The Proud of Them initiative recognises the positive achievements of young persons aged between 10 – 25 years. Through a public nomination process, individuals are honoured in the categories of Academics, Careers, Business, Sports, Culture or Community Service. Each person selected will be featured for six months at a time on billboards established across the Cayman Islands, and will also receive a certificate and $500. Below is a recipient from the third round of the nominations.

Julian Jervis (Sports)

In an era which has heard resounding calls for young men to assume positions of responsibility, the nominator for Proud of Them honouree Julian Jervis describes him as an “all-round outstanding young man”.

Displaying traits which easily earned him the national recognition, Julian is presently enrolled in the A-level programme at St. Ignatius High School. There, it is stated that he contributes to, and excels in, a number of areas. These include activities and lessons on the school campus, but also extend to the wider community.

An Honours graduate, Julian also took the National Gallery Award for Visual Arts Achievements at his year 11 commencement ceremony.

Academically, his nine passes at grades A* and B, as well as his GPA of 3.82 speak for themselves. Even so, his commitment to school life saw him take lead roles in the school drama and musical productions, performing in the school band as well as his own band, and completing the Silver Award phase of the prestigious Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme.

Perhaps unsurprisingly he was also selected for the Chamber of Commerce student of the year award at the year 11 graduation.

Consistent honour roll placements and overall dedication to the task at hand have also earned him accolades for high attainment, and other school recognition for making “excellent contributions to extra-curricular and service programmes.”

A sports champion, squash is his favourite sport. A Caribbean-wide squash champion, he has represented his Islands further afield at the Island Games and the Commonwealth Games. Yet although he excels in this arena, his overall performance, in school as well as the wider community, has served to cast him as a role model for other youths.

Beyond all this, the Bodden Town resident is seen as “a natural leader and a truly inspirational character”, and as a young person who supports and communicates well with younger students, peers and teachers, and has a natural charisma that draws other people to him.