By Cayman Compass Contributor Christopher Tobutt
The ballroom of Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa was alive with pride and applause on 19 Nov. as the Cayman Islands honoured 17 young Caymanians at the annual Proud of Them Gala.
Now in its 13th year, the programme continues to spotlight youth achievements across academics, sports, culture and community service.
This year’s theme, ‘Inspiration in Action’, captured the spirit of an evening dedicated to celebrating excellence and resilience.
Honourees and rising stars
This year’s honourees included Isiah Allen, Zachary Allen, Keira Bodden, Sierrah Broadbelt, Ajani Carnegie, Connor Childs, Emily Ch’Ng, Elexa Cotterell, Tyler Dykstra, Jaden Ebanks, Dez Graham, Gianna Gregory, Aaron Jarvis, Molly Kehoe and Isaiah Myles. Two rising stars, Alejandra Bustos and Makennah Wright, were also recognised.
Each honouree received a $1,000 cheque and certificate, while ‘rising stars’ were awarded $500. As part of the programme’s hallmark visibility, their portraits will soon appear on billboards across the Cayman Islands, serving as daily reminders of youthful achievement.
Ceremony highlights
The evening was hosted by Proud of Them alumna and former Miss Cayman Islands, Mariah Tibbetts, who guided the programme with warmth and elegance. Musical performances by Colindra-Rodericka McGarvey Sterling-Blair and Spark! School of Music students added vibrancy, while keynote speaker Ashley Gooden, CARICOM youth ambassador and alumna, urged honourees to take action in inspiring the next generation.
Minister for Youth, Sports, Culture and Heritage Isaac Rankine delivered remarks as he presented awards.
“When we say we are proud of you, I want to make myself perfectly clear – we are immensely proud of you,” he said. “Chest out proud, teary-eyed proud, Caymanian proud. You are green shoots springing through hard, rocky ground, living proof that attitude determines altitude.”
The programme is coordinated annually by the Youth Services Unit. Head of the unit, Mellony Bryan Waugh, praised the honourees’ vision and drive, saying, “They have turned passion into purpose and dreams into real, measurable impact. In a world of constant change, our awardees have chosen not to wait for the perfect moment, but to step forward – not someday, but today.”
Stories of achievement
The honourees represented a wide spectrum of talent. In academics, Isiah Allen, 17, of St. Ignatius Catholic School, is pursuing English literature, history and psychology with aspirations of becoming a lawyer.
In sports, Sierrah Broadbelt has become a household name in swimming, capturing eight gold medals at the 2023 CARIFTA Championships. Fellow athlete Aaron Jarvis made history as the first Caymanian golfer to compete in The Masters and The Open Championship after winning the 2022 Latin America Amateur Championship.
Dez Graham, 14, has risen quickly in competitive chess, representing Cayman internationally, including at the Colombia Under-16 FIDE Olympiad. “I’m very happy and honoured,” he said, while his mother added, “It’s the Proud of Them awards, but I am incredibly proud.”
In culture, 16-year-old Elexa Cotterell has excelled in music, performing at the National Children’s Festival of the Arts.
As Rankine reminded the audience, the achievements of these young people, across academics, athletics, culture and community service, are not just personal triumphs but symbols of hope for the islands’ future.
Christopher Tobutt is a freelance journalist who has written for various publications in the Cayman Islands since 2003.
Related Videos
