**Aisha Melvina Johnson
BBA – Banking & Finance**
Aisha is a finalist in BFSB’s annual Financial Services Student of the Year Awards programme.
A graduate of C.R. Walker Senior High, where she continuously attained the Principals List distinction, Aisha also was recognised during her secondary level school years for helping students who were considered under achiever. She served as a Study Hall Tutor for 4 years. While at C.R. Walker, she also was on the Student Council, a 1998 Debutante, 1998 Class Valedictorian and 1998 Head Girl. Her academic achievements also included Honorable Mention for Outstanding BGCSE results and received 9 out of 12 Class Awards at Graduation. During these years, Aisha also participated in numerous activities including the College of the Bahamas Conference of Youth Leaders and the Alpha Kappa Alpha conference for young women.
Aisha earned early acceptance into the College of the Bahamas, and also received the Apprenticeship Scholarship of Credit Suisse (Bahamas), which allowed her to attain her Associates of Arts degree in Banking – with credit – while working part time to gain experience. At the completion of the apprenticeship program, Aisha worked full time with Credit Suisse for a year before enrolling in the Bachelor of Arts Program in Banking and Finance at COB. While continuing to work full time, she completed this degree, and graduated in the Spring, 2006. Between April-June, 2006 she worked with Credit Suisse-Zurich, obtaining exposure to back office functions and account management. Aisha has completed the Series 7 course and plans to take the Series 7 exams abroad to become internationally certified. She also plans to study towards the CFA designation.
She currently is a Senior Securities Executor at Credit Suisse (Bahamas) Ltd. Her employers describe her as *“having sharp organizational skills and the ability to multi task very well,”* and as *“demonstrating an ambition for excellence”.*
The student award is sponsored by the Bahamas Financial Services Board in collaboration with the College of the Bahamas, and is supported by the Professional Industry Association Working Group and the Central Bank of the Bahamas.
CEO Wendy Warren says BFSB’s ongoing Financial Centre Focus (FCF) – of which the student award programme is an integral part – *“seeks to integrate the industry with the wider community, and its various initiatives address issues such as (a) challenges impacting the sustained growth and development of the industry; (b) improvements to the level of service; and (c) attracting and maintaining qualified professionals.”*
Particular attention is placed on highlighting the importance of quality human resources to the industry, with initiatives such as the Student Award and Careers Fest.
Other finalists for the 2006 award are **Candace P. Rolle: BBA – Accounting;** and **Jody Christina Wells: AA – Law & Criminal Justice**. The winner will be announced at the annual Financial Services Industry Excellence Awards Banquet on October 21.