Fourteen students will be celebrated for their literary achievements during the Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition (QCEC) National Awards, set to take place next week as part of Saint Lucia’s Nobel Laureate Festival.
Michelle Samuel, founder and CEO of the Saint Lucia Development and Training Foundation (SLUDTERA), which hosts the festival, explained that the event, scheduled for January 15, provides a significant platform for students to showcase their talent.
“This is not just an awards ceremony, but a celebration of the literary promise and creativity of Saint Lucia’s youth,” said Samuel, who also serves as the event coordination lead of the awards committee.
Themed Celebrating Excellence: Acclaiming our Trailblazers, Inspiring our Nation, the ceremony will recognise and reward children who participated in the competition.
The QCEC National Awards is a highly anticipated event in the annual calendar of the Nobel Laureate Festival, designed to honour the literary creativity of Saint Lucia’s young minds. Gold, silver, and bronze awardees will receive cash prizes, along with framed certificates, while all participants will be presented with certificates and special tokens.
In addition to public recognition, all participants will gain access to valuable writing workshops aimed at further developing their skills.
This initiative aligns with the vision of SLUDTERA Inc. and Songtry – an organisation focused on providing young people with exposure to the arts – to inspire the nation’s youth and potentially discover Saint Lucia’s future Nobel Laureate in Literature.
Tickets for in-person attendance at the awards ceremony are available at US$12 per person, while virtual access is priced at US$5 per person. A special group access rate of US$40 is available for schools, offering entry for three students accompanied by one teacher.