It was in the Curacao Chronicle online news site of August 23, 2014 that the winner was announced where it reported that Burke has won the gold for the senior division. The news reached her family and her teacher Ms de Castro via a local online medium.

Speaking with this news site yesterday afternoon August 26, 2014 she and one of her parents confirmed that they were not officially notified but were elated and accepting of the accolades.

While they thought it was not prudent to release content of the essay ahead of the presentation ceremony which is likely to take place in an overseas destination she said that there was no extra special effort put into her writing as it came naturally being well familiar with the tourism product of the Virgin Islands, the place of her birth.

“I was very surprised, I never expected to come out the winner, I was really surprised but happy,” said a soft spoken Burke.

The topic was “Why is it important that the cruise ships come to my destination?” and the competition attracted the participation of children from some 19 Caribbean countries according to the Curacao Chronicle online news site.

“I am really proud of Leigha’s accomplishment. I have taught her English for the two years she has been in high school and she has truly been a star student,” said Ms de Castro when contacted by this news site.

Ms de Castro recalled that when the essay writing competition was introduced, she saw it as an amazing opportunity for Burke and other students to showcase and perfect their skills. She said that throughout the draft of Burke’s essay there was great development of the theme.

“And upon seeing the final product, I knew that it could be a winning piece. Congratulations Leigha, wishing you continued success,” said Ms de Castro.

According to the  Curacao Chronicle online news site,  The Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association’ (FCCA) competition invites students from schools around the Caribbean and Latin America to submit essays on the interplay of their destination and the cruise industry, and then awards the students and schools to help further their education.

It said that this year’s essay showcased the students’ knowledge of the cruise industry and its economic benefits, discussing sold goods, employment, foreign exchange, infrastructure investment, taxes, return stay-over guests and word-of-mouth publicity. “The essays also displayed excellence in writing and analyzing,” said the news site.

First, second and third places were awarded to participants from the junior division, consisting of students between nine- and 12-years-old, and the senior division, featuring students between 13 and 16.

“First place in the junior division was Gabrielle Pratt from Jamaica, and Leigha Burke from the British Virgin Islands took the gold in the senior division. The first-place winners and their schools will receive $3,000 academic scholarships, and the winners and a chaperone will be invited to accept their prizes at the FCCA Caribbean Cruise Conference & Trade Show Opening Ceremony in St. Maarten on Tuesday, October 7th, 2014,” said the article as published on the Curacao Chronicle online news site.

Second place in the junior division was Caniqua Elliot from St. Kitts, and Chrislon Fraser from St. Vincent & the Grenadines earned the honours in the senior division. Second-place winners and their schools will receive $1,500 scholarships.

Third place in the junior division was Karlton Holligan from Barbados, and Marie-Ange Nadege Emanuel from Dominica won it in the senior division. Third-place winners and their schools will receive $1,000 scholarships, the article said.

To reward all the students and schools for their great efforts, all other finalists and their schools will receive $200 scholarships.

“The FCCA and the FCCA Foundation [are] proud to offer opportunities like these to assist the youths in its partner destinations throughout the Caribbean and Latin America,” said theCuracao Chronicle article.