Rising Talents: a second edition brimming with talent

There are 71 athletes – 15 girls and 56 boys – supported by the CEES within the regional sports centres, which bring together young student-athletes, the Department for Education and sports organisations to help them on their journey. Whilst in the first edition all participants were in the spotlight across nine categories, this year’s event took place on a smaller scale. This decision was justified by the director of the CEES, Charles-Henri Palvair, as a way of recognising the most deserving pupils – those who have distinguished themselves through their academic, sporting and civic excellence.

Academic and sporting success

Although they compete in seven different sports – athletics, basketball, beach tennis, cycling, football, gymnastics and sailing – the 19 young athletes honoured nevertheless have several things in common: average marks of around 18/20 at primary, lower secondary or upper secondary school, an average of 8 hours’ training each week, rising to as many as 12 hours for the youngest recipient this year, who, at the age of 8, follows a demanding weekly gymnastics programme. It was therefore on the basis of these fairly rigorous criteria that the presentation of prizes and gifts, donated by the various CEES partners, took place, in the presence of the parents, who also play a vital role in their children’s success, as they are, as Marc Gérald Menard, president of the CEES, pointed out, the guardians of commitment, rigour and discipline. 

It is true that the scheme set up by the CEES in partnership with the French Ministry of Education contributes to this dual success. For Fanny Giausseran, acting vice-rector, sport is “a wonderful opportunity to learn about community life”. These young people also excel in their civic engagement, demonstrating fine qualities – something that Prefect Cyrille Le Vély was keen to acknowledge, noting that these “ambassadors demonstrate that excellence is built through hard work”.

Ashtan Benitez, top of the class for the 2025–2026 cohort

Ashtan Benitez is the rising star of Saint Martin’s cycling scene. A member of ASCESM and currently in Year 9, he has distinguished himself by winning the Academic Excellence Award with a grade point average that is the envy of many, the Award for Civic Excellence for his perseverance and respect, and the Award for Sporting Excellence for his titles as U17 Caribbean runner-up and Guadeloupe U17 road champion this season.

The CEES, established three years ago now, demonstrates that it is possible to combine physical and intellectual abilities. See you next year for a new sporting season that could yield a haul of medals. In the meantime, more young people will be joining the programme, and future student-athletes and their families will be welcomed from 24 August at Soualiga Secondary School for the CST pre-term orientation, marking the start of induction week. 

CEES Rising Talents 2026: the winners

It is the coordinators of the Regional Sports Centres who put forward the nominees and winners, to ensure a fair selection process based on the young people’s merit. In keeping with the very concept of the CEES, the young people were recognised not only for their sporting achievements, but also for their academic results and their civic engagement.

ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AWARD 2025–2026

* Gaëlle Joseph (athletics) – Year 5 at Mont des Accords
Secondary School* Kaël Hanson (basketball) – Year 5 at
Soualiga Secondary School* Margot Brunel (beach tennis) – Robert Weinum
Sixth Form College* Ashtan Benitez (cycling) – Year
3* Ylann Romney (football) – Year 4 at
Soualiga Secondary School* Chanel Rousseaux (gymnastics) – Year 3 at Happy School*
Oscar Juhel (tennis) – Year 13 at Blyth Academy*
Adam Gumbs (sailing) – Year 6 at Mont des Accords Secondary School

2025–2026 CIVIC EXCELLENCE AWARD

• Maelia Abodgjinou (athletics)
• Ethan Berlanger (basketball) for his composure and resilience;
• Constant Monun (beach tennis) for his dedication and drive;
• Ashtan Benitez (cycling) for his perseverance and respect;
• Akeelah Hunkins (football) for her dedication and determination;
• Na’Oly Lejeune Charbonnier (gymnastics) for her courage and diligence;
• Noah Visnelda (tennis) for his selflessness and fair play;
• Saul Claus-Laroche for his commitment and maturity.

2025–2026 SPORTING EXCELLENCE AWARD

• Bianca Carbrera (athletics), member of the Avenir Sportif Club, 8 hours’ training per week;
• Jonas Carty (basketball), member of the RCM, 8 hours’ training per week;
• Charlotte Claudel, a member of the Kakao Beach Club, Guadeloupe senior women’s doubles champion, ranked 25th by the FFT and 380th by the ITF, trains for 8 hours a week;
• Ashtan Benitez (cycling), a member of ASCESM, Caribbean U17 runner-up, Guadeloupe U17 road champion;
• Akeelah Hunkins (football), a member of Juventus;
• Chanel Rousseaux, member of the Saint Martin Gymnastics Club, Guadeloupe champion 2026, Antilles-Guyana team runner-up, 17th in the French Inter-Committee Championships. 12 hours of training per week!
• Noah Visnelda (tennis), registered with TCISM;
• Clément Le Normand, of the Saint Martin Voile pour Tous sailing club, won every regatta he entered this season.