Fresh on the heels of a recently announced partnership between the Caribbean Maritime University, CMU, and the Jamaica Olympic Association, JOA, to promote non-traditional sports in Jamaica, the CMU, will on Thursday February 28, 2019, host its inaugural Wine and Cheese Sports Awards.
The CMU Sports Awards ceremony, which begins at 6pm, will be an elegant affair hosted by Nigerian High Commissioner Her Excellency Janet Omoleegho Olisa and His Excellency Dada Olisa. An estimated 700 guests are expected to be in attendance including students, government officials, dignitaries and representatives of local media houses.
The highlight of the function will be the Professor Fritz Pinnock Award for the Most Outstanding Athlete. This will be awarded to an athlete who has demonstrated excellence both academically and in sports.
The Most Valuable Player of the Year will recognise athletes who have demonstrated exceptional individual performance, leadership by example, good attitude and sportsmanship qualities and the ability to make an instant impact when given an opportunity.
The Breakthrough Player of the Year award will recognise a player who has demonstrated significant improvement over the year in their sporting discipline including perseverance, dedication toward improving and working on their weaknesses and an excellent attitude towards their teammates and the overall action of play (match or training situation.
Director of Student Affairs at the CMU, Ms. Donnet Phillips explains that “the University will use the Wine and Cheese Sports Awards to bring recognition to our sporting teams and celebrate their achievements. Additionally, we are keen to provide our students with opportunities to experience how sports can be tied to professionalism and sophistication.”
For his part CMU President Professor Fritz Pinnock notes that for the CMU “promoting sports is strategic as the skills of the 21stcentury are not on the curriculum of universities. Therefore, the CMU is now positioning sports as part of the holistic development of an individual – teaching team building, developing cohesiveness, and networking.”
CMU officials point out that The Future of Jobs Report published by the World Economic Forum highlights that in 2020, five of the 10 top skills that are important in the workforce include complex problem solving, critical thinking, creativity, people management and coordinating with others. They argue that sporting activities embody these ideals.
In addition to celebrating and highlighting the achievements of student athletes who have excelled in their sporting disciplines at the Wine and Cheese Sports Awards Ceremony, the CMU will use the event to garner support and partnerships for the CMU’s sports programme, with the aim of enabling the teams to meet their goal of making the University one of the top sporting institutions in the region.
Tickets are still available at a discounted rate of $1000 for students and $4000 for others. Interested persons may call the Office of Student Affairs at the CMU through the switchboard at 876-924-8150.
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