Clarendon Festival Queen strives to give students head start
Published:Tuesday | June 18, 2024 | 12:09 AMOlivia Brown/Gleaner Writer
Jenicia Jones, the new Clarendon Festival Queen, hopes to make an impact in the lives of at least 600 students through her parish project dubbed, HEAD Start. The initiative is geared towards offering scholarships and back-to-school supplies to students, and partnering with the HEART NSTA/Trust to enrol youth in skills training programmes.
Jones, who wore the sash Miss Clarendon Municipal Corporation, and was crowned on her 25th birthday, emerged the winner among a pool of nine ladies at the coronation show held at the Sydney Scott Auditorium at Glenmuir High School in May Pen.
High school teacher, 24-year-old Stacia Thompson, and 18-year-old Bishop Gibson High student Tonishae Smith were crowned first and second runners-up, respectively.
This year’s Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) events are being held under the theme ‘The Jamaican Woman: Creativity Beyond Boundaries’.
Jones has completed her first year at The University of the West Indies, Mona, where she is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in integrated marketing communication. She is also an entrepreneur who specialises in skincare products.
Speaking with The Gleaner about her win, Jones said, “I am elated. I was hoping for it, but I wasn’t exactly expecting it, because there are so many amazing ladies in the competition, and I have formed lifelong friendships. I’m grateful to have met them.”
Asserting the Jamaican woman as indeed “creative beyond boundaries,” Jones said a Jamaican she admires is Kemesha Kelly-Swaby, the 2012 Festival Queen.
Jones, the incoming external affairs chairperson (EAC) for the Aston Preston Hall at The UWI, copped two sectional prizes – most culturally aware, and most involved in the community.
“Jamaica is that girl! Across the world, persons want to emulate the Jamaican culture, which means it’s absolutely something amazing. I’m a lover of history and culture. Each time I find something interesting, I research it. I like to research for travelling purposes, and once you’re researching places to travel, you learn their history and you learn the cultures of the areas, and about their food, and so that sparked the love of the culture. So, that’s how, of course, I would be most culturally aware, because I would have that background knowledge in it,” Jones shared.
CULTURAL AMBASSADOR
Jones hopes to be a cultural ambassador and reignite a cultural interest among youth across the parish.
When quizzed on what the theme meant to her, first runner-up, high school teacher Stacia Thompson, said, “It reminds me that we’re not limited as women. We can step out of the box and show our creativity.”
Thompson holds a degree in mathematics and physical education from The Mico University College. She also served as president of the Mico University College Culture club.
Asserting herself as an ambassador for cultural renewal, Thompson, in discussing her experiences in the classroom, highlighted a noticeable decline in cultural respect and traditional courtesies among students. Despite not teaching subjects like history or social studies, she emphasised her role as a teacher in fostering cultural awareness and respect.
She told The Gleaner that she has implemented practices like starting the day with greetings and sharing proverbs, which help instil cultural values. Additionally, she engages students in conversations about their local heritage, such as asking about their parish, which aids in preserving and reviving cultural knowledge. Through these efforts, Thompson says she hopes to impact cultural renewal and ensure that respect for cultural activities and emblems continues among the younger generation.
EXTENDING BOUNDARIES
The parish’s youth mayor, 18-year-old Tonishae Smith, said in keeping with the theme, the competition was an avenue for her to extend her boundaries.
Smith is guided by the philosophy, ‘Hardships often prepare an ordinary person for an extraordinary destiny’.
“This competition is a platform for women to be innovative, be creative, hone their skills and be transformative, and become individuals that people can look up to,’’ she told The Gleaner.
Custos Rotulorum for the parish, Edith Chin, in her message, encouraged participants to make the most of the exposure and experience provided by the competition.
“Let your creativity, knowledge, and dedication shine brightly during the competition,” she urged.
Chin also emphasised the importance of embracing the journey with joy and pride, recognising the participants as future leaders and role models. She called for them to encourage more young ladies across the parish to prepare and participate in future competitions.
“Together, we can build and preserve our culture, fostering a cadre of talented young women poised to lead, collaborate, and make lasting contributions to our society,” Chin concluded.