Model Student Heads To Princeton

DENAY Jada Kassandra Richards is no ordinary eighteen year old. The St. Lucian born American teen is making history as she has been admitted as a member of the 2019 class of Princeton University, in New Jersey, USA.

This Mary Louis Academy (All girls private school) graduate, though somewhat tentative at first about the expectations of the Princeton experience, believes wholeheartedly that she was destined, like our own Sir Arthur Lewis, (Princeton Professor for two decades; from 1963), to walk the corridors of the Ivy League institution. She believes that her hard work, guided by the Grace of God, prepared her for this spot.

Denay’s Outstanding academic merit earned her a Princeton University grant which will supplement her four-year undergraduate study. She relates her fascination for the properties and functions of entities and organisms as the catalyst for her pursuits in Molecular Biology.

She is a determined young lady who has charted her future concisely. Her love for science and medicine found its roots in her parents’ medical journey. Her mother, Fay Richards a Senior Auditor for the State of New York who also worked in the banking sector in St Lucia and her father, The Reverend Dr. Dennison Richards, Rector of The Church of St. James the Less (Episcopal/Anglican), in Queens, who also served in St Lucia and St Vincent, share the amazing phenomenon of one kidney each.

Before moving to the United States, Fay Richards worked in the banking sector at both at the then St Lucia Cooperative Bank and later RBTT.

Dr. Richards donated a kidney to his wife over a decade ago. As a result Denay grew to personally appreciate and value the modern miracles of the medical field and committed her own involvement to this sphere from an early age.

Denay highlights, however, that she is so much more than the ‘quintessential erudite’ and that normalcy and fun are staples in her diet. She revels in fashion and its extensions. She has a penchant for business and entrepreneurship. Denayrecently added to her already corpulent CV the title of “fashion model” for the New York based “Short-Stack Modelling Agency.”

When Denay is not wearing six inch stilettoes, she volunteers in a local church’s soup kitchen helping to feed the homeless. Even in this less glamorous role Denay articulates the importance of philanthropy.

Her energy and assertiveness landed her leadership positions during her high school tenure as president of the speech and debate team, Vice President of the Glee Club, member on the Service Council and Ministry Council.

This well-travelled beauty can proudly hold her own on the basketball court as well. Fitness training is an integral part of her life and she remains committed to following the advice of her guru Shaun T.

During the interview, she basked playfully in the company of her miniature breed dog ‘Sugar Plum’ which attempts to substitute a sibling.

When asked to select the one word which epitomizes her, to date, she simply replied, the one word which captures who I am, is “Denay”.

With a shy grin yet resolute adamance she added, “arbitrary labels don’t work for me.”

Clearly this Lucian gem is a uniquely wondrous cocktail of talent, intellect, beauty and now she is setting a record entrance to Princeton. That clearly is legendary.
We are extremely proud of you Denay. We wish you continued success and excellence in all your endeavours. Continue to be a model student.