Soroptimists honour high-achieving Collège Mont des Accords student

Jennifer Mourot holds the symbolic cheque and Elcie Claire award at the ceremony in Collège Mont des Accords on Wednesday. Looking on are, from left: Past President Marlène Petit, Club founder Ammique Bryan, Christiane Mourot (Jennifer’s mother), Soroptimist President Louise Carter and Past President Frisette Galvani.   MARIGOT--The Soroptimist International Club of St. Martin organised a ceremony Wednesday morning to honour one of the Collège Mont des Accords students who had excelled in her scientific studies throughout the year.   Assistant Governor Jaqueline Lubino-Hamlet explained Soroptimist International’s new programme encourages women to enter the field of science, too often seen as a male-dominated career.   The Soroptimist Club therefore partnered with the Collège to offer a prize of 500 euros each year to the best student, who must be a girl, in science studies which includes maths, physics and natural sciences, to encourage students to pursue a scientific career.  Senator Guillaume Arnell and Jennifer Mourot enjoy a light hearted moment during the ceremony. “The mission of Soroptimists is to promote the status of women and girls and empower them,” noted Hamlet. “Investing in education is also a way to fight injustice against women.”   The prize is named after the late Elcie Claire from Rambaud, the Godmother of the Soroptimist Club and aunt of Ammique Bryan who founded the club in St. Martin in 1994. Elcie Claire belonged to the Club of Pointe-à-Pitre. She passed away on April 28, 1998.   It was appropriate therefore that for the first year of donating this prize it went to Jennifer Mourot (12) who consistently scored the highest marks in her exams and studies. The ceremony turned out to be a surprise for the young student and her mother Christiane who were unaware of what was to take place having been summoned by the Principal of the Collège on another fictitious matter.   In the citation, Jennifer Mourot was described as “serious, meticulous and competent with an aptitude for scientific disciplines.”   Among the invited guests were Senator Guillaume Arnell and the Head of Education in St. Martin and St. Barths, Michel Sanz, who both congratulated Jennifer, as did her teachers who were also present.   Some students took to the floor to congratulate her as well. Also there were representatives from the Collectivité, President of Jeunesse Soualiga, Jean-Marc Gervais, President of the Junior Territorial Council, Chelsea Jhighaï and Lions Club members.   Also speaking was Soroptimist President Louise Carter who was joined by several past Presidents including Rose Nicolas, Marlène Petit, Josianne Gibbs, Emilienne Proctor, and others. A presentation of the life of Elcie Claire was also read out.   Towards the end of the ceremony a plaque honouring Elcie Claire and the partnership with the Collège was unveiled by Ammique Bryan.


Source: The Daily Herald https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/66705-soroptimists-honour-high-achieving-college-mont-des-accords-student