Vashon Williams Wins 2011 Alpha Beautillion
17-year-old Vashon Williams won the 2011 Alpha Beautillion which took place last night [June 26] at the Ruth Seaton James Center, receiving a $5,000 bursary award in recognition of his win.
Vashon – a resident of the Friswell’s Hill/St. Monica’s Road area – said, “In my very neighborhood, there have been multiple shootings; however, I refuse to allow my surroundings to define me.” He credits his family for much of his success, and said he “cannot and will not fail.”
A student at Bermuda Institute, the college bound 17-year-old has an exceptionally long list of accomplishments. He plays the violin, piano, and steel pan, serves as a prefect and the Student Association President and Assistant Class Pastor at his school.
He also serves as an usher at the Hamilton Seventh-Day Adventist Church and a Teen Leader in the Hamilton Pathfinder Pioneer Club and much more.
There were six exceptional young men in the contest and the other five all received a $1,000 bursary prize towards their further education. They were Jamieko Smith, Makeem Bartley, Jordan Osborne, Bruce Perinchief and Jabari Burgess-Robinson – all 17 years old.
The Beautillion is a national opportunity for young men to showcase their academic skill, talent and oratorical abilities. During the six months preceding the contest, they are required and encouraged to participate in various mentoring programs, volunteer and help out at the Matilda Smith Rest Home, The Bermuda Youth Library, Teen Services Tag Day, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Hal Jackson Talented Teen competition and sell adverts and tickets to the event.
In his biography Vashon said, “As the last of eight boys, I was plunged into a legacy of excellence and imbued with a competitive drive for success. A senior at Bermuda Institute, I daily press toward the mark of the high calling that God has placed upon my life.”
“Born into a family full of musicians, I had no option but to play an instrument. I refused, however, to limit myself to a single one. Consequently, I play the violin, piano, steel pan, and also sing.”
“Additionally, I have achieved a Grade 4 violin from the Royal School of Music. My pan playing has taken me to various venues across Bermuda, including XL Capital, the Commissioner’s House, and Willowbank Resort.
“I am embarking upon my second year as a prefect. This year I was unanimously voted as the Student Association President and Assistant Class Pastor. I am also a mentor and tutor for at risk young men at my school. Through these responsibilities, I have learned that if you are diligent over little, you will be made ruler of much!
“In addition to my school life, I serve as an usher at the Hamilton Seventh-Day Adventist Church and a Teen Leader in the Hamilton Pathfinder Pioneer Club. Pathfinders helped to teach me the value of service and discipline. As I matured within the Pathfinder program, I became a Teen leader, charged with passing on my knowledge to the newer and younger members. This helped me to develop my leadership skill, as well as my patience.
“This past summer I was privileged to attend the Minority Introduction to the Health Sciences (M.I.T.H.S.) Program at Loma Linda University Medical Center in Loma Linda, California. It is a program that takes high achieving black students and immerses them into an intense three-week course at the University. Students take college-level Anatomy & Physiology and are taught writing skills and study skills by the university professors.
“Recently, I was a member of the winning team in the 2010 Butterfield Student Challenge and a winner in the 2011 Outstanding Teen Awards.
“Following my graduation from Bermuda Institute, I plan to further my education in the United States. I have not yet chosen a college; however, my top three choices are Oakwood University in Alabama, La Sierra University in California, and Andrews University in Michigan. Though I am unsure of my final career goal, I am leaning towards careers in the medical sciences and physics. If I enter the field of Physics, my first goal would be to research alternate forms of energy that would be feasible for us here in Bermuda.
“As a young black man, I am faced with many challenges as I work toward my future successes. The very area in which I live is described as unhealthy to my development. In my very neighborhood, there have been multiple shootings; however, I refuse to allow my surroundings to define me.”
“Ultimately, as a productive resident of the Friswell’s Hill, St. Monica’s Road area, I stand as a living testimony to the power of a praying mother and grandmother. I cannot and will not fail because God is great, and He has placed greatness inside of me; and therefore, I can do great things!,” concluded Vashon.
Congrats Vashon, Job well done.
Bermuda don’t be fooled, We have a bright future ahead of us.
Congratulations young man!! May you continue to be BLESSED!!
I’m a little surprised no one’s commented on this, but news like this stirs emotion in me even more than any of the other stuff I’ve commented on. Mr. Williams, I wish you every success, yours is truly an example to be held up in the community. Surroundings make it harder to achieve, but you show that it’s a matter of personal choice AND parental support. All of your family’s support and prayer would have done nothing for you if you hadn’t made the decision yourself to be a success. I think that’s the key element missing from the success of many young men, and that’s self-determination. A person can be assisted with knowledge and even discipline to an extent, but if their own desire for excellence isn’t there in the first place, then there’s no amount of being guided or even pushed that will make the difference.
Well done, enormous kudos to you, Mr. Williams. YOU and young people like you make me very, very proud to be Bermudian. Keep your bar set high!!
I stand corrected- when I started writing there were no posts, but when I hit ‘submit’, there you two were. Congratulations again, Mr. Williams!!!
You see, just because you are from that area does not mean that you are in a gang! Born bread and raised in the four two area and acheiving so much with so much going on around him. This young man diserves praises from all the negative people that prob will not comment. This is a true testiment right here!!
Congrats Vash! Well done. Looking forward to big things.
I attended this event and it was exciting to see the six young men who are a sample of positive young people in our community. For all the parents, teachers, family, friends and community who continue to provide support, job well done. For all of the Alpha men who spent time mentoring and impacting these young lives congrats to you as well. I hope to see this story on the front page tomorrow since it didn’t make it today. Their talent and speeches were awesome.
Congrats Vash!!!! So proud of you! You did B.I. proud. Wish you all the best where ever you decide to go. Aunt Bernie has done excellent with all of you boys. God has truly blessed you all.
You go Vash! You are a the epitome of the power of a praying mother and grandmother!
Very well done Vashon, you are an inspiration and hopefully many other young men and women will be inspired to do great things with their lives. As noted by others before me, you can be anything, you can do anything that you choose. the choice is yours. Make a decision, plan it out,stick to the wicket until it is complete. Realizing that the possibilities are endless when you make every effort to reach out and achieve. Again well done young man. I don’t know you personally but I am very proud of you and pray God’s blessings on all that you do in reaching your goals.
congrats cuzzyyy!!! mwahhh. xoxoxo
Your parents and family must be very proud of you indeed. People like you are like a ray of sunshine on a cloudy day, and I’m sure you will go on to do great things. Congratulations!
Alright Vashon! Very proud of you as I’m sure your family is too! Continue to press toward the mark and put God first! Well done!
this is simply beautiful news. keep it up, young man! i know plenty of kids doing less than you who complain about how the island is perceived to be going, not seeing that they are the future. you and your fellow achievers are the ones who will keep our island alive!!
WELL DONE! VaShon
I had the privilege of mentoring Vashon in the 2010 Butterfield Student Challenge and can say he is a very blessed and talented young man. Congratulations Vashon!!
Well done young man…
Well done Vashon,you are truly an inspiration to many.Continue to press on my bother:}
brother
Congratulations once again Vashon. You are truly a breath of fresh air in the midst of all the negatives of a lot of the young black men in the area in which you live. However, I do know that when God is present in your life it makes no difference what colour you are or where you live because He reigns. I am so happy for you and your family and the positive light that shines from you. May God continue to bless you all as you continue on your journey. Praise the Lord, great things He has done.
Congratulations Mr. Williams on your accomplishments to date and the fine example that you set for your peer group. With very best wishes for your future academic path and may many others be inspired by this significant comment of yours:…
” I refuse to allow my surroundings to define me.”
Congratulations to Vashon. I don’t know you but you are a very impressive young man. Stories like this give me hope in an otherwise gloomy social environment. Congratulations and much respect are also do to Vashon’s mother and anyone else who may have played a role in raising such a wonderful young man. I believe his mother is a single mother and if so, it is certainly women like her that need to be held in high regard in our community. Let’s focus not on all the bad apples- the shoulda, woulda, couldas and ask this young man and his family members what their secrets are- we need more people like the Williams’ on our island. Well done!
Congratulations Vashon !!All the best in the future ! @ Hebrew Schooled,I was also stirred with emotion by his story.I related to it because my children also grew up in these areas and all three of them went to university & they all have wonderful jobs.I always told them on a regular basis to keep on striving for excellence and the importance of education for success in life.You don’t have to conform to your environment !!
Well done young man ! May your future stay bright !