The 38th Annual Hal Jackson's Talented Teens International Scholarship Competition was held on the island of Tortola in the British Virgin Islands.
Young women from around the world who are gifted in the fields of music, dance, stage performance, instrumentation or acting came together and participated in the 38th Annual Hal Jackson's Talented Teens International (HJTTI) Scholarship Competition sponsored by the Youth Development Foundation, Inc. The week-long event was held on the beautiful island of Tortola, the largest of the islands in the British Virgin Islands. The Talented Teen Summit took place from Saturday, July 12th through Sunday, July 20, 2008. The Talented Teens and HJTTI Directors stayed at the International official hotel, Long Bay Beach Resort and Villas. The 2008 HJTTI winner is 15 year-old Amirah Garwood, a contemporary dancer from St. Peter’s, Missouri. Along with the extraordinary talented teens in attendance, the BVI audience was entertained by American Idol's Ruben Studdard and Marques Houston.
The event was sponsored by the Youth Development Foundation, Inc. which provides a support system for young women and offers exposure to the entertainment industry, encourages cross-culture exchange, and nurtures emerging talent from around the world while providing training, educational scholarships, and travel opportunities for these young women. HJTTI has awarded over $1,000,000 in scholarships and prizes to its participants over the 38 years of its existence. Some of the past winners of HJTTI are Jada Pinkett Smith, Sheryl Lee Ralph, and Vanessa Williams.
HJTTI wishes to thank our corporate sponsors ICBC Broadcast Holdings, Inc., the British Virgin Islands Tourist Board, the Government of the BVI, B Mobile, Long Bay Beach Resort and Villas, Ramapo College of New Jersey, Neil Blyden Associates, our dedicated HJTTI Directors and our hard working staff.
If you are interested in competing in HJTTI competitions in your area or running a local competition, contact us as hjteens@aol.com or call 212-592-0413 for information.
