36 Southern USA, The Bahamas and the Cayman Islands, Oliver Mair, present for this grand occasion. Some 15 scholarships will be awarded to students in Jamaica and the Atlanta area, from proceeds raised at the blacktie event. Last year, some 19 scholarships were awarded. Started in 1995, the AJA scholarship programme assists graduating high-school students in Jamaica andmetro Atlanta with first-year college expenses. The majority of the scholarships are awarded to students in Jamaica. The AJA recently launched its official diamond jubilee celebrations in recognition of its 45 years of service to the community in metro Atlanta and the 60th anniversary of Jamaica’s Independence, under the theme ‘Re-igniting a Nation for Greatness’. “We acknowledge our platinum sponsor Hartfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport for their continued generous support of the AJA. Some of our other generous event sponsors are: Panton Equity Partners, Couples Resorts, GB Roofing, Inc, JNMoney Services (USA) Inc., PNC Bank, Metal & Materials Engineers, and the Jamaica Tourist Board. The AJA is appreciative of their continued support over the years,” AJA said. Early ticket purchases are encouraged. All tickets are available online. To choose your seat andmeal choice, visit Ticket Tailor at https://www.tickettailor.com/events/ theatlantajamaicanassociationinc. The tickets cost $135 up to June 30 and $140 therafter until sold out. “The AJA would love to have everyone’s support for our diamond jubilee celebrations. Join us for our flag-raising ceremony on Monday, August 1, 2022, at Liberty Plaza, Atlanta. Let’s paint metro Atlanta, BLACK, GREEN AND GOLD as we re-ignite Jamaicans here in the diaspora for greatness,” said Rev Dr Maxine Osbourne Foster, president of the AJA. Proceeds from the ball benefit ongoing charities supported by the AJA and scholarships awarded in Atlanta and Jamaica. The AJA, Inc was founded on October 8, 1977, and incorporated on September 13, 1978, as a social welfare 501© (4) organisation under the Internal Revenue Service Code. Its purpose is to promote social welfare in the community. The mission of the AJA, Inc is to foster goodwill and understanding among Jamaicans and all peoples inmetro Atlanta, through civic, economic, cultural, and philanthropic programmes and activities; and provide assistance to Jamaicans living in the area and in Jamaica. Learn more at www.atlantajamaicanassociation.org. The AJ Cultural and Educational Fund, Inc. (AJCEF), a subsidiary non-profit entity with 501© (3) status under the Internal Revenue Service Code, was established in 1995 for charitable and educational purposes. It is intended to enable the AJA to pursue some of its objectives more effectively. Donations received by the AJCEF are tax deductible. PROMISE CONTINUED FROM 31 LOGO CONTINUED FROM 34 the Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport Olivia Grange, along with that of officials Lenford Salmon, Marjorie Leyden-Kirton and Denzil Thorpe. Smith, a self-taught graphic artist, graduated from The University of theWest Indies, Mona campus with a double major in psychology and philosophy and is now at the Cave Hill campus pursuing a masters in marketing. He credits his friend, Jurdene Fraser, who sat with him on a committee while attending school at the Mona campus, as the one who started the journey to his win by sending him the entry for the competition last year. “At the time, I was submerged in academics and also in extracurricular [activities], as I was the publications committee chairperson and doing a lot of graphics work. But, when I got a chance, I looked at the call for entries and realised that the deadline was near. So, I did some research and realised that the hummingbird was popular in these logos. I decided to keep the bird, but to sync it in the logo itself. I wanted to depict freedomwith my design. I sent drafts to my committee members and they chose one, which I tweaked into the final submission. They were confident that it would win,” he recalled. According to the secretariat, “The Jamaica 60 logo features a stylised hummingbird in mid-flight that forms the number 60. The black, green and gold colours of the hummingbird symbolise the Jamaican flag. The logo also features the word ‘Jamaica’ in capital letters.” Smith received a number of calls from the secretariat in the following months, not only wanting to verify his name, but also pertaining to the originality of his submission and if it was his work. “The final call to inform me that I had won came on June 16, and honestly, I thought it was a prank. I was working on some graphics for a school, and when the caller said I had won the logo competition, I asked, ‘What competition?’My head just wasn’t there. The person had to ask me if I was Bobby Smith and if I had entered the Jamaica 60 competition. Then I said, ‘Yes, yes, yes.’ I was told that the committee voted unanimously for my logo. I remember asking, ‘Yuh sure?’ But when it sink in, it was glorious,” the young man, who hails from Central Village, said. IMMENSELY PROUD His friends from campus led the way in celebrating his win, and his parents and siblings, too, are immensely proud of him. In fact, it was his sister who he had to call during the interview to remind him of the exact date that he got that lifechanging call from the secretariat. Currently completing his two-year master’s programme, the prize of US$2,500 came at the perfect time to assist him with funding his postgraduate studies in Barbados. “This is the first graphics competition I have ever entered, and it’s still unbelievable that I won. I thank all those who assisted the process, and the judges for selecting my entry. The prize money is the icing on the cake, and I can’t touch it for anything but school,” he emphasised. The Ministry of Culture noted that the competition, which was open to Jamaican designers on the island and across the world, saw more than 260 designs. Smith’s entry was selected by a panel drawn from the creative sectors, including graphic design and advertising. THE MONTHLY GLEANER | JULY 31 - OCTOBER 21, 2022 | www.jamaica-gleaner.com | FEATURE
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