Monrovia: The Spiritan Academy in Monrovia, represented by student Welleh J. Cooper has won one thousand united states dollars worth of school supplies from Money Grams (Liberia) International “Back to School Essay competition.”
Spiritan Academy also known as the Mary Lauran School of excellence offers quality primary and secondary education to students in Liberia.
Fifteenth years old Welleh J. Cooper, a 12th grade student emerged as first place winner of the competition and was closely followed by two students from other high schools in Montserrado County.
The top three students were selected via strict screening exercise conducted by carefully chosen educationists within the country
As part of its yearly activity to reward loyal customers during the ‘Back to School’ season, Money Gram agent partners in Liberia organized an essay competition, where students in secondary schools were challenged to submit a write up on ‘Why my School Deserves to win $1,000 worth of school supply”.
Money Gram’s agent partners who hosted the event were local agent banks in Liberia including International Bank Liberia Limited, Eco-Bank, GN Bank and Global Bank.
Speaking at the awards ceremony in Paynesville City on Friday, October 19, 2018, one of the three Judges who scrutinized the essays, Hattie Hunder disclosed that the judges committee received a total of fifty-nine essays which were thoroughly examined for two days.
Madam Hattie Hunder, former deputy director general of the Liberia broadcasting system said the judges committee was considering the flow of thought, grammatical composition including articulation among other standards set forth for the competition.
“When you pick up and essay and read it, it speaks to you. So, we look at everything including flow of thought, grammatical composition, and articulation among other standards that we set as Judges. Though we were looking for only three winners, but from our independent examination of the essays, we had to shortlist six students out of the 59 entries with the added three students receiving consolation prices’ for their flow of thought expressed.
“Students who were shortlisted were called in by us the Judges and given a validation test to ensure the works were their (students) own writing, she said”
Madam Hunder however announced student Welleh Cooper of the Spiritan Academy as first place winner, Alex Kawa Jr, a 12th grader at Christ the King Catholic School, first runner up while student Fredrick Kerkula Jr, a 10th grader at the Seventh Day Adventist High School was pronounced as second runner-up.
Other students, who also won lesser prizes included Kathrina Tulay, an 8th grader at Isaac A. David Memorial School, and Leela Keturah, an 11th grader at Maretha International Preparatory School.
For her part, student Welleh J. Cooper, winner of the Money Grams essay competition expressed gratitude to the Spiritan academy for the quality education offers to students at the institution.
Student Welleh J. Cooper, whose parent is a customer of IB Bank, however thanked Money Gram and IB Bank for the academic challenge and further requests their support towards the creation of academic programs for Liberian students.
“I am grateful to my school, the spiritan academy for the knowledge given me because if it had not been for them, I would not have achieved this award. I also extend thanks and appreciation to Money Grams Liberia for this program and hope that they continue to offer these programs for Liberian students which I believe will encourage us to remain focus in our studies, Welleh said”
Meanwhile, MoneyGram product Manager at IB Bank Liberia, Jackie said the top three who not only won the grand prize of $1,000 for their individual schools, but also won cash support for school worth $500, $300 and $200 respectively.
“As MoneyGram partner, we are committed to ensuring the brand’s mantra of ‘bringing you closer’ is continually brought to life and this is one of the many ways MoneyGram brings families closer and take youngsters like these closer to their dreams, she said”
MoneyGram International Agent in Liberia, Isaac Tetteh said the agency will continue to support its back to school program in order to continually motivate students and to support educational activities in Liberia.
“It is a normal thing for MoneyGram International to sponsor such programs; we do that every year like the way you have Christmas extravaganza. We chose to do essay this year because we want students to have interest in writing or reading,” he explained.
Some parent representatives, who were present at the award ceremony called on Money Grams (Liberia) International to transform the initiative to a nationwide academic program that would encourage Liberian students to focus on their studies.
The Money Grams (Liberia) International BTS Essay competition was organized in collaboration with the International Bank Liberia Limited (IB Bank) including Eco-Bank, GN Bank and Global Bank for the purpose of promoting education across Liberia.
