The Rotary Club of New Kingston celebrated excellence and high ethical standards in service at its annual Vocational Service Awards Ceremony on Friday, January 24, 2025 at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel. Four distinguished professionals were recognized for their unwavering commitment to Rotary’s guiding principle: “Service Above Self.”
This signature event underscores Rotary’s dedication to fostering ethical practices, professional excellence, and meaningful community impact. It also serves as a tribute to the enduring legacies of Rotarians Gary Grant, Victor Rhone, and Rose-Marie Gibbs, whose lives epitomized service and integrity. Their contributions are immortalized in the prestigious awards presented each year to individuals who exemplify outstanding achievement and steadfast principles in their fields.
Rotarian Minna Israel from the Rotary Club of St Andrew receives the Rosie Gibbs Transformational Woman Award from Past President Mitch Stephenson while President Dorrett looks on. In the Background, Secretary Paul Dunn looks on.The 2025 Awardees are:
- Dr. Amina Blackwood Meeks, OD – Victor Rhone Ethics Award: A cultural luminary and storyteller, Dr. Blackwood Meeks has passionately championed the preservation of Jamaican heritage on the global stage. Her transformative work in storytelling, theatre, and arts education has fostered community development and left an indelible mark on arts education in Jamaica.
- Mr. Marlon D. Simms – Gary Grant Vocational Service Award: As the Dean of the School of Dance at Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts and the Artistic Director of the National Dance Theatre Company, Mr. Simms has redefined dance education and choreography in Jamaica. His visionary leadership nurtures young talent while celebrating the richness of Jamaican culture.
- Rotarian Michael K. Sutherland – Gary Grant Vocational Service Award: A dedicated educator and Principal of Central Branch All Age School, Rotarian Michael’s innovative integration of performing arts into education has inspired generations of students. His lifelong dedication to teaching and mentoring reflects Rotary’s ethos of selfless service and community enrichment.
- Rotarian Minna Israel, CD – Rose-Marie Gibbs Transformational Woman Award: A trailblazer in banking and leadership, Rotarian Minna was the first woman to head a Scotiabank country operation. Her mentorship and advocacy for women in leadership have shattered barriers, inspiring others to pursue excellence and equity in professional spaces.
All AwardeesThe Spirit of Vocational Service
RCNK’s President Dorrett in extending the welcome stated that “The individuals we honor here this morning remind us of the transformative power of service and leadership. They represent the best of us and reflect Rotary’s enduring commitment to building better communities through ethical practices and professional dedication”.
District Governor-Elect William ‘Bill’ Aiken in his greetings applauded the awardees and emphasized that “Vocational Service is a cornerstone of Rotary International, grounded in the belief that ethical conduct and professional excellence can drive societal transformation. The Rotary Club of New Kingston continues to champion this belief by recognizing those who lead with integrity and serve with purpose”.
Assistant District Governor Peta Gay Pryce in recounting the history of the Vocational Service Award, explained that it was first introduced 21 years ago in honour of the late Rotarian Gary Grant. “Despite his untimely passing, she said, Rotarian Gary made a profound and lasting impact during his short but remarkable life”.
As the 2025 Vocational Service Awards Ceremony concludes, the Rotary Club of New Kingston remains steadfast in its mission to highlight individuals who live by the Rotary Four-Way Test: truth, fairness, goodwill, and benefit to all. These honorees serve as a beacon of inspiration, encouraging others to lead lives of service and integrity.
President-Elect Alex reads the citation to Dr Amina Blackwood Meeks who receives the Victor Rhone Ethics Award
Mr Marlon D Simms (third from left ) receives his citation for the Gary Grant Vocational Service Award flanked by Past President Kerese (left), Marlon’s Mother Maudery Powell Thompson and President Dorrett