It’s an academic year that Ben Bracciano and Chantell Janzs will not want to forget after they received the ‘GEMS WSO & Sport360° Sports Personality of the Year’ awards.
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The GEMS Wellington Academy (Silicon Oasis) students claimed the top awards at the school’s end of season ceremony last week for not only excelling in their sports but also going beyond by helping their fellow peers. Their achievements were just one of many awards for the students with top performers in different age groups recognised.
James Tucker, principle at GEMS Sports Academy, who handed out some of the awards, said Year 10 student Bracciano, who specialises in swimming, and Year 11 pupil Janzs, a promising netball player, were deserving winners.
“They were chosen for their outstanding contribution in their chosen sport as well as their leadership and being role models for their fellow students and helping in other sporting events,” he said.
“They helped and coached and encouraged the kids, and it was more of an all-round award for sporting excellence. Ben is a new student and to have such an impact in his first academic year, he was simply overwhelmed to be honest. “Chantell has put in a lot of hard work and both have inspired the younger children at school.”
Swimming
British School of Al Khubairat (BSAK) showed no signs of nerves as they came out on top in their Primary Swimming Fixture. At Abu Dhabi’s GEMS Cambridge International School, the BSAK children had to overcome some tough performances from the other competitors but did enough to finish the event, which attracted four schools across the capital.
After some promising displays earlier in the season, BSAK demonstrated their strength and depth in swimming by topping the standings with 266 points ahead of Brighton College (217).
British International School Abu Dhabi (201) and GEMS Cambridge International (181) finished third and fourth. Simon Pickering, director of swimming at BSAK, said: “The swimmers are not only competitive against opposition but among themselves. I am pleased for them that their hard work has come to fruition, they deserve it.”
Football
With the help of a football league and other activities, The Millennium School raised a staggering Dh96,289 for victims of the Nepal earthquake. Titled as ‘Save Nepal Football League’, 14 teams and 160 players took part in the event, which was won by Acedia Titans.
Executive principal, Michael Guzder, said: “The tournament was a result of the passion of the senior school boys coupled with a desire to reach out to the victims of the Nepal earthquake.”