BCC students rewarded for creativity

A local communications company has partnered with the Barbados Community College (BCC) to award two outstanding graphic design graduates for their achievements.

G&A Communications Inc. presented the prize for Best Creative Direction to students Tre Greaves and Haydn Sandiford-Cadogan.

Chief executive officer and chief brand strategist of G&A Communications Devin Griffith said his company was pleased to give the award to the students who are the future of the industry and this country.

During the brief ceremony at the company’s Haggatt Hall, St Michael office, Griffith said G&A has a longstanding relationship with the BCC’s graphic design programme.

He said: “Our recruitment drive and our talent development are done in collaboration with the college for a number of years. Most of our team members have come through the graphic design programme at the Barbados Community College so we are very pleased to be able to give back this year.

“We also, every year, take on a number of students to do an internship and that’s an important part of our career development for our team as well, in terms of coaching and mentoring.

“Unfortunately, with the COVID…pandemic, we haven’t been able to execute that programme, but in the absence of that we have decided to make a donation to the top students, to whom we are awarding a creative design award coming out of their portfolio.”

Griffith also urged other businesses to contribute to the development of talent in Barbados in order to develop industries and export opportunities for the country.

The BCC’s principal Annette Alleyne said the G&A Communications’ partnership with the tertiary institution has shown that the company has placed a stamp of approval on quality work. She said the partnership is also evidence to young people that work of a high standard will be rewarded.

“My deepest appreciation to G&A Communications Inc. and to Shelly Mayers, the programme coordinator who herself embodies creativity. Mayers is one of our talented members of staff whose work has ensured that the graphic design programme is one of the flagships programmes in the country.

“To the awardees, if there is any advice that I could give it would be that yes, we are going through a very challenging period right now but adversity is the period of the time where creativity can shine and this is your time to shine.”

Alleyne also encouraged the two awardees to surround themselves with innovative persons who are supportive and who challenge them to step outside their comfort zone. (AH)