MARTHA BRAE, Trelawny – Samantha Williams, a grade seven William Knibb Memorial High School student copped the top prize in the inaugural Hileman/TPDCo essay competition for high schools in Trelawny.

Karissa Jackson of Westwood High School was placed second, while Lovette Malcolm of William Knibb Memorial High took the third place prize.

The first place winner pocketed a cash prize of $21,000, among other prizes, while the second place and third place winners collected $13,000 and $6,500, respectively.

The cash prizes were sponsored by American Gaile Hileman, a retired educator and her late husband, Carl.

The retired teacher and her husband visited Jamaica in February last year on the inaugural cruise call of the Voyager of the Seas into the Port of Falmouth.

At that time, the elderly couple made a monetary contribution to Spruce Up Jamaica/TPDCO and requested that a essay competition be held for high school students in the parish on the topic: “My Dream for Jamaica”.

Shortly after the couple returned to the United States, the husband died.

The winners were yesterday presented with their prizes during a special assembly inside the William Knibb Memorial High School auditorium, where the American widow- who returned to the island recently for the presentation- was in attendance.

During a motivational address at the function, Hileman implored the winners to abstain from engaging in sexual activities at “this stage of their lives.”

“Girls remember the spark within you. You are sacred. Say yes to God. Say yes to loving and honouring yourself. Say no to the boys. Be the sacred flower of Jamaica,” she urged.

“Everyone of you are endowed with special gifts from God to share with the world. We want you to share the beauty and love of who you are through voice, song, music, poetry, speech, sports….express it from your heart”.

She cherished the memory of arriving at the Falmouth Port along with her husband on February 17 last year.

” We were excited to share the joy, the love, the camaraderie of that historical event. Together we became the heartbeat of Falmouth that day”.

Hileman said her husband who died two months after their cruise visit to Jamaica told many persons that the cruise to Falmouth was the greatest they have ever had.

“He (Carl) wanted to know the dream for your country because that very special historic day brought him great joy, laughter and opportunity to share with the people of Jamaica”.