On Friday 22 August, Cayman Connection UK, a non-profit organization providing a platform for Caymanian students to network and connect in the UK, hosted its first reception in the Cayman Islands to celebrate the launch of it’s website.

Cayman Connection UK is supported by the Cayman Islands Government Office and the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism, and works in conjunction with The Friends of Cayman group in the UK. The organisation is a medium by which students can keep connected whilst studying abroad, and a resourceful point of contact for simple queries or in the event of an emergency.

Students are also given the opportunity to become a part of a smaller group of Cayman Student Ambassadors, who are the administrators of the group. These Ambassadors not only represent Cayman Connection, but the Cayman Islands at their designated Universities.

Hosted at the National Gallery, guests were greeted with Caribbean steel pan music performed by local musician Michael Lemay. As the evening progressed, local Berklee musician, Beneil Miller, wowed the crowd with his virtuosic jazz styling for the remainder of the evening.

The reception had a total of 70+ attendees including Her Excellency the Governor, Mrs. Helen Kilpatrick, Hon Osbourne Bodden, Minister of Health, Sports, Youth, and Culture, and Rosa Harris, Director of Tourism at Cayman Islands Department of Tourism.

The night was a great success due to the networking and relationships built amongst the 35 students, 7 of who will be starting their University journey in September.

“I am truly proud of the hard work the student ambassadors put in to making this first event such a success,” shared Ken Millwood, Cayman Connection Events and Entertainment Manager. “We are grateful for the support we have received thus far and look forward to working together to further grow this organisation. The network is starting to feel like a family where the gravitational centre is the Caymanian spirit and strong connection with our UK brethren.”

This year’s reception was made possible due to generous support made by Mourant Ozannes, CayBrew, Queensgate Bank and Trust, the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism and the National Gallery. An added mention goes to Mourant Ozannes who have partnered with the group for their first subject specific student event, which will be hosted this October in the UK for law students within the network.

The Cayman Islands Chamber of Commerce has also teamed up with the group to help the student ambassadors further develop the organisation and extend the network. The Governor Her Excellency Mrs. Helen Kilpatrick has also shown her commitment to furthering the group by hosting future networking events held in the Cayman Islands at the government residence annually.

For more information about Cayman Connection UK please visit our website at www.caymanconnection.org or email us at [email protected]

IMAGES:

From the left: H.E. Helen Kilpatrick (Governor), Kate Kandiah (Cayman Connection UK & The Department of Tourism), Penny Paterson (PWC), Steven Bird (PWC)

From left to right: Nordania Stewart, Student Ambassador, Sydonie Barrett, Hon. Osbourne Bodden and Moya Williams, Student Ambassador

From Left: Mrs Maureen Collins, Mr Hector Robinson & Ms Juliet Cumber-Forget of Mourant Ozannes and Mrs Sandra Dailey