While Naparima Girls' High School celebrated its victory of 45 scholarships and the President's Medal, two students received news that they had placed number one in Modern Studies and Foreign Languages, throughout the Caribbean.
The news came as school principal Carolyn Bally-Gosine distributed trophies and prizes to her top performers during the school's annual prize-giving ceremony held at Susamachar Presbyterian Church.
Shortly after President's Medal winner Ashisha Persad, 18, received an armful of trophies and the Lalita Ltd award for her outstanding results, Bally-Gosine announced that Vasha Maharaj and Nadia Ali had achieved the highest regional scores. Both girls said they were totally shocked at their achievement.
Maharaj, of Mendez Village, Siparia, said she was humbled to have been named the top regional student for Foreign Languages.
"I was satisfied getting all Ones and I was overjoyed when I saw that I got all distinctions. I couldn't even describe what I felt when I heard I got a scholarship, so now having to hear that I am the top regional student is overwhelming. I am at a loss for words," Maharaj said.
Meanwhile, Ali credited her success to her 69-year-old grandmother Jairoon Navsa.
"I did this for my grandmother. She is the closest person to me. She didn't have as much educational opportunities as I did, so to be able to get this achievement is a big deal to her," Ali said.
She also thanked her parents, David Ali, a lecturer at UTT, and Nadira Navsa-Ali, a primary school teacher at Vos Government school, for supporting her.