The Guyana Cultural Association of New York, Inc. honored twin youth achievers at their 11th annual Guyana’s Cultural Heritage Awards Anniversary Ceremony on August 28 at the Brooklyn Borough Hall.

Twin sisters Mellessa and Melanie Headley emigrated from Guyana, South America to New York 8 years ago. Their lifelong complementary support of each other is what caught the eye of this year’s awards committee.

Simultaneously excelling in academics, debating, youth parliament, and science fair competitions from nursery to tertiary education in Guyana, they both gained admittance into the University of Guyana, pursuing studies in teaching and social work.

Soon after, Melanie and Mellessa moved to New York and began attending Hunter College of the City University of New York where they began working toward a lifelong dream in two of the toughest careers: law and medicine, respectively.

Melanie received a B.A. degree in English, Summa Cum Laude, and is currently in her final year at the University of Illinois College of Law. Mellessa earned a B.A. degree in Biology and is preparing to enter medical school to study neuroscience.

“Growing up, Melanie and I were always studying something,” said Mellessa. “What makes us different from other youth may be the fact that we came here and said ‘We’re going after this thing and we won’t stop until we get it.’”

The ceremony also honored youth achiever Orissa Denny, who graduated in 2011 from Pennsylvania State University with dual degrees in Crime, Law & Justice and African & African –American Studies.

Other award recipients included Brooklyn Borough president Marty Markowitz, former Ambassador Peter Halder, choreographer Wayne Daniels, arts advocate Elfrieda Bissember, cultural enabler MetroPlus Health Plan, educator Ivelaw Griffith, artist Merlene Ellis, composer Marlon Jardine, singer Tony Ricardo,  author Oonya Kempadoo, folklorist Michael Khan, and world-class cricketer Clive Lloyd.