From Hollywood and high finance to science, aviation and international sport, Caymanians making their mark overseas were celebrated at the fifth annual Making Waves Awards.

Cayman may be small, but its talent is travelling far.

Some of the islands’ brightest exports took centre stage at the Harquail Theatre on Saturday as the Cayman Connection Making Waves Awards honoured achievement across the arts, education, medicine, science, finance, tourism, sustainability and sport.

“One community, countless waves,” was how the evening was introduced, with organisers putting the spotlight on Caymanians making their mark beyond the islands’ shores and making Cayman proud.

And this year, the public got in on the act.

More than 2,800 votes were cast from Cayman and overseas for the inaugural People’s Choice Award, introduced to give the community a direct say in recognising one of the 24 shortlisted finalists.

The hosts described it as an “incredible response”, with votes coming from supporters both in the Cayman Islands and around the world, in support of Caymanians whose careers and achievements have carried the islands’ name well beyond home.

Among the best-known winners was actress and author Grace Byers, who received the Arts, Culture and Heritage Award.

Byers, whose career has taken her from Cayman to international television, film and publishing, was unable to attend the ceremony, with her sister accepting the award on her behalf.

The finalists in the category were Byers, filmmaker Alyssa Gilbert and fashion designer Jawara Alleyne.

Talent making its mark overseas

The Health & Wellness Award went to Dr Larissa Johnson, who was represented at the ceremony by a friend. Johnson was shortlisted alongside Dr Rashida Smith-Webb.

The CUC STEM Award went to Lyea Rivers, one of three women shortlisted in the category alongside Arielle Mon Desir and Isabel Samuels.

Hosts hailed the three finalists as Caymanian women carving out different paths in STEM and said it was “exciting to see the talent, ambition, and potential” of the next generation.

Rivers was at the Harquail Theatre to collect her award in person.

The Environment & Sustainability Award went to Connor Childs, who had perhaps the most fitting excuse of the night for missing his moment on stage.

His work with the Department of Environment had taken him to the Sister Islands for the weekend.

Donna and Georgina joked it was “a very fitting reason for an environment and sustainability finalist to miss this ceremony”, as his mother, Katherine Childs, collected the award on his behalf.

Childs was shortlisted alongside Isaiah Thomas and Rickeem Lashley.

Amy Watson-Rankin received the Inclusion Award, having been shortlisted alongside Richard Parson.

Her finalist profile highlighted a career in financial services as well as community work mentoring women rebuilding their lives.

From finance to the skies

Shivonne Mitchell won the Maples Group Financial, Legal & Professional Services Award, beating fellow finalists Shaune Fraser and Tom McCallum.

Mitchell was unable to attend, with family accepting the honour on her behalf.

The Tourism, Travel & Hospitality Award went to pilot Enzaghi Bush, who had a rather good reason for missing the ceremony: he was working.

Bush was “flying the friendly skies somewhere over Europe”, according to the hosts, with his father, Elvis Bush, collecting the award on his behalf.

Bush was shortlisted alongside Jordy Rankine.

Sporting success

Cayman’s sporting talent also had its moment in the spotlight.

The Sports Award went to footballer Gunnar Studenhofft, who was shortlisted alongside Karthik Adapa and Vanjae Ramgeet.

Studenhofft was unable to attend, with his brother Callahan accepting the award alongside their mother.

‘A great honour’

One of the night’s more personal moments came from teacher Tiffany Jeremiah, winner of the Education Award.

Jeremiah was shortlisted alongside Bella Alves and Raechel Nelson.

Accepting her award in person, she said:

“It is my privilege to accept this honour tonight. I do not take it lightly. I believe it is a great honour to be recognised and also to be chosen for this award.”

Jeremiah also credited Cayman Islands Government scholarship support with helping her pursue her career in education, saying she had been able to complete both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees with assistance from the Ministry of Education.

‘You are all patriots’

The evening was about more than individual trophies, with speakers repeatedly returning to the connection between Caymanians building careers overseas and the country they continue to represent.

Premier André Ebanks, who addressed the ceremony virtually, congratulated the finalists and award recipients and told them:

“You are all patriots truly.”

He also highlighted efforts to support Caymanians studying overseas and help graduates find opportunities when they return home.

The awards are now in their fifth consecutive year and were established to recognise Caymanians living abroad who have excelled in their respective fields while continuing to represent the islands internationally.

The nine main awards were decided by a judging panel.

But for the final prize of the night, the judges had no say at all.

People’s choice

For the first time, Cayman Connection put an award entirely in the hands of the public.

More than 2,800 votes were cast for the shortlisted finalists in Cayman and around the world - a response organisers described as a “wonderful show of support”.

The inaugural People’s Choice Award went to Karthik Adapa, who was also shortlisted in the Sports category.

The public vote added a new dimension to the fifth anniversary of Making Waves, allowing family, friends and supporters at home and overseas to have their own say in who deserved special recognition.

From classrooms and laboratories to film sets, football pitches, boardrooms and the skies above Europe, the winners showed just how far Caymanian talent can travel.

Cayman’s shores may be small. Its talent clearly knows no boundaries.

Making Waves Awards 2026 winners

Inclusion Award: Amy Watson-Rankin
Environment & Sustainability Award: Connor Childs
Arts, Culture and Heritage Award: Grace Byers
Health & Wellness Award: Dr Larissa Johnson
CUC STEM Award: Lyea Rivers
Tourism, Travel & Hospitality Award: Enzaghi Bush
Maples Group Financial, Legal & Professional Services Award: Shivonne Mitchell
Sports Award: Gunnar Studenhofft
Education Award: Tiffany Jeremiah
People’s Choice Award: Karthik Adapa