Hrishikesh Srinidasan, of St. Kitts and Nevis, was named the winner of the Courts OECS Reading Competition held at the Arawak House of Culture in Roseau on Thursday afternoon.

Srinidasan outperformed five competitors, to garner a total of 697 points in two rounds (Narrative, and News Item) to capture the title. He was awarded $5,000 and a Kindle Fire tablet.

“I feel excited, I feel happy…” the elated winner said. “I would like to thank firstly Courts, for sponsoring the competition, the education department for allowing me to enter, my teachers…for helping me, and I want to thank my parents and fans for supporting me.”

He revealed his plans to give some of his winnings to charity, put some towards his college fund, and keep a bit for himself.

Srinidasan’s teacher, Shenina Williams, expressed her excitement, not only that her student won, but at the fact that he was the first from St. Kitts and Nevis to capture the title.

“I’m so excited. My whole class showed up at the airport today, and told him ‘bring the trophy back home’, so that we were able to do that is an incredible feeling,” she stated. “We got to the finals four times, but I think this is the first time we would be winning.”

Shekinah Campbell, from St. Vincent and the Grenadines, was awarded 691 points, for the first runner-up position. She took home $3,000.

Second runner up, with 688 points, was Jazz Dias, of Antigua and Barbuda. She was awarded $2,000.

Each of the six contestants received a certificate, a participation trophy, a Digicel smartphone, a laptop compliments Courts, and a book (‘God Has No Grandchildren’ by Peter Augustine).

The competitors were: Madanna Auguiste (Dominica), Arianna Mercier (St. Lucia), Eden Otwoi (Grenada), Shekinah Campbell (St. Vincent), Hrishikesh Shrinidasan (St. Kitts and Nevis), and Jazz Dias (Antingua).