Holly Thompson – Academics, Community Service – 16 – George Town

Holly Thompson has a true love and passion for helping others. The altruistic 16-year-old founded a teen community service group called Impact345. The group’s main project is to put together back packs full of supplies for children receiving charitable cardiac procedures through the Have a Heart Cayman programme, at Health City Cayman Islands. Holly also enjoys visiting the young children to provide encouragement and friendship. Her service group also works with Special Olympics Cayman Islands, HospiceCare, and Meals on Wheels.

Her passion for service also led Holly to participate in a mission trip to Honduras last year. She was one of a few teenagers who joined the Solid Rock Ministries mission team. During the trip, she and the team visited orphanages and hospitals, and distributed much needed supplies. Holly’s charitable works earned her the Community Service Award from her school, Cayman International School.

The 11th grader is also an admirable student. She has made her school’s Gold Honour Roll, which is awarded to students with a 3.7-4.0 GPA, every term since the 9th grade. She was inducted into the National Honor Society in 10th grade, and now serves as the president of that organisation. She also participated in Model United Nations, and serves as the president for her school’s Student Leadership group.

Holly is also an accomplished musician. A student of the Cayman Music School, she sings, plays the guitar, flute and piano. Through the years, Holly has earned 11 gold certificates from the National Children Festival of the Arts. She has also achieved high distinction and merit from Trinity College London, an international exam board for the performing arts, in piano, flute and guitar. In singing, Holly has passed Grade 8 of the Trinity programme, the highest level possible. Holly was also a finalist in the 2011 Young Musician of the Year competition. She also shares her talents with others, by serving as a music assistant at her church’s Vacation Bible School. Holly is an exemplary role model for her peers and an inspiration for those who have a heart for community service.

 

Tayvis Walters – Career, Business, Community Service – 20 – George Town

Tayvis Walters is a confident leader whose leadership abilities began from an early age. Tayvis was highly active, taking part in events such as the RBC Spelling Bee, the National Children Festival of the Arts, where he earned a Gold Award for his former high school in Creative Writing, as well as the Cayman Cricket Youth Tournament from primary to high school.

In high school, he was chosen to be deputy head boy of the prefect body, and was a member of Student Council. He served as a captain for his cricket team, as well as the president and chief executive officer of the John Gray High School Flight Club. Tayvis, who was a member of the Royal Cayman Islands Police Band briefly in 2012, now serves as a senior member/band librarian of the Cadet Corps Band, is responsible for the auxiliary percussion contingent.

Tayvis is now pursuing a career in information technology at Appleby (Cayman) Ltd., where he is dedicated to supporting other young people. With his company, where he is the systems support analyst for the group’s 10 offices worldwide, he has annually participated in the CIFEC career fair since he was a student. From the fair, he has recruited, trained, and mentored more than 40 with the firm. The students have received internship placements, one-on-one training, and gained valuable on-the-job experience. Tayvis is an award sponsor for his former school’s graduation ceremony each year. He has served on the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) as a game statistician when the youth development tournaments were held in the Cayman Islands.

Aside from his career, Tayvis is currently studying for a Bachelor of Science degree at the University College of the Cayman Islands.

This March, Tayvis was selected as the first alternative to the CARICOM Youth Ambassador for the Cayman Islands. He has had years of involvement in the Cayman Islands Youth Assembly as Serjeant-at-Arms and Acting Head of Issues. In 2013, Tayvis missed his high school graduation to represent the Cayman Islands at the World Affairs Seminar in Waukesha, Wisconsin.

With his leadership abilities, and passion for helping young people, Tayvis is on the path to becoming an influential advocate for the youth of the Cayman Islands.