Promising academics, young community service leaders and Olympians were among the 15 Hounourees celebrated at the Proud of Them awards ceremony on Wednesday, 20 November, under the theme “Inspiration in Action.” For 11 years, the programme has recognised outstanding contributions made by youth in the awarding categories of: community service, business, academics, career, sports and culture.
The 2024 Proud of Them Honourees include: Jordan Crooks, Vanessa Burke, Deidre Edwards, Selena Forbes, Jaedon Hanson, Rayne Harding, Delora Johnson, Micah Leon, Katty Powery, Reann Matute-Scott, Karishma Seeram, Dequan Smith, Charlotte Webster, Tobias Mejia West, Jhosta Williams. Two (2) Rising Stars were also identified as James Munroe Jr and Samaya Ritch.
To award them for be outstanding examples of positive youth representation, each Honouree received a cheque for $1,000 and a certificate. Additionally, Honourees are featured on billboards across the Cayman Islands. While the Rising Stars receive $500 each, in addition to their certificates.
The Proud of Them programme is coordinated annually by the Cayman Islands Youth Services Unit, an entity of the Ministry of Youth, Sports & Heritage (MYSH). Bolstered in 2024 by two (2) silver sponsors: Greenlight Re and McApline Ltd. Cayman, the programme has benefited substantially from the additional support. Head of Youth Services Unit Mrs. Mellony Bryan-Waugh noted: “We are pleased to see the robust support for the Proud of Them campaign and for a public-private partnership that ensures these success stories are shared as a source of inspiration for youth of our community.”
MYSH Minister, Hon. Isaac Rankine, who gave remarks and presented awards, said: This year’s honourees are trailblazers who have made invaluable contributions to not only our community, but have also broken barriers that have served to elevate the Cayman Islands internationally. I congratulate all of 2024 Proud of Them honourees as well as the Rising Stars and I look forward to seeing them continue to be role models for their peers.”
Hosted at the Kimpton Seafire ballroom, the annual awards ceremony shared the biographies of its Honourees and Rising Stars. Ceremony attendees also included their parents/guardians, some proxies, invited guests, numerous youth organisations and agencies, in addition to government officials.
The event was hosted by Proud of Them alumna Mariah Tibbetts. Performances were delivered by singers Jhenelle Colquhoon and Blu Watler, along with an inspiring dance number by the UCCI Dancers. Proud of Them alumna and Miss World Cayman Islands 2022-2024, Leanni Tibbetts, was the keynote speaker for the evening and shared her message of determination and persistence through adversity.
In early 2025, Honouree videos are scheduled to launch the Proud of Them campaign, by highlighting their individual contributions to the variety of awarding categories. The public are invited to visit the Honouree webpage to learn more about these outstanding youth at www.youthservices.ky/honourees.
