CHARLESTOWN, Nevis - Wangechi Ngunjiri, a Kenyan national who relocated to Nevis in 1998, was the Valedictorian in the Primary Teacher Education Department in Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College.
Ms Ngunjiri is a computer teacher at Charlestown Primary School.
At the weekend award giving ceremonies Ms Ngunjiri, a daughter to Pauline Ngunjiri and Peter Ngunjiri, both journalists in the island of St. Kitts and Nevis received a certificate of recognition for outstanding performance and commitment to excellence in overseas examinations.
She also received a certificate for completing the Requisite Course of Study to Graduate. She received the J. Obadiah Williams Award for Best Results – Associate Degree Education, the Hillary Anthony Blake Memorial Award for Primary Education, the Dulcie Richardson Teacher Education Award for best performance by a female and Dr Lincoln Cary Award for Excellence in Science Teaching.
“I was overwhelmed with joy,” Ms Ngunjiri said in an interview shortly after the graduation ceremony held on the College grounds on Sunday. She said she anticipated the honor and knew without doubt she could make it on the honour list but she did not expect to be valedictorian in her class.
After graduating from the Charlestown Secondary School, Wangechi taught as an untrained teacher at V.O.J.N Primary School (2006-2007) and later at Ivor Walters Primary School (2007-2008).
Asked what kind of advice she would give to youth people aspiring to be teachers, she said, “Never stop trying. Once you see an opportunity where you can better yourself, go for it.”
Ms Ngunjiri who is fluent in Nevisian dialect says she has decided to make Nevis her home.
Asked what challenges teachers from Nevis face when they train in St. Kitts, she said commuting to and from Nevis.
She wishes to thank her parents, her daughter Nykeisha Ngunjiri, her two sisters Mary and Miriam Ngunjiri, close friends and family, and all her teachers and lecturers for being a great support system.
