CedarBridge Academy took home the top prize from the third annual Butterfield Student Challenge business competition, which saw 24 students develop financial advice for mock local companies.Held at the Fairmont Hamilton Princess sponsored by Butterfield Bank, the competition also saw CedarBridge receiving the People’s Choice Award.Teams of four students from six participating high schools - The Berkeley Institute, Bermuda High School, Bermuda Institute, CedarBridge Academy, Saltus Grammar School, and Warwick Academy - took on selected case studies, acting as consultants for fictitious local companies requiring financial advice and products.CedarBridge’s task was to develop a business plan for a gym new facility with afternoon child care, either in downtown Hamilton or St. David’s. Other groups had to help a souvenir shop and a guest home.Each team conducted a live presentation of its solution and a detailed financial plan to a packed house of more than 400 people and a panel of seven judges, including Minister of Education Dame Jennifer Smith, Butterfield CEO Brad Kopp, President of Bermuda College Duranda Greene and General Manager of John Barrit & Son Bruce Barritt.The competition was organised by Butterfield’s Management Trainees.“Through the Student Challenge, we are able to give the young people involved the opportunity to work together in teams, network with senior business people and apply their creativity and knowledge to real-world business issues,” said Mr Kopp. “It’s a unique experience, and an investment that we strongly believe will help shape the future leaders of Bermuda’s business community.”Dame Jennifer Smith added that: “The Butterfield Student Challenge demonstrates that when we expect the best from our students, we get the best. Students were challenged to be creative, to think strategically and at the same time to offer practical solutions to real life problems. The presentations delivered by the students were most impressive and a true testament to the quality of the education they have received.”The winning teams received monetary awards totalling $8,500 to be used for future education expenses. A recording of the competition will be broadcast on CITV in March.