BFSB has launched the process to select the Student of the Year (SOTY) 2015. This programme was introduced in 2002 to recognise an outstanding graduating student from within the School of Business, College of the Bahamas. This includes financial services relevant disciplines such as banking & finance, economics, accountancy and law – and also extends to computer information systems, marketing, and management.

The initiative has been a joint venture of BFSB and the College of The Bahamas, with a Working Group and Selection Committee comprising representatives from the BFSB-spearheaded Professional Industry Association Working Group (PIAWG).

The criteria used by the COB for initial selection of candidates is based on a minimum GPA, with consideration also given to COB and community involvement, special interests, further education, and work/other experience. Thereafter, the private sector Selection Committee votes for the SOTY based on the above and its own scoring process that involves a written submission and an interview with each candidate.

The award for the 2015 SOTY is sponsored by BFSB, the Association of International Banks & Trust Companies, CFAL, and the Societe Generale Private Banking (Bahamas) Ltd.

Below is the profile for the first of six (6) finalists under consideration for the 2015 award.

##Akini O. Morris – BBA Accounting##

Akini Morris graduated from the College of The Bahamas in 2015 with a bachelor’s degree in accounting. He graduated with distinction, and was the recipient of the School of Business, Ernst & Young, and Bahamas Institute of Chartered Accountants awards. In addition, he was a President’s Award finalist. Akini attended Nassau Christian Academy from 2006 to 2011, forgoing his senior year of high school after his early BGSCE passes, to initiate his tertiary education pursuit at the College of The Bahamas. During his tenure at the College of The Bahamas, Akini served as a mathematics peer tutor, and was an avid member of the college’s business club and the Institute of Internal Auditors; he filled the treasurer and Director of Education posts in those clubs, respectively. Presently, Akini is engaged in his studies for the Uniform Certified Public Accountant Examination, which he aims to have successfully completed by February 2016, subsequent to which, he hopes to secure employment at a Big 4 accounting firm in The Bahamas or overseas. Beyond this, Akini desires, in the near future, to study actuarial science, to pair his accountancy qualifications with an actuarial designation.

Other Candidates for the SOTY Award:

[Dashanique E.A. Moss](https://bfsb-bahamas.com/news.php?cmd=view&id=3443&pre=y)

[Dava A.B. Bullard](https://bfsb-bahamas.com/news.php?cmd=view&id=3444&pre=y)

[Felicia Leann Albury](https://bfsb-bahamas.com/news.php?cmd=view&id=3445&pre=y)

[Robbyn N. Thompson](https://bfsb-bahamas.com/news.php?cmd=view&id=3446&pre=y)

[Robert G. Nicholas](https://bfsb-bahamas.com/news.php?cmd=view&id=3447&pre=y)

Other Links:

[Sponsors](https://bfsb-bahamas.com/news.php?cmd=view&id=3425&pre=y)

[Industry Awards Programme](https://bfsb-bahamas.com/news.php?cmd=view&id=3421&pre=y)