Budding journalist off to Singapore

(CNS): A student from St Ignatious Catholic School has been awarded a place at the Young Reporters Training Camp organized by the Singapore Ministry of Information, Communications and Arts, and is off to Singapore for 10 days from 3 to 12 July. Cynthia Gonzalez-Espinos will be given professional training in areas such as broadcast and print journalism, photojournalism, as well as motion graphics and broadcast design. Along with the other participants, she will also acquire important skills in news reporting and usage of multimedia tools.

Training workshops will be conducted by leading academic institutions and media organizations in Singapore. The Cayman Islands Olympic Committee explained in a release that through its organisation, St. Ignatius was paired with an assigned school in Singapore for the Friends @ Youth Olympic Games 2010 School twinning programme. Subsequently they were contacted to participate in the camp. The school put forward three students for consideration, and one was selected for participation.

Applicants had to be between 14 and 20 years old, have outstanding academic achievements, strong language and writing skills, and good conduct. They should also be able to demonstrate strong leadership qualities and have a keen interest in journalism and / or the media.

Cynthia’s main interest is in photojournalism and it is this she takes with her to Singapore to develop. In the course of her IGCSE and A level Art & Design studies, Cynthia has developed a personal love of photography. She has a natural eye for beauty which can be found in the most unusual places. Her photography received acclaim in a recent competition run by the Bank of Butterfield in which students were asked to use any art medium to capture the essence of the beauty of Cayman. Her eye for detail in her art work is definitely something which transfers to and contributes to her success in the field of photography, the CIOC said. (Photo above: CIOC President Donald McLean, Cynthia, teachers Gareth Thacker and Karen Whyte)

The Cayman Islands Olympic Committee congratulates both Cynthia and St. Ignatius Catholic School on their selection to participate in such a unique programme.