Kaylei John – National top scorer Kaylei John-Baptiste challenged 149 scholastic peers Thursday to treat their academic honors as a baseline for future success.
Kaylei John Baptiste Cops
The Baptist Academy of Antigua student delivered the charge at the 40th Annual National CSEC Awards Ceremony, held at the SJPC House of Restoration Ministries on Lauchland Benjamin Drive. The event, hosted by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology in partnership with ACB Caribbean, recognized 150 awardees, comprising eight Platinum, 19 Gold, 13 Silver, and seven Bronze awardees, alongside 103 recipients of Certificates of National Recognition.
In coverage streamed by the Ministry of Education Broadcasting Unit, John-Baptiste, who placed first on the island following the 2025 Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate examinations, described the grueling realities behind her achievement.
“I experienced the early mornings of revision, the long evenings spent reviewing notes, the endless practice papers, and those moments when exhaustion whispered that perhaps enough had already been done,” John-Baptiste said. “When I learned that I placed first on the island, tears of joy came to my eyes.”
She warned her fellow honorees against complacency, explicitly stating that academic accolades should never mark the end of their efforts.
“Do not allow any award to become your destination, specifically this one,” John-Baptiste urged. “Let it become your starting point. This award is not a ceiling, it is a floor. Let it be the lowest level of success we ever achieve.”
Meanwhile, Director of Education Clare Browne offered congratulatory remarks and encouragement to the students as they embarked on a new chapter.
“Your performance in the 2025 Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate Examinations has earned you a place among our nation’s finest scholars,” Browne said. “This distinction is not an accident of circumstance. It is the result of discipline when distractions beckoned, persistence when obstacles emerged, and courage, yes, courage, when success demanded sacrifice.”
He further reminded the cohort that their achievements carry a vital purpose for the twin-island nation. “The knowledge you have gained and the character you continue to develop will help strengthen communities, advance innovation, enrich institutions, and contribute to the continued development of Antigua and Barbuda,” Browne said. “Remember this, the future is not a place to which you are traveling. It is a reality you are creating.”
John-Baptiste expressed gratitude to the educational leadership, teachers, and sponsors who supported the cohort throughout the journey.
“You transformed classrooms into launching pads for success,” John-Baptiste said. “You challenged us to think critically, encouraged us when we struggled, and reminded us that our potential was greater than our fears.”
The ceremony also highlighted students who placed in the Top Ten in the Region in various subject areas, as well as the ultimate Top Three students in Antigua and Barbuda. Following John Baptiste’s top finish, the second top student award went to Kha-Lique Harris of St Joseph’s Academy, and the third top student honor went to Nayima Lewis of Baptist Academy.
