TWO students from Sir Arthur Lewis Community College (SALCC) have secured the Global Second Place in this year’s TaiwanICDF Music Video Competition, while two other teams won Most Popularity Awards.
The Global Second Place finishers — Leah Jones and Precious Fontenelle — won US$150.00 for their efforts. The first team which won Popularity Awards comprised Bryant Carasco, Jadel Francis, Jovon Benti and Merlaner Joseph, while the second team comprised Kiernan Lambert, Kimmannie Henry, Urith Cox, Lencha Pindar, Annabelle Casimir, and Geanna Marius. One team received US$80.00 while the other received US$50.00.
In the videos, the students depicted the friendships and fun and leisure activities they engage in to balance their college life, including picnics, hikes, and tree climbing.
Organized annually by TaiwanICDF, Mandarin students from Taiwan’s friendly nations are invited to participate in the global music video competition. This year’s competition saw seven entries from Saint Lucia, all submitted by SALCC teams and set to the song “Friends,” which celebrates friendship and genuine connections — a fitting theme given the close relationship between Taiwan and Saint Lucia. Additionally, Rosa Emmanuel and Jayida Joinville from St. Joseph’s Convent performed the song “Side by Side”. You can watch most of the videos on the TaiwanICDF School YouTube channel.
The SALCC students were recognized and rewarded for their impressive efforts during a brief ceremony held at Sir Arthur Lewis Community College on Friday afternoon, November 8, 2024.
H. E. Peter Chia-Yen Chen, Taiwan’s Ambassador to Saint Lucia, congratulated the participants for their outstanding performances, noting that 25 teams from 8 countries competed in this year’s competition.
Ambassador Chen said Mandarin, which is spoken by over 730 million people worldwide, is also a doorway to a rich culture and a rapidly growing job market. He told the students that learning Mandarin can open up new pathways and help shape a brighter future.
“I want to take this opportunity to extend my gratitude to Sir Arthur Lewis Community College for collaborating with our Mandarin teacher, Mr. Andres Chi, to create a well-rounded language learning environment,” Ambassador Chen said. “Since the Taiwan Embassy began working with the Ministry of Education on the Mandarin Pioneer Program two years ago, we have seen remarkable progress. This year, participation in the Test of Chinese as a Foreign Language (TOCFL) reached a record high, with 73 participants, including 12 from Sir Arthur Lewis Community College. The participants achieved an outstanding pass rate of 98.61%. It is also a testament to Teacher Chi’s dedicated instruction and the hard work of the students.”
Ambassador Chen said the Mandarin Music Video Competition aims to highlight students’ progress in learning Mandarin while also showcasing their creativity and media editing skills. He stated that it was inspiring to see the winning teams each performing the same song, “Friends”, but in uniquely expressive ways, demonstrating their talent and personal touch. He also recalled SALCC students performing the song impressively at the opening ceremony of the Saint Lucia-Taiwan Partnership Trade Show in early November, adding that learning Mandarin is an essential investment.
“The Taiwan Embassy is committed to working closely with the Government of Saint Lucia and Sir Arthur Lewis Community College to provide more high-quality opportunities for Mandarin learning in Saint Lucia,” Ambassador Chen stated.
Also expressing commendations to the outstanding students was Dr. Madgerie Jameson-Charles, Principal of Sir Arthur Lewis Community College, who said the students’ ability to use music to bridge cultures was both admirable and inspiring.
“This moment is a testament to your hard work, dedication and creativity,” Dr. Jameson-Charles told the students. “In a world where music transcends boundaries and connects hearts, you have shown that you possess not only exceptional musical talents, but also the spirit of innovation and collaboration. Competing on an international stage and securing the commendable second place is no small feet. It highlights your ability to shine brightly amidst the fierce competition and diverse talents from across the globe.”
Mr. Andres Chi, Mandarin Teacher at the Taiwan Technical Mission attached to SALCC, also expressed congratulations to the outstanding students. Since he began teaching Mandarin as an elective subject recently, he has been instrumental in helping students learn the language by incorporating Saint Lucian and Taiwanese culture into his lessons.
Also present at the awards ceremony were Dr. Kathy Depradine, Dean of Humanities and Sciences at Sir Arthur Lewis Community College; Mrs. Tracy Pilgrim-George, Senior Advancement Officer at the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College (SALCC); Mrs. Selena Chang, Deputy Counselor at the Taiwan Embassy; and other SALCC students. (ENDS)
SOURCE: Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan) in Saint Lucia