Top students in CSEC and CAPE awarded

Well over a hundred students were beaming with pride today for scoring the highest marks at the regional exams known as CAPE and CSEC, formerly known as CXC.  The scores improved significantly this year and in the case of the CSEC, a Belizean student bested the region with perfect grades for fifteen exams. Rodyn Gilharry from Corozal and Dorien Villafranco from Belmopan were among the nation’s brightest to be officially honored. News Five’s Isani Cayetano reports from the award ceremony.

Isani Cayetano, Reporting

Scores of students, teachers and parents gathered inside the Queen’s Room of the Princess Hotel this morning for the National Award Ceremony.  The annual event is held in honor of outstanding performances by students who sat both CAPE and CSEC exams back in May.  The results of the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations were released earlier this month and with significant improvement in performance candidates were formally acknowledged for their achievements by the Ministry of Education. The mark of distinction went to eighteen year old Rodyn Gilharry a graduate of Corozal Junior College who is currently pursuing his studies in Taiwan.  He garnered the highest grades in the CAPE exams and his parents accepted his award in absentia.

rodyn gilharry

Ena & Abraham Gilharry, Parents

“When I got the news from the dean of the sixth form I was overwhelmed, you know, I wanted to call the whole of Corozal and everyone.  [It was] very exciting.  We are very happy and proud of him; overwhelming.”

Isani Cayetano

“What was he like in terms of preparation for this exam?”

Ena & Abraham Gilharry

Abraham and Ena Gilharry

“Well he did prepare and he worked hard and, you know, studied a lot and I guess you must prepare for everything.  If you don’t prepare you will have a, you know, you can’t expect a good outcome and he did prepare.  He’s not a bookworm but he’s very smart and he did study.”

Equally outstanding was Dorien Villafranco.  His accomplishment in the CXCs goes beyond the highest score in Belize; in fact he is ranked the most outstanding candidate in the region.  For him groundwork for the exam began when he enrolled at SJC in 2006.

dorien villafranco

Dorien Villafranco, Most Outstanding Candidate, CXC

“I think preparations basically started from first form.  I decided that I was going to sit the CXCs at the end of fourth form and dedication really started from then so it was basically a four year preparation, you know, just being dedicated to my schoolwork all throughout high school.”

For his parents, Audrey and Marcelino Villafranco, the feeling upon learning of their son’s achievement was overwhelming.

Audrey & Marcelino Villafranco, Parents

“When the call came and said he topped the region I was actually working out in the field due to the nature of my work and I was jumping up in the streets, you know, in San Ignacio.  I remember clearly and so my colleagues came and said “What happened?  What is, what is causing you?”  I’m not that type to be carrying on.  “What is causing this one to be jumping all over?” And I said I just got the news.  It was quite a delightful moment I must say; proud to be his parents and we’re still savoring the moment.”

And while today was Dorien’s moment in the national spotlight he is already considering future plans.

Dorien Villafranco

“Right now I’m majoring in Math and Physics at St. John’s Junior College and hopefully I’ll go after that and study aeronautical engineering.”

Isani Cayetano

“Any word of advice to your fellow colleagues and of course those who are coming behind you who will be sitting the CXCs in the future?”

Dorien Villafranco

“I think they just need to believe in themselves.  That’s half the battle already won.  Believe that you can do it [and] have faith in yourself, have faith in God and just put in the dedication and everything should go well in the end.”

While Dorien Villafranco aspires towards a degree in engineering other students are also encouraged to do well in these examinations with incentives such as scholarships and laptop computers to promote academic excellence. Reporting for News Five, I am Isani Cayetano.

The awards ranged from individual subjects and students, to overall school performances in the CSEC and CAPE Exams.