“A St. Andrew High School Trailblazer is an alumna who has distinguished herself as a woman who has made a significant impact in a particular area of her professional endeavours. She may be the first woman to do something noteworthy; she is a leader; a role model; an innovator; a pioneer whose career achievements demonstrate what is possible for others.” MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMAN OF THE CENTENARY CELEBRATIONS COMMITTEE Every achievement of worth deserves a celebration. For the St. Andrew High School for Girls, our history of 100 years has been one of innovation and service, boldness and courage, of daring to take a journey where many have been daunted to travel. This is the essence of the Trailblazer Award given by the St. Andrew High School Foundation. The Awards for our Centenary Celebrations have a combination of professions including education, the arts, animal and veterinary services, community tourism, legal and medical affairs and sports. We will also recognise posthumously the pioneering contributions of alumnae, Joyce Glasgow and Constance Morgan. All those who will be receiving awards in this centennial year have distinguished themselves not only in their field of endeavour but by the extraordinary leadership they have provided in other spheres of life. They have lived and performed by the School’s motto: ‘Life More Abundant’, which they made not only a personal commitment but a pledge to guide others to embrace the values and the actions that can make this motto a reality. Our trailblazers have set the pace for others to follow. They are role models not only for our alumnae and students of the past 100 years but are the exemplars of what we must do in Honouring the Legacy of the Century of Abundance and Inspiring the Future as we stand on the cusp of the next 100 years. Maxine Henry-Wilson. Chair, SAHS Centenary Celebrations Committee The Executive of the St. Andrew Old Girls’ Association (SAOGA) is thrilled to celebrate this 100th Anniversary milestone with our beloved alma mater, St. Andrew High School for Girls. We extend heartfelt appreciation to all stakeholders whose dedication and commitment have made this historic achievement possible. Sharon D. Williams Smith- President
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Page 3 MESSAGE FROM MR. RADLEY REID, CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF MANAGEMENT OF THE ST. ANDREW HIGH SCHOOL FOR GIRLS On behalf of the Board of Management of the St. Andrew High School, I would like to congratulate our 50 graduates who have been selected for Trailblazer Awardees on the occasion of the Centenary Celebrations of this institution. These 50 past students who have been the beneficiaries of robust and rigorous education at the St. Andrew High School are the torchbearers of that tradition of scholarship and clarity of purpose which characterise the Presbyterian and Methodist denominations - the founders of the institution. This is the compass which has allowed the institution to retain its due North position on the compass of excellence across a century of change. The Trailblazers are the products of this intentionally designed environment in which they have been intellectually grounded, morally anchored and globally impactful. As Chairman of the Board of Management, I am confident that our current students will emulate the attitude and behaviours of these Trailblazers. We know that they will continue this tradition of innovation and pioneering in their vocations and provide the leadership as socially responsible citizens. Congratulations to our awardees and may you continue to blaze the trail to honour the past and inspire the future through that Life More Abundant. MESSAGE FROM MRS. KEEVA INGRAM – PRINCIPAL OF ST. ANDREW HIGH SCHOOL Long before the school’s vision was formally expressed, the young women of St. Andrew High School for Girls were already bringing it to life. Across generations, our “old girls” have led from the front—breaking barriers, influencing industries, and boldly forging new paths both in Jamaica and around the world. Their legacy is one of courage, resilience, and a commitment to excellence that continues to define our school community. These exceptional women have not only distinguished themselves professionally, but have also embodied the values of discipline, integrity, compassion, and service. As pioneers, innovators, and leaders, their impact extends far beyond the school’s walls. Their journeys serve as powerful reminders that excellence is more than an aspiration—it is a tradition that we are entrusted to preserve and build upon. Today, we pause with pride and gratitude to celebrate a select group of these outstanding trailblazers. Their achievements have been both remarkable and transformative, strengthening the legacy of our institution and inspiring future generations to dream boldly. We honour your courage, your influence, and your enduring contributions. Thank you for representing SAHS with pride and purpose—may your stories continue to inspire us all to lead, to grow, and to embrace life in its fullest abundance. Keeva Ingram Principal St. Andrew High School for Girls
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Page 5 Education & Human Resource Development PROFESSOR KARELLE SIMONE AIKEN: Trailblazer in chemistry and biochemistry at Georgia Southern University and student mentor. Karelle was one of the 10 winners of the 2015 Rising Star Award of the American Chemical Society for “outstanding promise for contribution to their respective fields”. She was the Principal Research Investigator for two research grants for Collaborative Multidisciplinary Investigations through Undergraduate Research Experiences (CEMITURE) at Georgia Southern. She also received a Mentoring Matters Award for her work with the Minority Advisement Program of the university. PROFESSOR KEZIA PAGE: Trailblazer in Africana and Latin American Studies (ALST). Kezia is currently the Director of the ALST programme at Colgate University in New York, and is a published and highly regarded author. She has mentored several students and led numerous student study groups to Jamaica to allow Colgate University students to get a firsthand experience of Caribbean cultures and perspectives. She was also selected as the moderator for a Colgate University Annual Arts, Creativity and Innovation Weekend featuring Amanda Gorman, the youngest inaugural poet in US history. TAMARA AMISHA MORGAN (NEE FRITH): Trailblazer in youth empowerment. Tamara is dedicated to inspiring and motivating youth. As co-founder of the CAPTAIN I CAN! initiative, she authored, produced and acted in the stage play Zero to Hero, and has hosted a Power Camp for 100 children involved in selfempowerment and vision setting exercises. She spearheaded motivational school tours in Jamaica, the USA and Canada co-hosting the Power Time radio programme. Her efforts led to the 2018 declaration of National Motivation and Affirmation Day by the Governor General of Jamaica and endorsed by the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Youth and Culture. LORNA PARKINS (nee Stephenson): Trailblazer in educational accreditation. Lorna is the first and only Executive Director, Caribbean Accreditation Authority for Education in Medicine and other Health Professions (CAAM-HP). The Authority was established in 2004 under the aegis of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and is responsible for the accreditation of educational programmes for qualifying degrees in medicine, veterinary medicine, dental medicine and nursing in the Caribbean. CAAM-HP is recognised by the governments of the USA and the UK and is the first accrediting agency worldwide to have been recognised by the World Federation for Medical Education (WFME). KEISHIA THORPE AND TREISHA THORPE: Trailblazers in education. Dr. Treisha Thorpe and Keishia Thorpe are internationally recognised education leaders, mentors and philanthropists. They co-founded U.S. Elite International, a non-profit organisation that supports initiatives to advance the success of students (including many from SAHS) through mentorship, and scholarship opportunities. They also promote and support the professional development of educators and sustainable education systems in developing countries. The twins are recipients of numerous international awards including the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award for education and community service. Keishia is the first Black woman and educator to win the 2021 Global Teacher Prize awarded by the Varkey Foundation and UNESCO, and is an inductee into the US National Teacher Hall of Fame. Treisha is an award winning college professor; recipient of the 2024 NAACP Award for Outstanding Service in Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and the 2023 International Women’s Day Award of Excellence in Teaching. NICOLE MCLAREN CAMPBELL: Trailblazer and entrepreneur in education. An educator and author, at 13, Nicole was chosen as “One of 20 teens who would change the World” by Teen People magazine. At age 25, she founded AIM Educational Services. AIM has helped thousands of Caribbean students and families; guiding students’ admission to the world’s premier educational institutions. She also founded AIM Higher, which assists brilliant students obtain financial support for their education. A recipient of the Governor-General’s Award for Excellence in Achievement and Leadership, in 2017, Nicole was instrumental in the establishment of the Centre for Career Advancement, Leadership and Scholarships (CALS) at St Andrew High School. She lives by the principle she teaches: AIM high. Be bold.
Page 6 VANESSA ABRAHAMS-JOHN: Trailblazer in human resource management. Vanessa currently serves as Senior Vice President at Adidas where she oversees human resources across North America (U.S. and Canada). Using her qualification and experience as an attorneyat-law, Vanessa has practised in the area of human resource management and is Global Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) team leader in the Adidas Company. She has received numerous awards for DEI leadership, and is named among the Top 25 Influential Black Women in Business by the US Network Journal as well as among Top Executives in Corporate Diversity by Black Enterprise magazine. SIMONE FISHER SOBERS: Trailblazer as Founder and President of the non-profit organisation Winsome Wishes for Kids (WWKIDS) based in New York. WWKIDS helps children with learning challenges and/or learning disabilities and works with teachers and parents to help them develop their full potential. Simone gained access to the UNESCO award winning literacy App Graphogame that has been distributed free of cost in Jamaica. WWKIDS was honoured as one of Jamaica’s first ever Literacy Heroes by The Book Industry Association of Jamaica in 2023. These heroes were selected for the impact of their projects and their alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. CONSTANCE PEARL MORGAN: Trailblazer in education (posthumous). Pearl was awarded a special Jamaica Scholarship in 1941 after her exceptional school career, and she studied in Canada and Britain before returning to Jamaica in 1951, where she taught at Westwood High School, then Excelsior High School. She spent the remaining 33 years of her active teaching life at Excelsior as History Department Head and Vice Principal. She was valued as a repository of knowledge, a disciplinarian, a mentor, and guide. A Jamaica Global 2019 publication noted that she influenced “the hearts and minds of generations of students who came under her guidance”. Pearl Morgan died in 2024 soon after celebrating her 100th birthday. SUZANNE WILLIAMS: Trailblazer in Education. Suzanne is the founder of Liberty Academy at the Priory, Jamaica, an independent institution that started in 1994 to initiate “mainstreaming” i.e. accommodate both special needs and highly functional children. Both groups are taught together and all are encouraged to reach their full potential. Suzanne was recently given the Excellence in Special Education award by the Jamaica Council for Persons with Disabilities during the organisation’s Inaugural Disability Awards Gala. Suzanne was also one of the recipients of the Prime Minister’s 2025 Medal of Appreciation for service to Education. DR. JOYCE GLASGOW, CD: Trailblazer in science and environmental education (posthumous). Joyce taught science subjects at York Castle High, Westwood High and St Andrew High schools before attaining a doctorate in science education, after which she was appointed Senior Lecturer in Science Education at the University of the West Indies. With a special interest in environmental education (EE) she pioneered its development across the Caribbean. She was instrumental in developing the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) Biology syllabus and became the first appointee as Chief Examiner in that subject. She co-authored a biology text, highly regarded by teachers and students in the Caribbean and several African countries. Joyce died in 2025. PROFESSOR ELIZABETH (BETH) HARRY: Trailblazer in Special Education. Beth is Professor Emerita of Special Education at the University of Miami. Her academic publications include 10 books and over 50 articles in peer-reviewed journals, and her awards include Distinguished Researcher award from the Council for Exceptional Children, and an honorary doctorate from Lesley University in Boston. She taught for many years in Canada and Trinidad and Tobago, where, in memory of her daughter Melanie, who had cerebral palsy, she founded the Immortelle Centre for Special Needs in Port of Spain. Beth has memorialised Melanie’s life in the book, Melanie, bird with a broken wing: A mother’s story (2010).
Page 7 HILMA SMITH BARNES: Trailblazer in art and art education. A talented figurative artist, Hilma has exhibited her Art in Trinidad in mixed and group displays as well as in solo shows. She also served for 33 years as a secondary school Visual Arts teacher in Trinidad. Several of her students have pursued different aspects of Art as a career. On her retirement, her students mounted a week long exhibition “Brushstrokes of Gratitude” commemorating her artistry and influence. In 2025, the Jamaican High Commission presented her with a Lifetime Achievement Award for three decades of outstanding contribution to the Arts in Trinidad and Tobago. DIANE BROWNE (NEE HOOPER-AIKEN): Trailblazer in children and youth literature. Diane has written over 40 stories or books and her works have been published in Jamaica, the United Kingdom and the USA. She has edited textbooks and conducted writing workshops in Jamaica and the Caribbean. In 2004, she was the recipient of a Bronze Musgrave Medal from the Institute of Jamaica and in 2011, her story The Happiness Dress won the Commonwealth Foundation Special Prize for the best children’s story. Diane is also the author of the best-selling Abigail’s Glorious Hair. JOAN ANDREA HUTCHINSON, OD, JP: Trailblazer as performance poet, writer, public speaking coach, communications and public relations specialist. Like her friend and mentor, Louise Bennett, Joan Andrea is well known as a Jamaican cultural ambassador. In 1996, wearing Nubian Knots (chiney bumps) on local television, she blazed a trail for wearing natural black hair styles in the media. She has written 3 books, produced 7 CDs, composed a number of skits and songs, and co-written award-winning plays. Her work is included in the syllabus for students pursuing CXC CSEC. Joan Andrea has received a number of prestigious local and international awards for excellence in the promotion of Jamaican language and culture. NADINE SUTHERLAND, OD: Trailblazer in entertainment: Reggae and Dance Hall. Nadine is a singer, songwriter, producer and award winning actress who began performing at six years old when she won the Tastee Talent Competition. When she was 11 years old, she was the first artist signed to Bob Marley’s Tuff Gong label. She has collaborated on numerous hit songs, including providing background vocals for Peter Tosh’s Grammy awarded album ‘No Nuclear War’. In 2024 Nadine received the Caribbean Hall of Fame Music Entertainment Icon Award (Female) as well as the Jamaican Order of Distinction (Officer Class) for her significant contribution to the development of Jamaican Music. More recently, she won an award for her first acting role at the Essence Film Festival in New Orleans. DR. HONOR FORD SMITH: Trailblazer in Theatre and the Arts. Academic, poet and playwright, Honor was the co-founder and artistic director of Sistren Theatre Collective, a group that contributed significantly to the Caribbean Women’s Movement through popular education and community theatre. She edited and contributed to Lionheart Gal: Life Stories of Jamaican Women and was one of the founding mothers of the Caribbean Association for Feminist Research and Action (CAFRA). Honor is Associate Professor Emeritus at York University in Canada, and was the recipient in 2022 of the Honorary Associateship Award from the Canadian Association for Theatre Research. DIANE DE LA HAYE (NEE CUNNINGHAM): Trailblazer as screen writer, film maker, story and film editor. Diane is involved in all aspects of film production, and has been Lead Writer and Executive Producer of several TV episodic series in Canada. She conducts workshops on “The Business of Film” and writes and oversees documentaries for children’s shows, feature films and travel docuseries. She won the Best Web Series Award at the Conch Shell International Film Fest (CSIFF) for her work on the series “Fab 4 and the Silent Retreat”. Much of her work has faith-based content. Arts, Culture, and Sports
Page 8 KAY SULLIVAN: Trailblazer in Art. A leading Jamaican sculptor and photographer, Kay is a silver medallist in sculpture in Jamaica Festival 1975. Her major commissions have been the statue of the late Hon. N. N. Nethersole for the Bank of Jamaica building; statue of Christ for the Church of San Silvestro, Rome, Italy; the National Hero Sam Sharpe Monument in Montego Bay; “Miss Joyce”, a seated market woman, at Ocean Village, Ocho Rios; and “Untitled” at the University of Technology, that depicts two students deep in study. In 2012, she published a collection of photographs entitled Land We Love in celebration of the 50th anniversary of Jamaica’s Independence. Research. KIMBERLY ANNE (KIM) ROBINSONWALCOTT: Trailblazer in Arts and Publishing. Kim is an award-winning Jamaican writer and former editor of the pioneering and influential Caribbean culture journals Caribbean Quarterly and the Jamaica Journal. Her book Out of Order which examined the work of Anthony Winkler, Jamaican novelist has received critical acclaim. Her short story Spreeing in the SUV was the winner, Americas, Commonwealth Short Story Competition, 2005 and her stories and poems have appeared in several journals. She is the co-author, with Petrine Archer Straw, of Jamaican Art (1989, 2011). DR. KRISTAL MCGREGGOR: Trailblazer as an athlete and first student from Bronx Community College, New York, to earn a NCAA Division 1 scholarship to Hampton University, Virginia, where she was the first graduate from this university’s Sports Administration programme to successfully pursue a Ph.D. She is the founder of Mission in Motion Consulting and Co-Founder of the Achieve a Dream Foundation that supports student-athlete development and community impact. Kristal now serves as the Associate Director of Athletics for student-athlete services at Austin Peay State University, Tennessee. A former student-athlete coach, Dr. McGreggor maintains her commitment to mentorship, including mentoring athletes from Jamaica. LLORI SHARPE: Trailblazer in sport – cycling. Llori is the first Jamaican – man or woman – to cycle on a Union Cycliste Internationale UCI (World Cycling Centre) team. She has earned gold and silver medals in Caribbean cycling championships and was named Jamaica’s Athlete of the year (cycling) in 2021 and 2024. Llori is now a member of L39ION, a U.S.-based UCI Continental cycling team known for its dominance in high speed, tactical criterium racing and its commitment to increasing diversity and inclusion in the sport. Llori is also a chocolatier, leading the management of her family business, Chocollore. MEGAN SIMMONDS: Trailblazer in sport - athletics. An Olympian, Megan’s athletic career was crafted and nurtured at St. Andrew High School. She has represented Jamaica in the 100m sprint hurdles since 2010 as a junior athlete, and more recently at the 2016 and 2020 Summer Olympics, the 2017 World Athletics Championships, the Commonwealth Games in 2018 as well as at other international meets. She won a bronze medal in the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan, becoming the first Jamaican woman to win an Olympic medal in the 100m hurdles. Megan is also a motivational speaker dedicated to uplifting others and encouraging students – at SAHS as well as other schools - to follow their career aspirations. DR. DEANNA ASHLEY, CD: Trailblazer in public health and violence prevention. A paediatrician and public health specialist, Dr. Ashley is the retired Director of Health Promotion and Protection Division at the Ministry of Health where she served with distinction from 1970-2006. For over 20 years, as co-Founder and Executive Director of the Violence Prevention Alliance, she has led several intervention programmes aimed at encouraging individuals to resolve conflicts peacefully. Dr. Ashley has also worked as senior medical officer for maternal and child health and currently holds the position of Honorary Research Fellow in the School of Graduate Studies and Research at the UWI. She is the recipient of several awards including the World Health Award of outstanding contribution to safe motherhood from the American Association for World Health. Health, Medical, and Social Care Services
Page 9 DR. TANYA ROXANNE CLARKE: Trailblazer in the field of internal medicine. In 1998, Dr. Clarke became the first woman and second person to graduate from the UWI Faculty of Medical Sciences with Distinction. She is an influential educator dedicated to advancing patient care, medical excellence, and health care leadership. She has served as President of both the South Florida Caribbean Doctors Association and the University of the West Indies Medical Alumni Association. Dr. Clarke has also volunteered in the area of sports in Jamaica providing athletes with medical care, as well as education on nutrition and anti-doping. DR. SIMONE FRENCH: Trailblazer in emergency medicine. Simone is one of the first persons in Jamaica to be trained as a specialist in emergency medicine. She now provides training in various aspects of emergency health care, was leader of the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI) Emergency Medicine team during the COVID-19 pandemic and a member of the Jamaica COVID-19 Task Force. She is the owner and a clinical team member at Imara Medical Centre, a facility that offers urgent care services. Dr. French is also a trainer for basic and advanced cardiac life support courses. DR. GAIL SUZANNE KERR: Trailblazer as Professor and Chief of Rheumatology at Veteran’s Affairs Medical Centre at Howard University Hospital in Washington DC, and as Captain of the Jamaica Hockey Team for many years. Dr. Kerr is the recipient of numerous awards, including being the first Black woman to be named Master of the American College of Rheumatology in August 2023. Dr. Kerr established the VA Rheumatology Consortium, a group seeking to provide state-of-the-art rheumatic care for military veterans, and serves as a member of the Board of the DC VAMC Institute of Clinical Research. DR. PAULINE MILBOURN, CD: Trailblazer in child psychiatry. Dr. Milbourn is the recipient of numerous awards for her long and exemplary career in the teaching and practise of paediatric medicine, including the national award of the Order of Distinction (Commander Class) and the Living Legacy Award of the Caribbean Community of Retired Persons (CCRP). She initiated implementation of child mental health services within the primary health care system and was instrumental in the establishment of Child Guidance Clinics islandwide including at the Bustamante Hospital for Children, making mental health services for children and adolescents accessible. She was recently hailed as the “Mother of Child Psychiatry in Jamaica”. PROFESSOR LIZETTE MOWATT: Trailblazer in medicine (Ophthalmology). A graduate of the University of the West Indies (UWI) Lizette completed postgraduate studies in Britain. She is the first female surgeon at UWI to become a Professor, and she is the first Professor of Ophthalmology, UWI. She is a Consultant Retinal Surgeon, Head of the Ophthalmology Division of the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI), as well as Professor and Residency DM Programme Co-ordinator in ophthalmology at the UWI. She teaches at both the undergraduate and postgraduate levels and has a special interest in retinopathy related to diabetes, sickle cell disease and prematurity. PROFESSOR COLETTE CUNNINGHAM MYRIE: Trailblazer in public health, epidemiology and family medicine. She is the Deputy Dean, Outreach & Collaboration for the Faculty of Medical Sciences UWI, Mona Campus. Trained at the UWI Mona, she was also a recipient of the prestigious Humphrey Fellowship under the United States’ Fulbright Program. Recognised by the UWI as an excellent teacher, she has also received awards for outstanding research on diabetes, physical activity, obesity, and neighbourhood determinants of health in Jamaica. Her public service includes work with PAHO, Ministry of Health & Wellness Jamaica, Diabetes Association of Jamaica and the Healthy Caribbean Coalition.
Page 10 DR. TAHIRA REDWOOD: Trailblazer in adult cardiology, interventional cardiology, and congenital/structural intervention. She has successfully applied innovative medical techniques in cardiac surgery at the University Health Network, Toronto General Hospital Division of Cardiology in Toronto, Canada. She has held various positions at the University Health Network, including Chief Fellow in the Cardiology Department, and has also worked as an internist at National Chest Hospital, Kingston, Jamaica. DR. GRACE MCDONNOUGH LYON, OD: Trailblazer in veterinary services. A former Deputy Director of Veterinary Services in Jamaica, Dr. McDonnough Lyon was the first woman veterinarian to work for the Jamaica Racing Commission at Caymanas Park and the first woman to own and operate a Veterinary Clinic in Jamaica. She was honoured as a trailblazer by the Caribbean Veterinary Medical Association in 2017, and in 2021 received the national Order of Distinction (Officer Class) for her contribution as a veterinarian. DR. HILARY BROWN: Trailblazer in Diaspora Affairs. Dr. Brown is Programme Manager for Culture and Community Development, CARICOM Secretariat, Guyana and is committed to cultural enrichment, youth empowerment and gender equality. Hilary has authored several papers on Caribbean media, music, festivals and creative industries. As HRH Queen Asianut Acom II, she was appointed President of the Global African Diaspora Kingdom (GADK) in 2022. She received the Global Africa Impact Award in September 2025 from AIDO Network International for leadership in Cultural Diplomacy and Reparatory Justice. In collaboration with the UWI and the CARICOM Reparations Commission Hilary’s leadership of GADK has led to organised visits by African royalty to Caribbean communities such as the Accompong Maroon community, Jamaica. HON. MARGARET RAMSAY HALE: Trailblazer in Law. Jamaican jurist, Margaret Hale was the first woman to be appointed Chief Justice of the Cayman Islands. She also served as the first woman Chief Justice of the Turks and Caicos Supreme Court. Prior to that appointment in 2014, she was the first woman to be appointed a puisne judge in Turks and Caicos. In 2006, she became an acting judge for the Grand Court of The Caymans and then received an appointment to the Cayman Islands Panel of Acting Grand Court Judges in 2013. Margaret is also a certified mediator. DENISE BROWN KITSON, KC.: Trailblazer in Law. Denise is the first woman to be elected as Chairman of the General Legal Council, Jamaica. She is a partner in the private law firm Grant Stewart Phillips & Co, where she practises as a litigator. Since 2002, she has tutored civil practice and procedure at the Norman Manley Law School. Denise has been a member of the General Legal Council since 2010 and has chaired both its Accreditation Committee and Information Technology Committee. She was appointed as Queen’s Counsel (now King’s Counsel) in 2013. LT. COLONEL ALICIA COOPER NELSON: Trailblazer as the first servicewoman in the history of the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) to be appointed as the Detachment Commander at the Caribbean Infantry Training Centre in Newcastle, Jamaica, in charge of military training-related matters. Alicia holds a Bachelor of Laws degree (LLB Laws Hon.) from the University of the West Indies and a Master of Science degree in procurement, logistics and supply chain management from the University of Salford, United Kingdom. She was awarded the Medal of Honour for general service in 2017, and is currently Brigade Executive Officer, Support Brigade at the JDF Headquarters. Governance, Law and Finance
Page 11 STEPHANIE ABRAHAMS: trailblazer in youth leadership. Elected as the youngest Governor of the Key Club Jamaica District at age 15, Stephanie was the first non- American International Vice President of Key Club International. Her leadership at St. Andrew High School was followed by her election as the 5th female Guild President of the UWI Mona Campus. As Senior Analyst in the office of the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service, Stephanie plays a pivotal role in high level meetings with the World Bank and the IMF. She is a Board member of eGov Jamaica and a Director of the Kingston Free Zone Co. Ltd as well as Clarendon Alumina Production Ltd. SONIA ANDERSON (NEE REID): Trailblazer in national and international voluntary service. Sonia’s work has benefitted many communities, especially the youth. She has given dedicated and excellent leadership to both the Jamaica Cancer Society (JCS) and Optimist International (OI). She worked with the Jamaica Cancer Society in seeking solutions for childhood cancer. As the Distinguished and Outstanding Governor for the Caribbean District of Optimist International in 2006-2007, she was named No 1 Governor as she built twelve new clubs adding 376 members. During her tenure as First Vice President for the USA South East Region (2012-2013) 1,215 members were added to the region. MICHELLE ANN MCINTOSH HARVEY: Trailblazer in volunteerism. A chartered accountant, Michelle has made significant contributions to the community and country through the Lions Club of Kingston (twice President), the Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA) as Director of Financial Management as well as Interim Chief Executive Officer, and Assistant Treasurer at Boulevard Baptist Church. She is an advocate for foster and adoptive children, offering home hospitality during holiday periods and eventually adopting one of them. She also served as a Zone Chairman in charge of eight Lions Clubs and seven Leo Clubs in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands. She was awarded the highest honour in Lionism, the Melvin Jones Fellowship. DR. SYLVIA WHITLOCK (NEE ALEXANDER): Trailblazer as the first woman in the world to be a Rotary Club President consequent on a ruling by the US Supreme Court in May 1987 that ended Rotary International’s previous policy of gender restrictions in leadership. An annual Scholarship Award honours her work to advance women in Rotary. Sylvia was an educator for 40 years, serving as an elementary school principal for several years. She successfully pursued studies in Marriage and Family Therapy and practised as a therapist as a second career. REV. KAREN KIRLEW, CD (NEE FRANCIS): Trailblazer in the field of religion. She was the first woman to be appointed President of the Jamaica Baptist Union. She has been a pastor for over 20 years, co-hosts the weekly Christ for Today radio programme and has been Baptist Warden at the United Theological College of the West Indies (UTCWI). She has also served on two Commissions of the Baptist World Alliance. DIANA MCINTYRE-PIKE, OD: Trailblazer in Community Tourism Jamaica. Diana is President/Founder of the Countrystyle Community Tourism Network which has created an innovative approach to tourism – incorporating exploration of the lives and culture of the community through vacations and tours, as part of the tourism experience. Her Villages as Businesses programme addresses the potential for tourism in poverty alleviation by empowering member villages, through tour design, training, management and marketing support. Diana is President of the International Institute for Peace through Tourism (IIPT) Caribbean, and received the IIPT’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2013. She has shared her community tourism expertise at several regional and international meetings.
Page 12 AUDREY RICHARDS (NEE SMITH): Trailblazer in financial innovation and market development. Audrey has designed and led pioneering programmes that expand access to capital for Jamaican businesses, including the Development Bank of Jamaica’s Credit Enhancement Fund and Venture Capital Programme. She was the first President of the Primary Dealers Association established by the Bank of Jamaica and a founding member of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Best Practices Committee. She has served on multiple financial sector boards, the SAHS Board, is a Founding Director of the SAHS Foundation and a past President of the Old Girls’ Association. MARSHA-GAYE KNIGHT: Trailblazer in sports marketing and equity advocacy. Marsha is the brains and face of Black-in-Sports Business (BSB) based in Toronto, Canada. This is a diversity network mentoring and showcasing black talent in the sporting arena. She also is a Partnership Marketing Manager with Canadian Broadcasting Company (CBC) Sports and Olympics, and is the host and producer of the BSB Podcast, which, in 2024, hosted a live experience at ESPNW Summit Canada, featuring interviews with black women who are trailblazers in the Canadian sports business industry. ROXANNE WANLISS: Trailblazer in technology and entrepreneurship. Initially working on international development projects and community leadership, Roxanne is the founder and Senior DNA consultant at Polygenics Consulting, the leading DNA testing service in the Caribbean. She has contributed to national and regional development initiatives and has held key roles with organisations including the World Bank EPIC Programme (a strategic framework to manage hydro-climatic risks) where she facilitated islandwide workshops in technology, climate resilience and youth empowerment. A model of service excellence, Roxanne’s involvement in volunteerism and national service led her to being named an Ambassador of the I Believe Initiative of the Governor General of Jamaica. ELAINE COMMISSIONG (nee King), OD, JP: Trailblazer in Public Relations and Education. From classroom teacher to Education Officer in the Educational Broadcasting Services, Elaine has had a multifaceted career as a marketing communications consultant, lecturer, author, life coach, and mentor. She excelled in media production and communications, opening her own very successful public relations company CARA Communications Ltd., where she brought her expertise and innovation to numerous corporate campaigns. Elaine is the recipient of several awards including the national award of Order of Distinction for excellence in public relations in 2013. DIANA MCCAULAY, OD: Trailblazer in environmental advocacy. Diana is the Founder of the Jamaican Environmental Trust (JET) and was its Chief Executive until her retirement in 2017. A leading environmental activist, Diana is a regular newspaper columnist, and has won awards for environmental leadership including the Norman Manley Foundation Award for Excellence. She is also a writer, the author of Dog Heart for which she won the Jamaican National Literature Award. Diana is a recipient of the national award of the Order of Distinction and a Gold Musgrave Medal for literature from the Institute of Jamaica. TREYA PICKING: Trailblazer wildlife conservation. Treya is a wildlife conservation biologist who has led national efforts in research, conservation and wildlife management. The herpetologist has done critical work with the American crocodile in the swamps, mangroves and artificial habitats around Jamaica and spearheaded the first ever island-wide population assessment of the American crocodile in collaboration with National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA), the University of the West Indies and the University of Florida. Treya is the founder of JamCROC Initiative (Jamaica Crocodile Research, Outreach and Conservation), spearheading crocodile conservation work. In 2025, Treya was awarded the Prime Minister’s National Youth Award for Excellence in Environmental Protection. Entrepreneurship, Tourism & Environment
Page 13 PAMELA NEITA LAWSON: Trailblazer in animal welfare. As Managing Director of the Jamaica Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (JSPCA) for over 20 years, Pamela carries out the main mission of the nongovernmental organisation to promote the compassionate treatment of animals through education, advocacy, and veterinary care. Under her stewardship, the Society has strengthened shelter operations and championed improved conditions of animals in the pounds and abattoirs, as well as at the racetrack and riding establishments in Jamaica. Pamela serves as a Disaster Liaison Officer for World Animal Protection responding to natural disasters across the Caribbean. Audrey Gaynor Carleen Gardner (nee Phillips) Christine Staple Ebanks Dr. Allison McLarty Dr. Anne Hickling Hudson Dr. Barbara Carby Dr. Barbara Graham Dr. Blossom O’Meally Nelson, CD Dr. Hope Abrahams Calogero Dr. Marie Williams Dr. Michelle Hamilton Dr. Natalie Whylie, JP Dr. Pauline Christie Dr. Shirley Thomas Dr. T. Alafia Samuels Dr. Tracey A. Jackson Lincoln Dulce McFarlane Elaine Wint Elizabeth (Betty) Wates (nee Armstrong) Elizabeth Ann (Betty-Ann) Jones, CD Felicity Crosswell Brandt Gloria Barrett Sobers Glynne Gordon Carter Grace Ashley Helen Cox Helen Willinsky (nee Skinner) Her Excellency Ambassador Ellen Bogle, CD (nee Williams) Her Excellency Ambassador Gail Mathurin, CD Hilary Ann Phillips, KC, CD Hon. Norma Lorraine Walters, CD, JP (nee Rhoden) Jackie Walter Henriques (nee Beckford) Jacqueline Scott (nee Cox) Jennifer Tomlinson-Moreland Joan French (nee Rainford) Joan Panton Juanita Briscoe Judge Gail Chang Bohr Judge Tanya Sue Chutkan Lady Marie Simmons (nee MacCormack) Margaret Bernal (nee Reckord) Marie Scott (nee Hector) Marjorie Whylie CD, OD Mary Virtue McLaughlin Maxine A. Henry-Wilson, CD Michelle Chin-Lenn Pamela Munroe Ellis CD Petrona Morrison Philippa Street-Collings Professor Jennifer Knight-Madden Professor the Hon Barbara Bailey, OJ (nee Nash) Professor the Hon. Elsa Leo-Rhynie, OJ, CD (nee Fairweather) Rev. Dr. Hyacinth Ione Boothe, CD Rev. Dr. Marjorie Lewis Shirley-Ann Eaton Vilma Belle Charlton, OD Past Trailblazers
Page 14 Audrey McNeil-Smith (nee Lewis) Avrill Crawford (nee Smellie) Barbara Requa, OD (nee Grant) Beverly Walrond (nee Walters) Dr. Beverley E. Grant Lewis Dr. Beverley Evans Noakes Ethlyn Norton Coke Her Excellency Ambassador Elinor Sherlock (nee Phillips) Her Excellency Ambassador the Hon Patricia Durrant, OJ Hon. Barbara Gloudon, OJ, OD (nee Goodison) Hon. Dorothy Pine McLarty, OJ Hon. Dr. Muriel Lowe Valentine, OJ Hon. Gloria Knight, OJ. LLD (Hon) (nee Samms) Hope Allison Stewart (nee McIntyre) Jennifer Cox Past Trailblazers (Deceased)
Page 15 Centenary St. Andrew High School Foundation Legacy Awards Jessica Jones Fay McIntosh Dr. Deanna Ashley Carrol Handy Audrey Richards Radley Reid Dr. Michelle Holt In recognition of extraordinary and dedicated service to the School, thus building and ensuring the maintenance of the SAHS Legacy for future generations.
Page 16 St Andrew High School is privileged to celebrate one of its most distinguished graduates, the Hon Sylvia Wynter OJ, Professor Emeritus, Stanford University. Sylvia Wynter is one of the most important and influential scholars of race and humanism in the 20th century. As a novelist, playwright, public intellectual and scholar Wynter has made transformational contributions to the fields of Black studies, and the Caribbean intellectual tradition. She is today one of the most creative thinkers in this tradition asking one of the foundational questions of our times---what does it mean to be human? A sign in the St Andrew High School Museum records that: “A school holiday has been declared on Friday 14th June 1946 in honour of Sylvia Wynter winning the Centenary Scholarship.” The Centenary Scholarship was established to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the abolition of slavery in Jamaica. Her work establishes her as someone who has taken seriously the commitment to remain accountable to those who continue to battle the legacies of racial slavery and colonialism in the Americas. On the 100th anniversary of her alma mater, St Andrew is proud to pay tribute to her with the Honorary Centenary Award of the school. The Centenary scholarship enabled Wynter to read Spanish at King’s College, University of London and in London she became part of a cohort of Caribbean literary figures, artists and thinkers who were deeply anti colonial. In 1962 - the year of Jamaica’s independence- Wynter published her first and only novel, Hills of Hebron which is an exploration of the deep challenges of imagining and creating new forms of community in the midst of enduring and deeply internalized systems of colonial domination. In 1963 Wynter became lecturer in Spanish Literature at the University of the West Indies, co-founding the Jamaica Journal and contributing to a major re-evaluation of Black working class cultural forms in the context of decolonization. In her early essays she was among the first to research Jonkonnu, Myal and Rastafari. She was a familiar and passionate presence in public discussions, and she wrote plays such as Ballad for a Rebellion and the popular Maskarade which incorporates the Jonkonnu form into its structure and story. In 1974 she became Professor of Comparative and Spanish Literature at the University of California, San Diego, moving to Stanford University in 1977 from which she retired in 1997. Sylvia Wynter received the Order of Jamaica in 2009. She has been awarded honorary doctorates by the University of the West Indies and King’s College, London University. Her work has influenced an entire generation of young scholars and has been the subject of numerous books. She is also the mother of Ann Marie Isachsen-Fraser and David Chistopher Carew. With this award, St Andrew High School lifts her up, returns her to the place where she started from, celebrating her as one of our most transformational graduates whose work has itself altered the meaning of the terms, human, race, knowledge and education. With this award we recognize her profound contributions to the possibilities of creating a different world informed by a new understanding of freedom. Honarary Centennary Award to Hon. Sylvia Wynter OJ.
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Page 18 SAHS CENTENARY CONFERENCE A HIT FOR THE AGES. Kingston, Jamaica: The Centenary Conference held on Wednesday March 19th marking the continuing 100th Anniversary celebrations of the , St Andrew High School for Girls (SAHS), as one of Jamaica’s most distinguished educational institutions, truly marked the successful ways in which the school had triumphed in realizing its goals of empowering excellence as it ‘transitioned into the 21st Century in Teaching and Learning.’ Held at the School’s Margaret Gartshore Hall as well as broadcast live online, the day’s event , expertly managed by Master of Ceremonies Elaine Wint, showcased the legacy of excellence that has characterised the 100 years of the delivery of education by this institution though presentations by past student Dr. Blossom Omeally-Nelson, who related what to her were the highlights of the first 50 years of the school, and by Professor I Knight – Madden who spoke to the second fifty years. Dr- Omeally-Nelson tracing in a humour-filled story of her own growth from a questioning student who had to be moved through eleven Primary Schools, to a High School which encouraged and accommodated her enquiring mind and which itself had grown and development outstandingly, from 1925, when it was formed as the ‘Jamaica High School,’ At that time, she noted, launched by the Presbyterian and Methodist Church, to her mind, the school’s prevailing mission was to enable ‘black girls ‘to be educated in a way comparable to that available to the ‘ladies’ in the United Kingdom. This led, she said to what we perceive today as the successful ‘S’N Andrew brand.’ They were guided by teachers of impeccable standards, who in the first fifty years were mainly from the United Kingdom and who were all single, ladies, with exception of local principal Mrs. Fay Saunders. “When you left St Andrew’, she exclaimed in her own inimitable style, “You were ‘smaddy’ already!” Prof. Knight Madden, a former student of the second fifty years, noted that during those decades St Andrew remained an unapologetically Christian school, which inspired girls to engage in many activities. Referring to the school song, she joined in expressing the hope that as we looked to the next hundred years, the girls of that era would remain true to the wish that ‘May all who come behind us find us faithful.” Enthusiastic applause to both presentations came from the audience of ‘old girls ‘ and their friends, SAHS Centenary Chair Ms. Maxine HenryWilson who in her welcome had explained that the conference is not only a celebration but a call to action, the School’s Chaplain, the Rev. Astor Carlyle, and guest speaker Dr. Schontal Moore, as well as a troupe of current alumnae, who dutifully and expertly managed the event. under the watchful and approving eye of current Principal Mrs. Keeva Ingram, (herself and ‘old girl’,) as well as most recent past principal Mrs Sharon Reid. The nostalgic presentations of past students Omeally Nelson, and Madden, were followed by that of School Board Chairman Mr. Radley Reid, through which he posited that the school’s 100 years of success, were not achieved by accident. “The institution has grown into one of Jamaica’s most respected ‘centres of learning’, he said, because of sustained governance over the years which had been marked by a ‘clarity of purpose.’- A Mission marked by Integrity, Strategic Leadership, Discipline, Accountability and a recognition of Culture as an invisible architect of any institution in which there is disciplined scholarship. Speaking of the school’s moral grounding in Christian discipline, he noted that if this culture were to be weakened, it would be difficult to restore. St Andrew High School, he emphasised, has over the years invested in leadership development, and the inculcation of values, founded on Christian principles, moral clarity and the stable generation of enduring values. This mandate was underscored by Principal Ingram, who reinforced that the school had in the present time continued to manage teaching and learning to ensure continued excellence in the future along the principles mentioned, by continuing to pay emphasis on four areas of focus, the physical, mental, social and spiritual areas of development. Appropriately, the days celebrations climaxed in the celebration St. Andrew High School’s proud tradition of producing women leaders across public service, business, education, and the creative industries, by reinforcing that legacy in paying honour to its most recent Principal, Mrs. Sharon Reid who had served the school for twenty years! Her indefatigable work in reinforcing the school’s motto, ‘Life More Abundant’. through her outstanding leadership, was especially noted in celebrating her as a ‘legacy bearer,’ and the successor in a line of academic and visionary leaders who were responsible for building the outstanding institution that is today the St Andrew High School for Girls of Kingston Jamaica! " 90's Trailblazers "
Page 19 SAHS BOARD CHAIR HIGHLIGHTS “INSTITUTIONAL GOVERNANCE FOR EXCELLENCE” AT CENTENARY EDUCATION CONFERENCE Kingston, Jamaica: St. Andrew High School for Girls (SAHS) marked a defining moment in its centenary celebrations with a powerful address on “Institutional Governance for Excellence” delivered by Mr. Radley D. Reid, Chairman of the Board of Management, at the ‘Centenary Education Conference’ held on March 19, 2026, at the school’s campus. In his keynote presentation, Mr. Reid reflected on the school’s 100 years of sustained excellence, tracing its growth from its founding in 1925 with just twenty‑one students to its present status as one of Jamaica’s most respected educational institutions. He emphasized that SAHS’s success is not accidental, but the result of intentional leadership, disciplined governance, and values‑based decision‑making. Addressing educators, alumni, parents, students, and invited guests, in an event expertly coordinated by past student, Communications Specialist, and SAHS ‘Centenary Ambassador,’ Ms. Elaine Wint, Mr. Reid outlined six core pillars of effective institutional governance that have underpinned the school’s century‑long achievement. These included he said, clarity of purpose, strategic leadership, accountability for continuous improvement, a strong institutional culture, sustainability and future readiness, and values‑based governance. He underscored the critical role of Boards as custodians of mission, noting that governance must operate at the strategic level rather than becoming entangled in day‑to‑day management. He also highlighted the importance of a strong and respectful partnership between the Board and school leadership, crediting the legacy of outstanding principals whose leadership continuity has contributed to the school’s stability and growth over the decades. " 80's Trailblazers "
Mr. Reid further emphasized that accountability should be developmental rather than punitive, fostering a culture where reflection, data‑informed decision‑making, and innovation drive improvement. He pointed to SAHS’s enduring culture of disciplined scholarship, moral grounding, and Christian values as evidence of governance shaping not only policy, but identity and character. - Appropriately, later in the day, the school’s recently retired Principal Mrs. Sharon Reid was honoured for her 20 years of stellar leadership as principal of the school. Looking to the future, the Board Chairman challenged educational leaders to embrace forward‑looking governance that anticipates change, integrates technology responsibly, develops leadership capacity, and ensures financial and institutional sustainability in an increasingly complex global environment. In concluding his presentation, Mr. Reid offered four guiding principles for institutional governance in the next century: �� Guard the mission relentlessly �� Govern with discipline and trust �� Embed accountability as a culture of growth �� Lead with values, courage, and vision, He described governance at St. Andrew High School for Girls as a sacred trust, calling on current and future leaders to not only preserve the school’s legacy, but to elevate it. The presentation by Board Chairman Radley Reid, formed a central feature of the school’s centenary observances and reinforced SAHS’s enduring commitment to excellence, integrity, and its motto, “Life More Abundant.” Entering the beautifully appointed St. Andrew High School Campus Page 20 Centennary Chair Miss. Maxine Henry-Wilson presents a framed citation to former Principal Mrs. Sharon Reid in honour of her outstanding leadership as Principal
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