CedarBridge Wins Butterfield Challenge

February 15, 2012

On Saturday, 11 February, CedarBridge Academy was named the overall winner of the third annual Butterfield Student Challenge competition held at the Fairmont Hamilton Princess. CedarBridge was also the recipient of the coveted People’s Choice Award.

Teams of four students from six participating high schools—The Berkeley Institute, Bermuda High School, Bermuda Institute, CedarBridge Academy, Saltus Grammar School, and Warwick Academy —took on selected case studies, acting as consultants for fictitious local companies requiring financial advice and products.

Each team presented its solution to a packed house of over 400 people and a panel of distinguished judges: Dame Jennifer Smith, Minister of Education; Brad Kopp, Butterfield President & CEO; Lori Baker-Lloyd, Vice President Human Resources, Butterfield Global Programmes; Duranda Greene, President of Bermuda College; Bruce Barritt, General Manager of John Barritt & Son Ltd.; and Jamillah Lodge, Business Development Officer, The Bermuda Economic Development Corporation.

The competition was organised by Butterfield’s Management Trainees. Each team was supported by Butterfield mentors and school representatives. In addition to a live presentation, each team was required to produce a detailed financial plan.

The three finalists were:

Third Place: Saltus Grammar School

  • Ryan Spencer-Arscott
  • Mark Godfrey
  • Courtney Chiappa
  • Torrae Wainwright

(Butterfield Executive Mentor, Lydia Saraiva, AVP Retail Banking and Peer Mentor Kondwani Williams, Control Analyst, Compliance, Saltus Mentor, Ms. Nicole Chichon)

Second Place and the School Attendance Award: Berkeley Institute;

  • Glenn Simmons
  • Brittany Oliveira
  • Whitney Riley
  • Kwame Harris

(Butterfield Executive Mentor, Renee Ming, AVP, Corporate Banking, Peer Mentor, Ebony Fray, Berkeley Mentors, Ms. Dawn Nicholls-Marshall and Ms. Lenice Reynolds-Dyer)

First Place and People’s Choice Award: CedarBridge Academy

  • Rodneyka Browne-Evans Freeman
  • Breon Neverson
  • Kjeld Conyers-Steede
  • Kevin Pacheco

(Butterfield Executive Mentor, Daniel Reece, Head of Bermuda Compliance and Peer Mentor, Sharmaine Landy, CedarBridge Academy Mentors Mr. Dean Foggo and Ms. Shervelle Burch)

Mr. Kopp said Butterfield was extremely proud to, once again, be the sole sponsor and organiser of this popular community event.

Mr. Kopp said. “Through the Student Challenge, we are able to give the young people involved the opportunity to work together in teams, network with senior business people and apply their creativity and knowledge to real-world business issues. It’s a unique experience, and an investment that we strongly believe will help shape the future leaders of Bermuda’s business community.”

Mr. Kopp added, “I would like to congratulate everyone who was involved in this year’s competition—from the mentors and judges, to the coordinators both at the schools and within the Bank, and especially the students themselves, who impressed everyone with their hard work.”

Dame Jennifer Smith said, “The Butterfield Student Challenge demonstrates that when we expect the best from our students, we get the best. Students were challenged to be creative, to think strategically and at the same time to offer practical solutions to real life problems.

“The presentations delivered by the students were most impressive and a true testament to the quality of the education they have received. I expect great things from all of the participants and I thank Butterfield and all of those involved for organising the competition.”

The winning teams received monetary awards totalling $8,500 to be used for future education expenses. A recording of the 11 February 2012 competition will be broadcast on CITV in March.

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Comments (13)

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  1. cocoa says:

    Well done to all student teams!

  2. Put Bda First says:

    Great job by all the students! Congrats to the Cedarbidge students for a fantastic accomplishment…

  3. Ride says:

    Well done to the winners and participants.

    Winners: I didn’t see it but you must have out shined your opponents in your research, preparation, presentation and delivery to come out on top.

    Other participants: Well done to you as well. You must have put in a lot of work and exercised considerable courage to stand before so many to have your efforts scrutinised. The completing the experience makes you champions in your own right. Learn and return to compete again.

    On another note: The two Government schools took first and second place with the private schools following. Perhaps there is some meat to Dame Smith’s comments on the state of the Government schools’ improvements made earlier in the week on Let’s Talk. I certainly hope so. The thought of paying $20,000+ each year for middle and senior school education is sickening. That’s $140,000 over seven years. I’m all for great government schools and really hope things continue to progress with an acceptable rate of improvement. I’ll have to make the government versus private school decision for middle school in a few years. I hope the analysis then favours government.

    Ride

  4. Closer says:

    Congratulations to CedarBridge Acadmey! Looking forward to more great things.

  5. Proud Cedarbridge Parent says:

    Congratulations to all students that participated particularly the winners representing CedarBridge Academy! I love that Dame Jennifer said “The presentations delivered by the students were most impressive and a true testament to the quality of the education they have received.”

    Well done Cedarbridge Academy!!!

  6. Serious though says:

    Congrats.. public education thumps up!!

  7. Kim Smith says:

    Great job Cedarbridge!

  8. 32n64w says:

    Great job everyone!

  9. S. Landy CedarBridge Peer Mentor says:

    Congrats CBA!!!!

    I am very proud of you Rodneyka, Breon, Kjeld, and Kevin! You guys pulled it all together and came out on top. Keep shining and being the ‘students of excellence’ that you are!

    BIG TIME!!!

  10. Kam says:

    Well done to all the students!!

    Congrats CBA!!!!

  11. Free Public Education says:

    Public Education!!!! Whoop Whoop!!

  12. seeker says:

    At least Mrs. Kalmar Richards put her money where her mouth is, how many of these other politicians and soothsayers have their children in public school, especially at the mid-school and high school levels. But they all will talk a good game to get your vote. Excellent representation for the public schools!!!

  13. imagine that says:

    I attended this event and was so proud of our young people. Their presentations were excellent.

    As an advocate for public education, I am extremely proud that Cedarbridge Academy placed First and Berkeley second.

    Congrats to all who participated.