Hilarians in Sport: OHA hosts the first Inter-Alumni Sports & Family Day!

Team OHA poses for a picture at the first Inter-Alumni Sports and Family Day

In case you missed it: Old Hilarians’ Association (OHA) hosted the first-ever Inter-Alumni Sports and Family Day on Friday June 19^th 2015. After a day of sun, competition and comradeship, all in attendance considered the day at the Woodbrook Youth Facility a resounding success!

The rivalry between alumni preceded the Sports and Family Day by at least a week – through a social media contest, which encouraged voting for alumni teams, by liking their "Follow Your Alumni" pictures on Facebook and on Instagram (@interalumnisportstt). St Francois Girls’ College Alumnae won this contest, and so earned bonus points towards their Sports and Family Day total score! In addition to OHA and St. Francois, the following teams represented their alma maters: Diego Sec Alumni, QRC Old Boys' Association, 
St. James Secondary Alumni, 
Bishop Anstey High School East and Trinity College East (BATCE) Alumni Association, 
Presentation College Past Students' Association, Presentation College Past Students' Association, and Trinity College Alumni Association.

    

Volunteers at the Inter-Alumni Sports and Family Day

Volunteers for the Inter-Alumni Sports and Family Day 

Hilarian Gabriella Sambrano was a volunteer who assisted the executive with the execution of the event. She noted, “It was an awesome feeling giving back to the Hilarian community in whatever way I could. I had the pleasure of meeting Hilarians from several eras and sharing memories of our time at school.”

Gabriella shares a 'selfie' with Ms. Lorraine Grandson

“The most touching memory of the event  for me”, says Gabriella, “was observing the team spirit during the events. Each team supported their team mates win, lose or draw.... Building a sense of community among the various alumni, internally and with the other alumni.”

Team OHA with the challenge trophy!
Photo credit: Hilary Wyke

The team representing Old Hilarians’ Association showed their athletic ability and copped the 1st place title, grand prize of $10,000 and the challenge trophy at this inaugural event! Among several sporting activities, the alumni teams participated in a ‘Confusion Race’, where each team’s members stood together on a pair of ski boards, facing opposite directions and clutching each other, they charged in unison towards the finish line. Zahra Cupid, a Hilarian who participated in the sporting activities noted, “I must say that I especially enjoyed the Scotchman's race. That was beyond hilarious and it had me dying of laughter on the grass! I hope the races next year will be just as entertaining and more schools participate so that it becomes a grander event."

Inter Alumni Sports and Family Day :Scotchman's Run - QRC Edition

Zahra thought, “The alumni teams really displayed sportsmanship. So even though we were competitive, we still had fun and supported each other. What surprised me in particular was how well the [OHA] team worked together considering we did not really know each other beforehand.”

Team OHA poses with St Francois, QRC and Diego Sec alumni groups.
Photo credit: Hilary Wyke

More pictures and videos from the day's activities can be found on the event page.

Hilarian High Five: Keba Williams

We’re lucky to catch up with Keba Williams, a very busy and burgeoning musical talent. In the ten years since Keba graduated from BAHS and migrated to Florida, she earned  Bachelor degrees in Chemistry and Music, Cum Laude, became a regular R&B/Soul singer in Miami, established her own music production company, invested in her own recording studio, and launched a women's empowerment seminar series. Keba performed at The 2015 Tobago Jazz Experience, and despite having shared a stage with an outstanding array of artists, before thousands of local, regional and international visitors, Keba remains a modest, quintessential Hilarian.  She mused, “before I went on stage, my mom prayed with me. Then a hymn, ‘There’s a Sweet, Sweet Spirit in this place’ came to mind, with the image of us all [BAHS students] in uniforms and standing in the assembly hall, holding our teal song books and singing together.”  

Keba performing at 2015 Tobago Jazz Experience

Keba performing at 2015 Tobago Jazz Experience

Music has been a constant in Keba’s life; she played the piano as a child, played the clarinet, steelpan and sang in the BAHS choir as a teenager. She even has some national musical competition titles under her belt! Reminiscing on ‘BAHS days’, Keba shared that Ms. Granderson offered her opportunities to sing solo, but overcome by shyness, she declined. Bashfulness was only one hurdle Keba would grow to overcome in her musical career. In a family of doctors, it was no small feat for Keba to gain support in making music her full-time career. The passing of Yvonne Ramsey, beloved former principal of BAHS and Keba’s aunt/godmother, was pivotal in Keba’s trajectory. At Ms. Ramsey’s funeral, Keba performed ‘The Greatest Love of All” alongside her cousins, and she made the decision to explore the possibilities of her dream. 

“Life is unpredictable. If you’re drawn to something, it’s worth following through.” - Keba Williams

When asked about her sources of inspiration, Keba mentioned Anita Baker’s electric performance style, Esperanza Spalding’s Afro-Latin jazz and bass violin music, along with indie-alternative and contemporary Hip-Hop music. Keba’s debut album, entitled Wildfire (2013) is a fusion of R&B, Soul and Funk. The intro track, “Let it be” was the first song Keba wrote, produced and recorded.

Keba (right) presenting Dr. Marcie Washington with a certificate and token of appreciation for being a panelist in the very first Women Untold Seminar: Against ALL Odds

Keba shared launched an annual seminar series, Women Untold in January 2015. The series is geared towards celebrating young women from all cultures and backgrounds and helping them realize their full potential, just as Keba was able to overcome obstacles in her own trajectory. Her goal with Women Untold is to open doors for collegiate women who can benefit from the mentorship and leadership of women who have already made great strides in their careers. Keba believes in empowering others and in the power of intention; she’s had a vision board since 2011, when she first began working with producer Erik Nunez. She explained, “There is something about writing your goals on paper…when I want something, I just write it down”.  This practice has worked well for Keba, and she envisions continued growth as a musical artist and composer, along with a foray into the fashion industry! 

You can keep up with Keba as she realizes her dreams - on Facebook, Instagram, as well as on her website.  

Hilary De Freitas takes us on The Paths!

Leave it up to a Hilarian bring a refreshing reality to the complexities of life that we all face from time to time!

Authoress Hilary De Freitas has crafted stories reflecting the riches of Catholic piety and worship, revealing the internal struggles Catholics face in practicing their faith, and drawing the reader into finding common ground with the stories' characters.









"I Am Catholic: The Paths We All Take" is a presentation of short stories that depict the daily struggles of Catholics making their journeys through disappointment, doubt, and fear.

This Bishop Anstey High School Graduate is also a business owner - her website, "Hilary The Marketing Mom" has gained much traction in blogging circles. She is sought after for her application of tools, techniques and systems as an engineering graduate, which help to translate into a successful marketing formula for any business.

Well rounded, focused and able to balance the many aspects of her busy life, we're sure that this is just the beginning for this wife and mom of 1!

You can purchase Hilary's book "I Am Catholic: The Paths We All Take" for your Kindle here, or you can purchase the paperback version here.

Hilarian Power at the UTT/CAFD Senior Thesis Fashion Showcase 2015!

Kavelle Savary with her award. Photo Credit: Janine Charles-Farray.

I had the distinct pleasure of being invited to the Caribbean Academy of Fashion and Design at the University of Trinidad & Tobago's Senior Thesis Fashion Showcase at the National Academy for the Performing Arts last Friday. It was an incredible display of talent, and our Hilarian Community has every reason to be proud!

All smiles (in the image above), Hilarian Kavelle Savary has every right to be thrilled! She was awarded 2nd place among her graduating peers in the Diploma in Fashion Management at the UTT: Caribbean Academy of Fashion and Design.

Janine Charles-Farray (left) poses with a colleague after the UTT/CAFD Senior Thesis Fashion Show 2015.

A job well-done also goes to Janine Charles-Farray, who was the publicist for this year's Fashion Week, hosted by UTT & CAFD!

Indeed, this was a great night in fashion for our local creative industry! You can look out for my full review in the Trinidad Guardian's Metro Magazine this Friday.

Actress Karian Forde: Over the "Moon" with excitement!

In case you missed it: Hilarian Karian Forde was featured in the Sunday Express for her lead part in the upcoming play, Moon on a Rainbow Shawl! She will be playing "Rosa" in this Proscenium Theatre Company Production, which was originally written in 1957, and will hit the stage from June 11 - 14th at the Little Carib Theatre!

Over the "Moon": Hilarian Karian Forde as "Rosa" in this Errol John play.

Karian Forde, featured in the Express Woman Magazine for her upcoming role in "Moon".

A graduate of the Bishop Anstey High School Class of 2005, Karian has carried on a long love affair with dancing and the arts. She has been a gymnast since the age of three, and stumbled upon her love for performing after beginning training in Hip Hop in 2004. As a familiar face to Synergy TV's Friday Night Live programme, she became introduced to dance company Elle NYTT (led by dancer LaShaun Prescott, who is a dancer for international soca sensation, Machel Montano). There, she flourished as an instructor in Modern and Folk dance classes, which she started hosting in 2009.

A woman of many dancing talents - Karian Forde

Completing her Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Trinidad & Tobago with a major/minor in Acting/Dance, Ms. Forde seems comfortable and competent in her fast-track to creative arts success.
Check out the Good Morning Trinidad & Tobago Facebook Page for an interview with this star!

Continue to fly, Karian! We wish this Hilarian nothing but the best in her future endeavours!

In flight: Karian Forde practicing her ballet craft in studio.