YOUNG people who are actively involved in the heritage of the Isle of Man have been rewarded by the North American Manx Association.
Each year the association presents awards to people under the age of 25 who have excelled in ensuring that the culture of the Isle of Man is preserved.
Speaking at the prize giving event last week Education and Children Minister Eddie Teare said: "Once again the NAMA awards have attracted a wide variety of nominations - which illustrates how our young people are actively involved in their heritage and in ensuring that our culture is preserved.
"Their commitment to their community puts most of us to shame and I feel confident that with their hard work interest in our heritage will continue."
Jim Corlett, the president of the North American Manx Association, presented the following awards:
Music: Tamsin Armour, 18, Ramsey Grammar School
Accomplished whistle player Tamsin obtained an A* in her GCSE Music performance playing Manx traditional music and ran a school folk group, teaching and arranging Manx music. She also developed a number of Manx music groups and has performed at Yn Chruinnaght and represented the Island as a member of the traditional dance group Ny Fennee at the Festival Interceltique de Lorient in Brittany.
Her nomination said: "Her involvement in these activities means that our culture is in safe hands for the foreseeable future".
Arts and crafts: Helen Gawne, 17, Ballakermeen High School
Helen's artwork has been featured on greeting cards sold in aid of charity.
Her nomination noted her "enthusiasm for the subject, her outstanding creativity and her conscientious, competitive and enthusiastic approach to all aspects of art and craft".
Manx language: Jessica Isherwood, 15, Ballakermeen High School
Jessica started learning Manx at primary school before continuing it as an extra subject when reaching high school. She then chose to study the language as an additional subject after school as part of her GCSEs.
Her nomination said: "Throughout this time she has shown a real commitment to the language and has always worked with great enthusiasm".
Manx culture (under 18): Hollie Jaques, 16, Ramsey Grammar School
Hollie has been involved in Manx music and dance from an early age progressing from school group Share na Veg to Bee er dty Hwoaie and Ny Fennee.
She was a runner-up in Young Dancer of Mann in 2009 and 2011. At Cruinnaght Aeg she has won the Manx soloist award at all age levels. As a member of Share na Veg she represented the Island, playing whistle and keyboard, at the Celtic Congress in Oban in 2005. She also performed at Feile Iorrais, Ireland, in 2008 and Festival Interceltique de Lorient in 2009.
She also teaches Manx dance to pupils at Scoill Ree Gorree and Ramsey Grammar School.
Her nomination said: "It is this sort of commitment that is an inspiration to others and will ensure the continuation of our ancient traditions and culture".
Manx culture (over 18): Hannah Stoutt, 18, Ramsey Grammar School
A member of Ny Fennee for five years Hannah has represented the Island at the Festival Interceltique de Lorient. She has competed successfully at Yn Chruinnaght and was part of a dance team that was runner-up in the Young Dancer of Mann contest. She gives up her time to teach Manx dancing at Scoill Ree Gorree after school and to assist with cultural studies at her own school.
Her nomination praised her dedication to her community.
Manx culture (group – under 25): Share na Veg and Ny Fennee
Share na Veg (seven to 11-year-olds) has a music group, led by ex-Albert Road Junior teacher Mike Boulton, that plays instruments such as the whistle, harp, guitar, bouzouki, cello, Northumbrian pipes and fiddle, and a dance group, led by teacher Juan Garrett, that performs solo and group dances and is noted for its stick dance.
It has performed at two Celtic Congresses and pops up regularly at community events. The nomination recognises the group's "huge cultural impact" on the school.
Ny Fennee (eight to 18-year-olds) draws it 40+ members from northern schools and reworks traditional Manx dances along new lines. It performs locally and at Celtic events abroad and won the national dance category, finishing as runner-up overall, at the last two Young Dancer of Mann contests.
The group's nomination said it was a "catalyst for the revival and continuation of the tradition" of Manx dance.
Manx community: Moira Pain, 16, Queen Elizabeth II High School
Moira is a member of the school council, eco-commitee and Fairtrade group. She was part of a winning team that visited Gambia to work with Concern Universal and helps to run Patrick Youth Club.
A member of Living Hope Church she represented the Island at the Thomas Cranmer Bible Reading Awards in London and is following a leadership course with Scripture Union Ministries Trust.
Moira enters the Manx Music Festival while coaching younger children for the event and at Christmas Moira visits residents of a nursing home and helps distribute parcels to the school's elderly neighbours.
Her "outstanding contribution" to her school and community led to her nomination.
Rachael Harrop and Alice Lawrence, both 16 and pupils at QE11 High School, were also presented with awards for the most progress in Manx by Infrastructure Minister Phil Gawne MHK.
Noel Cringle MLC attended the prize giving. He said: "It is quite a wonderful thing that we have in front of us today young people who are prepared to keep flying the flag of Manx culture - whether it be through music, dance, song or helping in the community. All these things go to make the Manx nation what it is."
