Essay competition winners

The prize-giving ceremony of the British Culture Association's annual essay competition was held on February 11 and was kindly hosted by the British High Commissioner, Vincent Fean, at his residence in San Pawl tat-Targa.

The event was again sponsored by the Ministry of Education, the British High Commission, Merlin Library and Agius and Agius Ltd. The prizes were distributed by Dr Cecilia Borg, Director-General of Education, who was deputising for the Minister of Education, and by Mr Fean. All winners, their parents, teachers and heads of schools were cordially invited to attend.

Dr Paul Xuereb, chairman of the association, and Mr Fean, welcomed the guests and spoke about the deep involvement of the BCA in young people. They also appealed to them to join the association, take part in its activities and find some time to help in the running of the association. The administrative report was then read out and the prizes distributed, after which the winner in each category - Anna Maria Zammit from St Dorothy's Senior School, and Louisa Bartolo from St Aloysius' Sixth Form - read their essays.

Dr Borg said it was the second consecutive year she was attending the award ceremony and she was impressed not only by the BCA's dedication to such a worthy cause, but also by the students' work. She appealed to them to involve themselves as much as possible in such activities, which were important for their formation as future leaders of our country.

Mr Fean, who this year involved himself deeply in the organisation, said he was more than pleased to be part of the essay competition's organising team. The idea of the main prize - that of being High Commissioner for a day - was his, and together with his staff he was planning a fruitful and exciting day for the two winners.

Speaking about Malta-UK relations, Mr Fean said that these had always been strong in the educational field. Malta had many strengths in this field and the UK is interested in sharing of them.

Mr Fean ended by thanking the BCA and expressed his appreciation of its efforts to make the UK-Malta cultural and educational bond even stronger.

List of winners

Section 1 - Fifth Form (presented by Dr Cecilia Borg, Director-General of Education)

1. Anna Maria Zammit (St Dorothy Senior School)

2. Reuben Ellul (St Aloysius College)

3. Gabrielle Scicluna and 4. Catherine Portelli (Convent of the Sacred Heart)

Merit prizes

Michael Bonett (St Edward's College)

Emil Calleja Bayliss (St Albert the Great College)

Tamara Chetcuti (Convent of the Sacred Heart)

Alex Curmi (San Anton School)

Anne Fenech (St Monica School)

Section 2 - Sixth Form (presented by British High Commissioner Vincent Fean)

1. Louisa Bartolo and 2. Suparna Das (St Aloysius, College)

3. Melanie Vella (De La Salle College)

4. Amal El-Atrash (St Edward's College)

Merit Prizes

Ryan Mizzi (De La Salle College)

James Vernon (St Edward's College)