Antoinette Spencer is the first-prize winner in the Jamaica Money Market Brokers (JMMB) Goal Getter Challenge, the Internet-based competition which culminated on July 31, paving the way for the top three winners to realise their dream of a higher education.
Spencer, who won J$250,000, will be using her winnings towards the completion of her bachelor's degree in accounting at the University of the West Indies (UWI) Open Campus. In addition to improving her money management skills, the competition was instrumental in helping her to achieve her dream of pursuing a career in accounts and creating a stable financial future.
"As a part-time student, I was faced with the challenge of balancing both my time and finances. The cash will make it possible for me to upgrade my degree from associate to bachelors," Spencer said.
"I liked the challenges presented in level two of the competition, which included the free goal planning session with a JMMB advisor, doing my monthly budget and creating my own vision board. These challenges allowed me to focus on my financial future and has propelled me to start planning for my other goals. Next on my list is my car," Spencer added.
Second runner-up, Kimani Brown, who won J$100,000, said having faced disruptions in the pursuit of his undergraduate degree as a result of financial difficulties, he is happy to have been named a winner. Brown, who has a passion for arts management, will be on his way to studying entertainment and cultural enterprise management at UWI, Mona.
First runner-up, Prince Palmer won a cumulative total of J$200,000 at the end of the contest. He previously copped the level three sectional prize of J$50,000 and won for himself an additional J$150,000 for placing second in the overall competition.
"The JMMB Goal Getter Challenge will definitely help me to secure my daughter Arianna's educational future," Palmer said. The proud dad is now on his way to providing educational opportunities for her that he never experienced.
Kerry-Ann Stimpson, JMMB Group marketing manager, said the company was very pleased with the results of the JMMB Goal Getter Challenge.
"We saw just over 2,000 individuals registering to participate. We were humbled by the response and impact that it has had on both JMMB and the participants," Stimpson said.