The burgess brothers heads up ardenne high
Lightning strikes twice- at Ardenne High School
The honour and the glory of being selected head boy or head girl at any Jamaican high school is an enviable mark of distinction. Typically, one has to rise above hundreds of peers to demonstrate an aptitude and a track record for leadership, with strong endorsements coming from both the student body and the academic staff.
A new chapter in the school’s history was created at Ardenne High School in Kingston recently when two brothers, both sons of prominent radio personality and businessman Richard Burgess were named head boy for the high performing school, following in the path of scores of standout alumni before them. Burgess’ older son, Jon-Marc Burgess was the school’s head boy for the 2021-2022 academic year.
The older brother is now pursuing studies and research in biological sciences at the University of Southern California where he also plays rugby for the school, and his eyes are fixed on an eventual career in cardiology and global medicine. This week, his younger brother Dimitri-William Burgess received the proverbial Ardenne torch, an annual ritual at the school as he prepares to become the school’s next head boy for the 2025-2026 academic year. Dimitri-William was a former head boy at Stella Maris Prep School.
“It was never planned this way and we can’t say we didn’t see it coming, but as dutiful parents, my wife Suzette and I are beaming with pride,” their father Richard (Richie B) told The Gleaner.
The school’s administration is happy too. “All our students are leaders in their own right,” Dr. Jackie Pinto, acting principal of Ardenne told The Gleaner. “It is fantastic when you have siblings being role models for each other as well as for the student body, and as a school, we want our students to strive for leadership positions to build and cement their personal brand, anchored in integrity and humanness”
But this was not the first providential lightning strike for siblings in the school’s nearly 100 year old history. Dr. Pinto pointed out that two sisters also became head girls several years ago. Leslie-Ann Grossett was head girl in 2013-2014, and her younger sister Lori-Ann Grossett became head girl three years later in 2017-2018. The Grossett head girls are the daughters of the late lecturer Clive Grossett and Judith Grossett, food services manager. The head girl for the upcoming academic year is Racine Walters.
Jon-Marc Burgess (left) Ardenne High School past head boy 2021-2022, and his younger brother Dimitr
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