NAIOMI Sampson, a 21-year-old originally from Devonshire Castle in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) and now living in Queens, New York, has been named the valedictorian of Hunter College.
Graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics, Sampson stood out among the 3,000 graduating students.

Sampson’s early education began at Cotton Field Nursery School, followed by St. Paul’s Primary School and Apex Education. Her academic excellence was evident early on when she secured a place at Queen’s College through the 2014 National Grade Six Assessment.

At 15, Sampson moved to Queens, New York, with her younger sister and mother, where she attended John Adams High School. She earned an academic scholarship to Hunter College. Reflecting on her achievement, Sampson expressed her joy at representing her country and achieving her long-term goal.

She dedicated countless hours to her studies to maintain a perfect 4.0 GPA.
“I was thrilled when I found out I was the valedictorian. Achieving this goal has been four years in the making. I owe immense gratitude to my parents and younger sister,” Sampson said.

Her parents, both educators, expressed their pride in her success, noting her dedication and hard work from a young age. Sampson now plans to attend a premier law school in the United States.
Her mother Lopez Sampson said that she knew her daughter would make her proud one day. She said that she admires her commitment towards her studies.

“My daughter is a brilliant child, and growing up I always admired her dedication and determination [which are] commendable,” the mother said.

Her advice to young people is to keep pursuing their dreams and to remain focused on their studies. She also advised them never to give up despite whatever challenges they may face. Sampson said she will continue to make her birth country, Guyana, proud.