It was an all ladies affair for the three top prizes at this year’s West African Examinations Council (WAEC) Excellence Awards ceremony held at the Asare Menaku Hall in Accra.
The ladies, Jessica Ayeley Quaye, Ruth Ewura Ama Awadzi and Danielle Amo-Mensah, all former students of the Wesley Girls Senior High School (Wey Gey Hey) in Cape Coast, were presented with prizes for taking the first, second and third positions in the 2015 May-June West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
The Overall Best Student in the WASSCE, Ms Quaye, who is currently studying at the Ashesi University College, was born on October 15, 1997 to Mr Sam William Quaye, a Policy Advisor, and Madam Harriet Yaa Owusua, a business woman. She had her basic school education at the Alsyd Academy in Accra.
During the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), she scored grade one in all the nine subjects and gained admission to the Wesley Girls SHS.
At Wey Gey Hey, Miss Quaye won various awards at the Speech and Prize-giving Day ceremonies. They included the award for general proficiency, Overall Best General Science student, as well as the Best Chemistry and Biology student.
She held a number of positions while at Gey Hey, including Form Leader while in Form One, and became the Assistant Senior Prefect in Form Three as a result of her academic prowess and hard work.
Being an all-round student, she did not only focus on her academic work; she also engaged in some social activities while in school. She was a member of the school’s Writers Club and Principal Speaker for the Debaters Club as well as the Students Youth Tourism Organisation.
The self-motivated young woman who made her mark right from her first year in Gey Hey was also the team captain of the school’s Robotics Club and was the Editor of the School Editorial Board.
According to Miss Quaye, her ambition is to be an electrical engineer with a focus on playing a great role to help solve Ghana’s problem of weak crime investigation as well as the transportation system using applied science.
For her prize, Miss Quaye received a plaque, $600 and a certificate from WAEC while the Universal Merchant Bank gave her a full scholarship for the period of her studies in the university and a laptop. In addition, she received $400 for being the Best Science Student.
She obtained A1 in Social Studies, A1 in English Language, A1 in Mathematics (Core), A1 in Integrated Science, A1 in Mathematics (Elective), A1 in Biology, A1 in Physics and A1 in Chemistry. Wow isn’t she simply brilliant?
Ruth Ewura Ama Awadzi
Miss Ruth Ewura Ama Awadzi, who was adjudged the second Overall Best Student in the WASSCE, also scored A1 in English Language, Mathematics (Core), Integrated Science, Mathematics (Elective), Biology, Physics and Chemistry. She took home a plaque, $500, a certificate and a laptop from the Universal Merchant Bank as her prize.
Miss Awadzi, who was born to Mr Alexander Awadzi and Mrs Martha Awadzi on February 14, 1998, attended the Victory Presbyterian School at Adenta where she distinguished herself. In the BECE, she scored one in all the nine subjects.
At Wey Gey Hey, she took the award for the Best Biology Student and then again in Form Two she got the award for the Best Physics and Elective Mathematics student. In Form Three, she became the Vice President of the school’s National Science and Maths Quiz team for 2014/2015.
She was also a member of the Robotics Club and the school choir as well as the Ghana Methodist Students Union (GHAMSU).
Her ambition is to be a Cardiothoracic surgeon. She enjoys reading, singing and dancing. Miss Awadzi is currently a Level 100 student of the University of Ghana, and she says hard work was key to her success.
Danielle Amo-Mensah
The third prize winner, Ms Danielle Amo-Mensah, was born on February 24, 1998 and attended the North Ridge Lyceum in Accra. She was born to Dr Samuel Amo-Mensah and Mrs Judith Amo-Mensah, a nurse.
In school, she was a Prefect at the Wrigley House. She was also a leader and member of the National Maths and Science Quiz team last year. In Forms One and Two, she won awards for General Proficiency.
Having obtained A1 in English Language, Mathematics (Core), Integrated Science, Mathematics (Elective), Biology, Physics and Chemistry, Ms Amo-Mensah got a plaque, $400, a certificate and a laptop from the Universal Merchant Bank. She was a member of the Science Club.
Miss Amo-Mensah’s dream is to help contribute immensely to the health care system in the country and reduce the rate of maternal mortality in Ghana.
She said perseverance and dedication played a very important role in her success both in the BECE and WASSCE.
