On July 16, Scotiabank hosted a welcome reception for participants in the Change-Maker Challenge at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel, New Kingston. Each entrant had to make a presentation titled: 'As the marketing director responsible for the launch of the new Scotiabank brand in your country, how would you use your US$100,000 marketing and promotion budget to engage young adults to participate in the Scotiabank Be programme and its services?' Here are highlights.

Colombian Ambassador Ventura Emilio Diaz Mejia (left) and Sajo Ruiz, a marketing practitioner from Puerto Rico, were both judges for Scotiabank's 2009 Change-Maker Challenge.- Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer

Wayne Powell (left), executive vice-president for branch banking; Change-Maker Challenge 2009 winner from Jamaica, Sandre Malcolm (centre), and Michelle Corson, senior manager, segment strategies, Scotiabank International, share in the excitement of Sandre's victory. - Contributed

Michelle Korson (second left), senior manager, segment strategies - international banking, marketing, Toronto, Canada, has the attention of some of the finalists in the Scotiabank Change-Maker Challenge competition. The competition is in its second year with the finalists coming from Jamaica, Belize, Costa Rica, Panama and Puerto Rico. It was judged in two categories, English and Spanish. Looking on from left are Abdiel Geronimo Concepcion Rivera - Puerto Rico; Janelle Brown - Jamaica; Kwame Blanchfield, project manager, young adult segment strategy at Scotiabank Trinidad & Tobago; Adriana Pineiro - Panama; and Emmanuel Arias Ramirez - Costa Rica. - Ian Allen/Staff Photographer

Zoe Welsh (left), programme production specialist, Scotiabank Jamaica, chats with one of the judges of the competition, Marguerite Cremen, a marketing consultant.- Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer