First Female Islandwide Scholar was a NAPS Alumni

Born in San Fernando on February 9th 1927, Kathleen first entered Naparima Girls High School in 1938, and then the Higher School Certificate “HSC” form (now known as Sixth Form) of Naparima College in 1943 excelling in English, French and Geography. With aspirations to be a journalist, it wasn’t surprising in 1944 that she was part of the editorial committee in the first edition of The Olympian which was released in 1945.

In that same year, Kathleen broke the glass ceiling in Cambridge Examinations as the first Naparima student and the first girl to win an Islandwide Colonial Scholarship in Modern Studies. The news not only brought shock and joy to Naparima College, but also to the San Fernando Borough Corporation (now City Corporation) who expected rare achievements like this being attained at renowned prestigious schools located in “the North” of Trinidad. Beaming with pride and with much deserved fanfare, the Corporation in June 1946 awarded Kathleen who was now nicknamed the “Heroine of the South” the Borough Council Gold Medal where Naparima College was awarded the “Kathleen Smith Shield” to encourage continued competition and excellence.

Kathleen went on to study Arts at the University of Toronto, Canada with further studies at Oxford University in England. She then emigrated to the United States in 1954 where she married an American, Ross Russell. In 1963, she became the medical writer, arts writer and critic for the Times Advocate Newspapers in San Diego, California. After twenty years at the Advocate, Kathleen returned to Trinidad in 1983 and worked as an Editor for the Trinidad Express Newspapers. In 1985, she returned to California but this time, as a reporter for the San Diego Union Tribune. Kathleen lived a rich life until her untimely passing in October 1987 at the age of 60. She is survived by her two children Allan and Maureen.

The 1940’s was a time when females attaining secondary school education was becoming a new normal. Kathleen showed girls that attending University and pursuing a career in your dream profession were achievable goals. We are proud that Kathleen was able to achieve her dreams and we are eternally grateful for her contributions at Naparima College and to the community and country at large.

The Association would like to especially thank Kathleen’s sister, Serena Smith for assisting in this contribution.

Sources: The Olympian 1945, 1946 & 1947.