Each week we post an article or paper submitted by a member or "silent participant" of Guyana Caribbean Network. The featured article runs from Monday to Sunday each week. To submit an article for feature of the week contact us at admin@guyanacaribbeannetwork.com This week's feature is brought to you by "Allison Skeete

Academic Scholar of Guyanese Heritage gets Hot Ticket to Obama Inauguration. by "Allison Skeete"

"Come, come... she's going to the inauguration he says to me, she's going to be there... talk to her"!!! This writer didn't know who the man was... and the reserved yet smiling young woman who just shook her head in agreement didn't help; being either shy or uncomfortable being thrust into the spotlight facing someone she didn't know...

That excited man, was the grandfather of Lisamarie Nadir, Desmond Nadir was bursting with pride that his granddaughter had been chosen as a national high school scholar to participate in the January 20 Inauguration of the history making Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States.

17 year old Lisamarie's heritage of diverse ethnicity embodies the same principles that helped win the office for Mr. Obama; born to Guyanese parentage; she is familiar with the One People, One Nation, One Destiny motto of Guyana which seems to be where the new President wants to see America settle.

Selected as a National Scholar in 2007, her Guidance Counselor, Ms. Lee at August Martin High School in Jamaica, Queens NY where Lisamarie is a senior, told her she was chosen to attend the National Young Leaders Conference (NYLC) in October of that year; she spent a week in the nation's capital visiting Congress and she also got to meet Congressmen Gregory Meeks who represents her Queens, NY hometown. Then came the invitation to attend the Presidential Youth Inaugural Conference of 2009 which means that she will attend the swearing in of the 44th President. Lisamarie who lives with her grandparents, explains excitedly that, "I will be going to Washington D.C January 17 - 21 and on January 20; I will be present at the inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama and Vice President-elect Joe Biden; and also the Black-Tie Inaugural Gala Ball."

Adding to her accomplishments in the current academic school year Lisamarie's helped her grandmother Theresa Nadir with community service events that raise funds for the Organization for Social and Health Advancement in Guyana and the Caribbean (OSHAG-C) to sponsor medical delegations that benefit the underserved in developing countries in that Diaspora; doctors donate time and skills to provide free medical, surgical, nutritional and support care annually. She also attended the 2008 National Youth Leadership Forum of Medicine in Philadelphia, PA; and just recently in October, she was crowned Homecoming Princess for August Martin High School. Lisamarie is also the great-niece of Manzoor Nadir, the Minister of Labour in Guyana.

This young woman who wants to pursue a career that embodies her passion for caring and changing lives; she has interests in Forensic Science and Psychology and says she wants to take care of her grandparents. She's aware of their struggles in today's economy, "I want to positively change the rest of their lives" she says.

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