By NINA LAING

Freeport News Intern

One local teacher has made history by becoming the first teacher from Grand Bahama to qualify as a finalist for the SECME (Southeastern Consortium for Minorities in Engineering) Teacher of the Year Award.

Surpassing over 50 applicants from around the United States, Anil Antony, a mathematics teacher at Grand Bahama Catholic High School, is one of five candidates vying for the coveted title Teacher of the Year.

The beaming teacher told The Freeport News that he is "very pleased and excited" for the nomination and to have made it to the final round of competition.

"Since we've been involved in this activity for the last 10/11 years, this year for the first time, somebody from Grand Bahama is being nominated and I'm so happy that I'm honoured through this nomination."

Each year SECME awards the educator who has shown outstanding commitment to its mission of preparing students for post-secondary studies in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

According to Education Program Manager for SECME Lynda Byrne, each candidate must submit a portfolio that includes a biography, a personal statement, two recommendation letters and the candidate's SECME activities and accomplishments. During the "intensive" deliberation process the portfolios are reviewed and a winner is then selected.

Speaking on his involvement in the SECME program, Antony said, "being a physics teacher during my (earlier) years at Catholic High, I was more into the mechanical and technical areas and the physics aspect of science those days. Dr. Robinson used to come here promoting the SECME program for the island of Grand Bahama in particular. We got involved and after a couple of failures we've been winning every year straight in Grand Bahama and (have) participated for that last 10 years in the national competitions in the U.S. More than three or four times we have won the national competitions including banner, essay and the actual mousetrap car competitions and the rocket competition. So, since I've been a part of the student's achievements I think Dr. Robinson believes that I'm the right person for this nomination."

Dr. Milton Robinson, consultant to the president at Kettering University, said that after speaking with SECME officials about nominating someone, Antony was the "only person" he could think of that fit the criteria.

"I got a telephone call from SECME and they said... 'Because of the job that you have done, we would like your group to nominate someone for Teacher of the Year, a national prestigious award. We will only have five candidates, we don't know if your recommendation will survive but we would like for you to recommend someone'," Robinson said.

"(It) was a very easy decision to make based on the fact that his teams have been the best teams on the island and have consistently been involved with winning or placing at the national competitions. Both the high school teams and the junior high school teams have been successful."

Robinson added that Antony was the most "uniquely" qualified person as he was the only teacher who attended at least two of the SECME Summer Insti-tutes, another requirement for the award.

Reflecting on past trials with Antony and his team, Robinson said of this latest accomplishment, "We don't know that he will win, but we have come from humble beginnings."

Byrne disclosed that the Teacher of the Year should be revealed by May 3 and will be officially honoured at this year's 34th annual SECME Summer Institute hosted at Clemson University in South Carolina.

Among other prizes, the honoree will receive a Teacher of the Year trophy, a $5,000 cash award, and a $500 mini-grant for their designated SECME program.