Educational glory has hit fever pitch here in Carriacou as a Bishop’s college Student has achieved a record number passes at the 2005 caribbean Eximination Certificate (CXC) exams and in the process has won the national island scholar award and is well place to receive the La Grenade shield. Vernique Noel, of Belmont performed a fine feat of meritious excellence when she captured all of the fourteen (14) subjects which she sat , including eight (8) distinctions at this years annual external exams. She performed outstandingly to achieve grades one in the following subject areas : English (A), English (B), Mathematics, Electronics, Religious Education, Information Technology, Office procedures and social Studies. Grades two were achieved in ; Biology, History, Food and nutrition, physics and accounts while the only grade three came in chemistry. Vernique who turned 17 yesterday Thursday September 1st said its is the greatest birthday present she has ever received. With a broad proud smile glazing all over her she said that she was always confident of capturing all of the 14 but was concern at what grades. “my Aunt first told me that the results were out and I immediately telephoned the school (Bishop’s College) but was told that I had to come to get it. “When I got my paper I was so elated that I couldn’t stop the celebration.” Said the Island award winner. However she said she was disappointed with her grade three in chemistry and pointed out that that exam was very hard. The extremely smart and brilliant Vernique disclosed that faith and trust in God, hard work commitment and support were the main factors responsible for her achievement. She listed her study hours as 10pm to 4am and 6am to 7 am before preparing for school at 8 am as the level time which she invested in her preparation for the exams. However ,Vernique, added that it was since her days at primary school at the Harvey-vale government school where she only placed first she set her goal to achieve an educational record for carriacou at the CXC exams. “ I always see myself as doing the first and lifting the bar higher for others to emulate” she said with rich confidence. Her elder siblings , Vernette and Vernilia both top the CXC exams results for Carriacou while attending the said Bishop’s College while her other sister Venesta came Second for Carriacou at the same institution. With ambitions of either becoming a laywer or getting in the science field , Vernique, said it took lots of sleepless nights and sacrifice in achieving such success. During her five (5) years at Bishop’s college ,Vernique , only placed second on three occasions and that was during the first three ,Michealsmas (Christmas ) exams in the first three forms. She will like to advise those who are preparing for the CXC exams to always put god first, let no one stop in your way, work hard , be commitment and burn the midnight oil. Commenting on her achievement she recalled that she always knew that she had to study if she was to achieve greatly and did not wait on anyone to remind her that through hard work comes success. The new island scholar says will be seeking a scholarship to travel abroad to continue her studies but in the interim will be attending the T.A. Marryshow Community College. She is extremely greatful to first God then her family, Aunt Mona Gay, Principal and staff of Bishop’s College , Fr Otis Nichols of the Anglican church plus all those who in one way or the other rendered their support to her. Carricou’s previous island Scholar was , John Adams, in 1985 and in 2000 ,Suresh Rao, received the La Grenade Sheild , both of whom performed with glowing distinction while attending Bishop’s College.