Last month the Bahamas Financial Services Board (BFSB) announced that the initial phases of the process to select an outstanding 2009 Graduate from within the School of Business, College of the Bahamas had been completed, with the names of five (5) finalists revealed.

Selection teams from the College and industry based their choices on a variety of criteria, focusing heavily on academic excellence, but also considering college and community involvement and business/economic savvy. Students were required to demonstrate writing and research skills by way of a written submission on the very topical issue of .***“The Value of Privacy and the Role of Governments in Enforcing and Protecting the Privacy of Citizens.”***

[The Financial Services Student of the Year](https://bfsb-bahamas.com/news.php?cmd=view&id=2846&pre=y) initiative was introduced by BFSB back in 2002, shortly after the launch of a domestic outreach programme entitled Financial Centre Focus (FCF). A key component of FCF is to attract qualified entrants to the sector.

Over the past few weeks, BFSB has been pleased to profile the five (5) finalists, leading up to the Awards Ceremony, scheduled to be held at the Sandals Royal Bahamian Resort and Spa on October 22nd. Today we feature **Khandise N. Smith – BBA Banking & Finance with Foreign Language**.

##FINALIST — FINANCIAL SERVICES STUDENT OF THE YEAR 2009##

A 2003 Graduate of St. Anne’s High School, Khandise obtained her Bachelor of Administration in Banking and Finance with Spanish from the College of the Bahamas this year, also receiving COB’s 2009 School of Business BBA Banking and Finance with Foreign Language Award. She was on the President’s List in 2005-2006 and on the Dean’s List between 2003-2007. Her College involvement included The Spectrum (student press), and this year she volunteered as a member of the Miss Bahamas World Organisation.

She is an Alumnus of the University of the Virgin Islands Summer Institute for Future Global Leaders.(2007).

While studying for her degree, Khandise has worked including internships at UBS, Kerzner International and BTC, and employment with Cititrust (Bahamas) Limited since 2007.

Khandise is completing the Series 7 programme at the present time, and also is keen to pursue a Graduate degree in due course.

The other finalists for the 2009 Award are:

* [Kendra C.A. Culmer – BBA Accounting](https://bfsb-bahamas.com/news.php?cmd=view&id=2850&pre=y)

* [Jamere M. McIntosh, BBA – Economics and Finance](https://bfsb-bahamas.com/news.php?cmd=view&id=2852&pre=y)

* [Christina S. Murray – BBA Finance](https://bfsb-bahamas.com/news.php?cmd=view&id=2853&pre=y)

* [Keithra L. Sherman – BBA Marketing](https://bfsb-bahamas.com/news.php?cmd=view&id=2854&pre=y)