JIS Awards Winners of 2024 Heritage Competition

Eight students at the primary, secondary and tertiary levels were presented with awards for outstanding essays, posters and photographs, during the Jamaica Information Service (JIS) 2024 Heritage Competition Awards Ceremony on Tuesday (December 10).

Drawing inspiration from the National Motto, this year’s competition was held under the theme ‘Out of Many, One People’.

Just over 200 entries were submitted from students across the island – 155 essays, 41 posters and six photographs.

Kamili Forrester from Goshen Primary School in St. Elizabeth copped the first-place prize in the essay category, Nathan Morris from Herbert Technical High School in St. James won the poster category, and Jordanne Roache from Edna Manley College for the Visual and Performing Arts in Kingston earned first place in the photo category.

Winners and other top performers were presented with trophies, vacations, gift baskets, book vouchers, tablets, printers, backpacks, free courses and share certificates, among other prizes.

In her address at the awards ceremony held at the Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel in Kingston, Minister of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, Senator Dr. the Hon. Dana Morris Dixon, said the competition has the benefit of deepening the understanding and appreciation of Jamaica’s heritage among youth.

“Understanding our history and culture connects us to the sacrifices of our forebears, the traditions that define us and the values that hold us together. It is through this connection that we learn the importance of unity and resilience,” she said.

Dr. Morris Dixon commended the students for their creativity and hard work and charged them to be guardians of Jamaica’s heritage.

“Competitions like this, where we’re able to spur your creativity, are absolutely important to our country’s development. We can’t just develop on the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) areas alone; the arts are critical,” she said.

Chief Executive Officer of the JIS, Enthrose Campbell, who delivered greetings, said that for 14 years the competition has been nurturing conversations among students about Jamaica’s culture, heroes, heritage and other matters of national importance.

She noted that the judges were pleased with the entries, particularly in the poster and photo categories, pointing out that the students were creative and made use of vibrant colours.

“The students’ skill and ability were truly impressive,” she said, as she commended their parents and teachers who worked alongside them for long hours.

Noting that some of the essays submitted showed heavy input from artificial intelligence (AI), she encouraged the students, while embracing the benefits of the technology, to engage in critical thinking and analysis.

“Do not rely on the applications to be thinking for you,” Ms. Campbell appealed.

She expressed gratitude to the sponsors for making the competition an exciting and successful one.

“It is hoped that this competition will continue to encourage our young people to get hands-on with the Jamaican culture in all facets and inspire the public and private sectors to continue to support these initiatives that actively engage our young people, while preserving our national heritage,” she stated.

The JIS Heritage Competition was launched in 2011 with the aim of engaging students on aspects of Jamaica’s national development, culture and achievements.

Among this year’s sponsors were the Universal Service Fund (USF), CPTC Media Training Institute, Caribbean School of Media and Communication (CARIMAC), Frame Art Jamaica, FDR Resorts, Econo Office and School Supplies, W.B. Trophies, Northern Caribbean University (NCU), Sandals Resorts International, Margaritaville, Innovative Corporate Solutions, New Fortress Energy, Royale Computers, Boone Hall Oasis, Chukka Caribbean Adventures, First Heritage Co-operative Credit Union, Lasco Distributors and Mega Mart.