17-year-old Ghanaian student wins prestigious Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship

To be chosen as a Lester B. Pearson Scholar and granted the opportunity to study in one of the world’s most prestigious and multicultural universities, the University of Toronto, is no mean feat considering the rigorous process each applicant passes through to be selected.

The winner of this enviable scholarship is a quiet and unassuming child, Vera-Ann Yaa Ahemba Sackey who joined the Morgan International Community School (MICS) at Grade 7 in January 2014 at age of 12.

At a point in time, her academic prowess has been called into question but her teachers and parents encouraged her

However, at 17, Vera-Ann excelled to become a star, not only graduating remarkably with an International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma but fortunate to be named among the world class of students who were offered a full scholarship to study at the University of Toronto as Lester B. Pearson Scholars.

Having been awarded this prestigious scholarship meant she will be studying alongside a diverse group of talented students at the University of Toronto and can call Toronto, her new home.

Lee-Ann’s joy knew no bounds when handed the noble opportunity which guarantees her four-year stay in the top Canadian University where she hopes to pursue Management studies as her dream course.

The University of Toronto, each year awards the Lester B. Pearson Scholarship to not only the exceptionally brilliant students across the world but those who have equally demonstrated strong leadership skills in their final year secondary school or have graduated no earlier than June 28 intending to begin University in the upcoming year.

This year, the University has awarded 37 brilliant students who were carefully selected from various International schools across the world which include India, Pakistan, New Zealand, Trinidad and Tobago, Egypt, Mexico, USA, Canada, UK and Honduras.

The rest are Kazakhstan, Kenya, Thailand, Israel, Cameron, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Jamaica, Turkey, Guatemala, China, Malaysia and Ghana.

Out of the large volumes of entries received from applicants for this year’s scholarship, Ms. Vera-Ann Yaa Ahemba Sackey from Ghana emerged the only student chosen from West Africa.

Her selection for the prestigious award, according to her instructors, did not come on a silver platter but through determination, dint of hard work and perseverance she demonstrated over the years.

For her, the training she has received from the school has really impacted her in a very positive way; both academically and skillfully to be able to gain due recognition.

“Morgan gives a lot of attention to each and every other student so I think they’ve really helped me to become the person I am today.

They’ve trained me very well and now I am very confident in myself”, Vera-Ann disclosed.

MICS education identified and developed her academic abilities, talents and leadership skills. The school also offered several opportunities for self-development.

This has resulted in making Vera-Ann the achiever that she’s become.

The school which is located in the Gomoa Manso, a village in the Central Region of Ghana is touted as one of the best private schools in the country.

MICS is noted for as an outstanding institution responsible for the development of leadership and entrepreneurship skills of students in the country.

Barely a year after its inception in 2013, it was adjudged the Fastest Growing Private School in Ghana in the Pillars of Modern Ghana Awards in 2014, while in 2016, MICS was pronounced the Most Preferred School in Ghana under the African Quality Awards category. However, in 2017 it was declared the Leading Private School in Ghana.

Vera-Ann Sackey is an all-rounder who has excelled in her academics as well as extracurricular activities throughout her stay at MICS.

As a dynamic student of no mean repute, she has a long list of gargantuan achievements chronicled to her credit.

As a student leader, she is the immediate past Deputy Head Prefect of MICS. As a sports enthusiast, she is focused and determined Sports Woman who has won many athletic medals at International School Sports Association Games (ISSAG) and is currently the 400 metres record holder. As an avid player, she is the Captain of MICS Girls’ Soccer and Basketball teams. As an ICT expert, Vera-Ann appears to be match to none to have distinguished herself as a creator of “Micstoons”, an educative cartoon series that supports teaching and learning in school.

Some of her series which has gained a large amount of subscribers can be found on YouTube.

Notably, not only was she adjudged the “Most Talented Student” of the school last year but also represented her alma mater at the 2018 IB World Conference held at George Washington University in the USA.

Vera-Ann equally attended the Association of International Schools in Africa Summits in Mozambique and Tanzania. She is a Fellow of the Yale Young African Scholars Program, having attended the programme in Zimbabwe in 2017.

The young talent has also been a delegate at many UN Model conferences and has equally received awards at these conferences.

Between Grade 9 and 11, she received 10 academic awards and 11 non-academic awards in school. Being passionate about making a change, Vera-Ann volunteered in the Gomoa Manso Community throughout her 6 years in MICS, helping children to read, raising funds to donate essential items to vulnerable children, supporting clinic construction and donating insecticide-treated bed nets to children to reduce incidences of malaria.

On a personal level, she’s assertive, hardworking, obedient, and compassionate. She is analytical and objective thanks to the IB curricula. Vera-Ann aspires to make a change with diligence, ambition, and grit.

With a tall list of remarkable achievements to her credit, we can only deduce that the young talent is simply no doubt a gem who has helped put Ghana and for that matter the entire West Africa on the global map.

We wish her well in her academic journey for excellence and a joyful stay in the University of Toronto in the coming months.

Source: Joseph Kobla Wemakor