GoodHeart | Top scholar Demaria Walker leads with excellence
Published:Saturday | November 23, 2024 | 12:07 AMKeisha Hill/Senior Gleaner Writer
Late nights and early mornings have characterised the daily life for 19-year-old Demaria Walker. The long daily commute between St Catherine and Kingston, for school and other activities, taught her to be focused and disciplined.
“I love to try new things and gain new experiences. I am motivated mainly by God, my parents and my own ambitions and aspirations and I stay focused by continuously re-evaluating my goals,” Walker told GoodHeart.
Walker attended the Alpha Primary School, where she was the valedictorian of her graduating class in 2021, and boasted a PEP average of 98.8 per cent.
During her time at Campion College, she had numerous leadership positions, including deputy head girl and a senior prefect for 2023 to 2024. She also received, when graduating in 2022, the Edmund Campion Award, Top Girl in Form, Best in Spanish and True Campionite Award, and was also awarded Magis Awards for placing nationally in CAPE 2023 – 35th in pure mathematics Unit 1, 4th in accounting Unit 1, 7th in computer science Unit 1. Also, at CSEC 2022, 4th in principles of accounts, 12th in economics, 20th in mathematics, 13th in physics, and 16th in Spanish. She also placed nationally 10th for computer science Unit 2 in 2024.
Walker was also chosen as a Yale Young Global Scholars Ambassador in 2023, FIRST Tech Challenge Robotics Competition; second place final alliance, second place inspire award, and was awarded a Judge’s Choice award in 2024, and Caribbean Science Institute STEM Olympiad (Awarded the Platinum Award in 2023).
Walker is now in her first year of a computer science major at The University of the West Indies, Mona.
“I found a love for technology and working with technology because of the problem-solving aspect of it but also the fact that being able to use technology myself means that I can also help others do the same, especially as we move to a more technology-based era and with many Jamaicans being digitally illiterate,” she said.
Walker is the recent recipient of the GraceKennedy scholarship valued at $550,000 which, according to her, would allow her to complete her studies without thinking about how her tuition will be paid, especially during her final examinations.
“I applied for the GraceKennedy scholarship because of not only the amount offered, but also because of what GraceKennedy represents. The GraceKennedy Foundation is one of the only foundations that I have seen that really take care of their scholars after awarding them and I love the fact that I can volunteer in the Ace With Grace tutoring programme because of the scholarship.Since I have received this scholarship, I now am able to give 100 per cent of my time to my studies and do what I love most, which is giving back to my community through volunteering.”
She encourages young people to believe in themselves and go after their goals.
“ Guh Fi Weh Yuh Want as Tori Love’s song states. There are many scholarship opportunities available to tertiary students across Jamaica and I encourage you to take that chance and do it regardless of any self-doubt and to never give up. Also, start early in your research and applications, it makes the process much easier,” Walker said.