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Awards Announcement T. Baswell Donaldson Research Competition 2026

The Central Bank of The Bahamas is pleased to recognise the awardees for the 2026 T. Baswell Donaldson Research Competition (the Competition), an initiative designed to encourage rigorous, scholarly research, by Bahamian university students, on topics relevant to the financial services sector and the broader economy.

Following a stringent evaluation process, Ms. Shappelle Marshall, pursuing graduate degrees in Public Administration and International Relations at Syracuse University, is selected as the 2026 Winner of the T. Baswell Donaldson Research Competition. Ms. Lashante Sampson is awarded Second Place, pursuing a degree in International Studies and Diplomacy at SOAS University of London.

The Central Bank also recognises three finalists with Honourable Mentions: Ms. Shana Edgecombe, Ms. Jessica Symonette, and Ms. Roshan Kelly.

The 2026 iteration of the Competition attracted submissions from eighteen Bahamian undergraduate and graduate students. The Competition provides an important platform for scholars to apply academic knowledge to real-world financial and economic issues while developing their research, analytical and presentation skills.

The finalists participated in the T. Baswell Donaldson Research Seminar, held during 14–15 July 2026, where they presented their research findings and engaged with experts and other participants. The research papers and presentations were subsequently reassessed by a panel of evaluators, with consideration given to the quality of the research, relevance of the topic, analytical approach, originality, and overall presentation.

The Competition is named in honour of the late Mr. Timothy Baswell Donaldson, the first Governor of the Central Bank of The Bahamas, whose contributions to the development of The Bahamas’ financial sector and economic thought continue to be recognised. Through the Competition, the Central Bank remains committed to supporting research, scholarship and the development of future leaders in economics, finance and related fields.

The award recipients in the 2026 T. Baswell Donaldson Research Competition are:

The Central Bank extends congratulations to all participants and appreciation to the academic community, research evaluators and other stakeholders who supported the Competition during 2026.