Aden Grandcourt clinches first ever President’s Award for ISS |04 July 2023
Aden Grandcourt, winner of the first ever President’s Award for ISS
Aden Grandcourt (Year 13) is the first ever winner of the President’s Award for International School Seychelles (ISS) Class of 2023.
He was presented with the award by the Minister for Education, Dr Justin Valentin and the principal secretary for Education Services, Merna Eulentin, on behalf of the President of the Republic of Seychelles, Wavel Ramkalawan, who was tied up with the state visit of the President of Rwanda.
The graduation was held at the International Conference Centre Seychelles on Wednesday June 26, 2023.
The ceremony saw over 48 Year 11 (IGCSE) and 29 Year 13 (A-Levels) graduate from their respective levels, many with outstanding academic achievements in their IGCSE and A Level examinations.
This is the first time that a private school has been bestowed the honour of a President’s Award.
Speaking a few words, Minister Valentin exclaimed that the concept of the President’s Cup has been extended. “What is happening today is what I would call a mock graduation,” he stated.
He went on to explain that the two classes have been given the ability to experience the graduation and through the event, the minister noted that one interesting message has been carried across. “Do you carry on to look for more graduations or do you stop? The answer is you carry on.”
He exclaimed that this the perfect time for the students to begin rebuilding their dreams. “Graduation puts you on the right academic pathway.”
The receiver of the President’s Award is known to be a great ambassador for the school, who always pushes himself and who constantly and consistently excels. The student has shown tremendous leadership and is admired because he has a tremendous moral certitude.
Speaking to Seychelles NATION about being the first winner of the President’s Award for ISS, a proud Aden Grandcourt stated that he was not expecting to win the cup due to the fact that there were a lot of his classmates who also deserved the cup.
“They have done excellent work,” he said humbly. “This cup to me means the work of my family, my friends, my teachers and the hard work I put in my studies. If I want to give thanks I’d like to do so to my family, my teachers, the school and everything they have done to help with my education.”
Aden joined ISS in Year 10 and has been with the school for four years. Most of his primary years were spent studying in Abu Dhabi. He took four A-Levels – Maths, History, Economics and Chemistry.
He plans to take a gap year before moving to the United Kingdom to study Economics and try and get a degree.
Other than the President’s Award, he also won the Chemistry Award and the Mathematics Award.
Another proud and happy graduate was Bion Maria (Year 11) who won the Board of Governors’ Award that is traditionally given out each year. He was also given the Business Studies Award.
The Sports Award went to Rithvik Ramani.
The Creative Arts Award went to Amanie Arnephy who also won the Student Leadership Award Achievement simultaneously. She is also the head girl of her school.
The Achievement Award went to Xavier Robinson.
The head of Sixth Form Award went to Leah Malbrook who also won the History Award.
The head of Secondary Award went to Mikhail Rudchenko who also won the Physics Award along with the Computer Science Award.
The Principal’s Award for Outstanding Academic Achievement went to Ronan Varsani who also won the Economics Award.
All the students were from Year 13. Other Year 13 awards for individual subjects were as follows: Paul D’Offay (Accounting), Cassey Biscornet (Arts and Design), Adelle Lefevre (Biology), Shrone Jean (English Language), Alicia Bonnelame (English Literature), Christina Ferley (French and Travel and Tourism), Hannah Sicobo (Geography). The Psychology Award and Environmental Award went to Risandi Kudellage.
As for the Year 11 Special Awards, they were as follows: Amos Ferley (Sports Award), Ashmitha Pillay (Phase Leader Award and the Subject Award of ICT), Shalini Raja (Head of Secondary Award and Mathematics Extended Award).
The Subject Awards given out are as follows: Jenil Sindhav (Accounting), Amreeta Jaro (Art and Design), Annie Yang (Biology & Chemistry), Jean-Yves Leon (Business Studies), Camille Duchenne (Economics), Kara Nia Delport (English Language), Alisha Sharma (English Literature & History), Maeva Comty (French and Travel and Tourism), Zia Adam (Geography), Laurent Vel (Mathematics Core), Deebiga Venkatesh (Psychology).
The principal of ISS, Elodie Vallantine, stated that “Your embodiment of our school values is coupled with your commitment to live by our school motto: ‘You are not born for yourself but for the world’; beautifully illustrated by you performing our school song at the start of this graduation ceremony.”
She further went on to discuss the fact that parents and teachers all tend to look quickly at the results. “Year 11 Year 13 – finished and ticked off, and on to new adventures, new challenges in Sixth Form or at university.”
She continued by explaining that there is nothing wrong with that however if we want to learn from past achievements, we should take a moment to look at what led to those achievements.
Moreover, Principal Vallantine also exclaimed that ISS is an inclusive school that prepares the students academically for the future, a school that aims to develop the whole person with a range of opportunities to develop talents and skills, a school that prepares our students to be world citizens, and a school that educates students to know what is right from wrong and make the right choices in life. “This has been the case from our humble beginnings in 1969, to our current position as one of the largest providers of education in Seychelles.”
In concluding, she stated that “I feel so privileged, as your principal, to be part of your journey. As principal, I could not be prouder of your achievements in secondary school. I am excited for the future of each one of you here today.”
Text & photos by Sunny Esparon
