TourismToday

Khalia Carneigie, an 11th grade student of St. George’s High School, Freeport, Grand Bahama, has emerged as the winner of a video contest sponsored by the Aviation Department of The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism. As winner of the contest Khalia will represent The Islands of The Bahamas at the upcoming AOPA (Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association) Summit Show and Convention, Long Beach, California, November 10-13.

The Grand Bahama student was chosen from a group of students representing Bahamian Out Island Schools including Grand Bahama, Exuma, Eleuthera, Abaco, and Long Island. The contest was organized by a team from the Bahamas Tourist Office, Plantation, but coordinated on the different islands by local Ministry of Tourism representatives along with teachers and others in the educational community.

Contestants were invited to give a one minute video presentation “Why should I be selected to represent The Bahamas to Private Pilots at the AOPA Summit Trade Show”. The high caliber of the submissions created a challenge to the judges to pick a winner, however, the young Grand Bahamian’s projected passion and enthusiasm won her the first place. She will travel to Long Beach California to represent The Bahamas at the international aviation event that has over the years drawn tens of thousands of aviators from throughout the U.S. and the world.

The video competition is a new concept this year that was launched in addition to an annual aviation school Chocks Program. The idea behind the two competitions is to expose students of The Islands of The Bahamas to the aviation industry. Salena Burows, Bahamas Tourism Executive, Long Island, praising the Chocks Program, noted, “It is so good to know that our efforts have paid off and we are able to show the talent of our students from the Family Islands to the Private Pilot market through their art.” Last year a group of students from the Out Islands were exposed to aviators from around the U.S. at the A.O.P.A Summit Trade Show and Conference in Tampa, Florida.

Annually, the signature chocks serve to highlight the uniqueness of The Bahamas and the diversity of the islands. At the AOPA Summit show in 2009, some 1,000 chocks were given away by the students to the pilots in attendance at the show. The chocks were used as an advertising item with The Islands of The Bahamas on one side and one of the Aviation Department’s preferred gateway FBO’s on the other.

Winners of this year’s chocks program will travel to Florida to represent The Islands of The Bahamas at the Sun ‘n Fun Aviation Show, March 29 – April 3, 2011 – Lakeland Florida.

In his congratulatory remarks to the winning students of the Chocks contest, Chief Aviation Specialist for the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Greg Rolle said, “The achievements of putting the special creative designs on our aviation Chocks are outstanding and it’s an honor for us to be able to reward your amazing efforts.”