The Nevis Ministry of Tourism announced on September 09, 2008,  that 11-year old, Ms. Kerese Elliot of the Charlestown Primary School (CPS) placed third overall in the Caribbean, for the junior division of the 2008 FCCA Foundation Children’s Essay Contest.  
Ms. Elliot tied for third place with students from Antigua and Dominica.  According to the FCCA, similar skills were shown in many of the essays which led to the selection of ties for second and third places for the first time in the history of the competition.
                                                                                                    
As the third place winner in her age group, Ms. Elliot will be awarded a cash scholarship of US $1000.  The CPS will also receive a monetary award of US$1000.
                                                      
Meantime, 15-year old Serena Clarke of the Charlestown Secondary School (CSS), Nevis’ finalist in the senior division of the contest, will be rewarded with a cash prize of US $200.
 
Every year, the FCCA invites students in FCCA partner destinations in the Caribbean to participate in the FCCA Foundation Children’s Essay Contest.  The objective of the contest is to promote cruise tourism awareness among the youth.
 
This year’s topic was “What steps can we take as a destination to make cruise passengers feel more welcome while in port?”
 
The overall top winners came from Trinidad and Tobago in the junior category and Jamaica in the senior category.