There was excitement in the air at the Philip Goldson International Airport this afternoon, as dozens of high school students waited at the arrival entrance to greet and welcome back some of their classmates.
The four returning students were the triumphant Belize team that had gone to the Caribbean Island of Saint Kitts to represent Belize in the Caribbean Food and Nutrition Quiz Competition, an annual event that is held by the Caribbean Food and Nutrition Institute.
This year, following the local eliminations, the top three finishers that were chosen to represent Belize in the competition were Sacred Heart College, San Pedro High, and Orange Walk Technical High School.
From San Pedro High School, there were Pedro Garcia, a senior, and Gabbi Meranda, a third form student, and from Orange Walk Technical High School came Santiago Hernandez, a third form student. Edgardo Seriut, a third form student from Sacred Heart College, completed Belize’s national team.
The students studied at their homes, and on some of the weekends they came to Belize City and studied as a group, under the able guidance of Sandra Collins, a Belizean nutritionist. Preparation for the quiz contest began from as far back as September.
To emerge in first place, Belize had to beat out about thirteen other Caribbean countries. The team left Belize on November 21.
For winning the competition, they got as their prizes the trip to Saint Kitts, a trophy that they will have to pass on to next year’s winner, medals, plaques, and some money, although no one knows how much money, because they have not yet received their check.