was echoed by Editor-in-Chief of The Gleaner Company, Garfield Grandison, who added that the company would continue to give strong support to the competition.

Karin Cooper, corporate affairs and marketing manager of The Gleaner Company, announced that the company had succeeded in copyrighting the name of The Gleaner Spelling Bee competition, and interest was being shown in the competition by other Caribbean newspapers.

Vvlues gained

Among the values gained through their experience was discipline and time management, said the four students, who will be attending prominent high schools in September. They all agreed that preparation for the competition was beneficial in other subject areas.

"I am my own personal human-based spellcheck," boasted 12-year-old Tiffany Robinson, who also received a government scholarship in the GSAT.