Brian Levy of York Castle High School in St Ann earned top honours in the 2025 Jamaica Information Service (JIS) Heritage Competition with his illustrated poster entry in the Grades 10-13 category.

He received a trophy, a $20,000 cash prize from JIS, a share certificate valued at $5,000 to open an account at First Heritage Co-operative Credit Union, a US$50 gift certificate courtesy of Margaritaville, and a $3,000 gift certificate from Domino’s.

The awards ceremony took place on Tuesday (February 17) at Summit Kingston.

Seventeen-year-old Brian told JIS News that he learned about the competition after his visual arts teacher shared the promotional flyer with him.

“I don’t like to pass up opportunities. There’s really nothing to lose and everything to gain,” he told JIS News, adding that he also felt encouraged by his teacher’s support.

The competition was staged under the theme ‘Honouring Our People, Protecting the Future’. “My mind immediately went to loving Jamaica by loving the people. We protect the future by mentoring our youth, not stifling them.”

The York Castle High student shared that he thoroughly enjoyed the process of creating his poster. “Most of the work came from research rather than creating the poster itself. I spent about two weeks researching and another week executing the design,” he said.

Brian explained that the background of his piece features the Jamaican flag, but he told JIS News that he did not want the design to resemble a cliché souvenir.

To avoid that, he rendered most of the piece predominantly in black, allowing it to absorb light and convey a more serious, reflective tone.

The theme was placed prominently at the top in bold font to immediately capture attention. Beneath it, Brian depicted four everyday Jamaican workers—a farmer, a nurse, a teacher, and a doctor. He explained that they symbolise the grassroots of the nation—ordinary, often anonymous individuals who form the backbone of society.

These figures are arranged in a protective semicircle around a young boy positioned at the centre. At the bottom, the child cradles a sapling, symbolising growth and the promise of the future.

Brian added that he intentionally designed the boy with a relaxed hold on the stem, avoiding the tight grip children often display. Instead, the boy’s gentle hold conveys care, responsibility, and a sense of stewardship. “It feels very good to win the poster competition. I’m very thankful. I would encourage other students not to pass up opportunities [like this] when they come, because they come for a reason,” he said.