The Gleaner NA 20211001

Thirteen students receive United Achievers’ Club scholarships 3 Dale Brown/gleaner Writer NEW JERSEY.: T HIS IS to recognize and appre- ciate the remarkable achieve- ments of Shericka Jackson who, despite not winning an individual Olympic gold medal, has secured a unique place in track and field history as a result of her outstanding per- formances during the 2021 season. The pinnacle of Shericka’s season happened at the Tokyo Olympics where she earned a bronze medal in the 100m (10.76) and anchored the Jamaican team to the gold medal in the 4x100 relay with a national record of 41.02 seconds. She also ran the third leg on the 4x400m relay to help the team to secure a bronze medal. Having earned bronze medals in the 400m (2016, Rio) and in the 100m (2020, Tokyo), Shericka joined the legendary duo of Betty Cuthbert (Australia) and Irena Szewinska (Poland), as the only women to ever win medals at the Olympics in the 100m and 400m. Shericka also joined Florence Griffith Joyner (1988) as the only women to ever win Olympic medals in the 100m, 4x100m and 4x400m at the same edition of the games. She has carved out a special niche for herself as the only woman in the history of the Olympics to have won medals in the 100m (bronze), 400m (bronze), 4x100 (gold), 4x400m (silver and bronze). Jackson had established herself as one of the best 400m (49.47pb) runners in the world when she made a dramatic foray in the shorter sprints during the 2021 season. Shericka ran Pbs of 10.76 (100m), 21.81 (200m),placing her in an exclusive club of 10women who achieved times of sub-11.0, 22.0 and 50.0 secs in the 100, 200 and 400m, respectively. The former Vere Technical star is now deservedly recognized as Jamaica’s best ever women’s all-round sprinter and is certainly one of the greatest in history as she is ranked#5 on the all- time combined list for the three sprint events, 100-200-400m, as scored by World Athletics (WA), formerly IAAF. The four (4) women ranked ahead of her on the all-time list are; Marita Koch (Germany), Florence Griffith Joyner (USA), Marion Jones (USA)and Shaunae Miller Uibo (Bahamas). Shericka Jackson is truly a special talent. Editor’s note: Dale Brown is a sports historian and co-host of SECOND BASE, the total sports program, airing Tuesdays, 7-8 pm, on the NYC- based Wee Radio Network at; www. weeradioonline. com Shericka Jackson - An appreciation of a remarkable season THE JAMAICAN community in Montreal and elsewhere in Canada is mourning the passing of community leader, Noel Earl Alexander. Born in Siloah, St. Elizabeth on November 7, 1933, he migrated to England in 1958 where he re- sided until he came to Canada in 1974. Alexander died on September 10 at the age of 87. While serving as the president of the Jamaica Association of Montreal, he founded the Jamaica Day Festival in 1980, which is now celebrated worldwide. He dedicated 34 years of his life to community work as president of the associa- tion from 1980 to 1986 and also 1988 to 2016. Alexander was the recipient of the Commemorative Medal for the 125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada in 1992; the Order of Distinction from the Jamaica Government in 1997; Lifetime Achievement award from the Montreal Community Cares in 2014; the Medal from the National Assembly in recognition for his exceptional contribution to the Quebecois Society in 2015; Dr. Clarence Bayne Community Service Award from the Black Theatre Workshop in 2015; and Laureate for the Round Table on Black History Month 2016. The community leader was one of the founding mem- bers of the National Council of Jamaicans and Supportive Organizations in Canada where he served as the vice-pres- ident for the Quebec Region, of which he was also the national president. His professional life in Jamaica included an apprentice- ship at Appleton Estate, a junior machinist and welder at United Motors and a technician at the University of the West Indies Chemical Technology Department. In the UK, he was a fabricator, welder, and production engineer at Norwood Steel Equipment in England, which brought him to Canada, where he worked as a fabricator and welder at CAE Electronics and later atStelco Steel Company of Canada in Montreal. He leaves behind his wife, Molly; children Audri, Paulette, Sandra, Christopher, Latoya, Noella and Kaela, grandchil- dren, a great granddaughter, sister Esmine, and other relatives. A celebration of Alexander’s life will be held at Notre- Dame Basilica of Montreal on October 2. His family plans to set up a legacy foundation in his name. J’can community mourns Noel Earl Alexander United Acheivers’ Club scholarship recipients 2021. CONTRIBUTED THE UNITED Achievers’ Club in Brampton, Ontario recently hon- oured thirteen students at its 37th annual scholarship and recogni- tion awards ceremony. The schol- arships were provided through the sponsorship of longstanding community partners and other individuals, as well as from funds raised by the Club through par- ticipation in the City of Brampton Half Marathon. The students are Tashon Bleary, Windsor University;Christina Campbel l , Uni ver s i t y of Ot tawa ;Hannah Essebrah, University of Waterloo;Stephanie Henry, McMaster University;Victoria Her l idan, Wi l f r id Laur ier Universi ty ;El l iot Laughton, Ryerson University;PamusaNafees, York University;ChristabelNtow, University of Guelph-Humber;King- David Olajuwon, Queen’s University;Kimberly Olumese, Windsor University;ReonPyne, York University;ShandyTchoumkeu, Wilfrid Laurier University; and Kristina Ukhuegbe, Western University. The United Achievers’ Club of Brampton is a non-profit organi- zation and was established in 1980. Some of its aims and objectives are to raise the profile and conscious- ness of Black and Caribbean com- munities in the wider society, and to provide effective andmeaningful role models for youth. The Club also aims to encourage greater participation in community and political affairs, provide resources for adaptation and integration of the Black and Caribbean cultures in the wider community, and to link with existing community services to pro- vide educational resources. The community service award was presented to lawyer, Althea Coke. Shericka Jackson THE WEEKLY GLEANER | OCTOBER 1 - 31, 2021 | www.jamaica-gleaner.com | NEWS COMMENTARY