Broken Heart Love Affair and Lifelong Crush Announce Recipients for Miles Philip Hammond Scholarship
The Miles Philip Hammond Scholarship proudly announces the two exceptional winners of its prestigious scholarship at the Miami Ad School's renowned two-year full-time Creative Program. Candidates are selected for their resilience overcoming personal life challenges and an outstanding passion for creativity.
Raquel Da Silva based in Toronto, Ontario, and Xiomara Velasquez, based in Vancouver, British Columbia, are both set to embark on an exciting journey – Raquel in art direction and Xiomara in copywriting, while furthering their education and pursuing their creative dreams. Their submissions stood out, impressing the selection committee with their remarkable stories of overcoming adversity and a very apparent dedication to their craft, as well as best embodying the values of the Miles Philip Hammond Scholarship.
The Miles Philip Hammond Scholarship was generously funded by Broken Heart Love Affair and Lifelong Crush, and matched by M.AD, in collaboration with media support from Epitaph Media and PR support from Hype PR. It was established in memory of Miles Hammond, who lost his life to cancer in 2021 shortly after he turned one. In his honour, Broken Heart Love Affair, Lifelong Crush and M. AD Toronto have come together to support aspiring talents who embody Miles' spirit of strength and perseverance.
This year, the recruitment campaign 'Challenges Lead to Creativity' was developed by, and featured the previous Scholarship recipients, with support from the agencies.
“At Miami Ad School Toronto, we celebrate the indomitable spirit of creativity, a beacon of hope and resilience during life’s most challenging moments. We consider ourselves fortunate to be surrounded by young talent with an unwavering dedication to their craft as they embark on their transformative journey. This collaboration with Broken Heart Love Affair and Lifelong Crush embodies our shared commitment towards growth and empowerment, for these individuals but also our industry”, shares Muneet Dhaliwal, co-founder and admissions director at Miami Ad School Toronto.
"Once again, the selection process has been such a fulfilling experience for both of us. Not only do we feel like we're able to continue to honour our son Miles, but we've been afforded the privilege of helping to select these two amazing young women for an incredible opportunity. Xiomara and Raquel have many attributes and we're confident they'll use this scholarship as a stepping stone towards great things”, said Kate and Kent Hammond, parents of Miles.
“Following the journey of our last scholarship recipients, Ben LeDrew and Qudsiya Jabeen, has been a very fulfilling and heart warming experience. They set the bar high and I’m sure we will have a similar experience with these two impressive ladies. An important goal of the scholarship is to create awareness about the opportunities in advertising, especially within communities that are underrepresented. We feel strongly that this years’ recipients will help us continue to do that”, says Joline Matika, lead people and culture at Broken Heart Love Affair and Lifelong Crush.
Both Raquel and Xiomara eagerly anticipate the opportunity to immerse themselves in the dynamic environment of M. AD to further develop their skills under the guidance of industry experts.
“As a dreamer from Lima, Peru, I'm truly humbled and honoured to be chosen as the recipient of the Miles Philip Hammond Scholarship. I want to express my deepest thanks to Broken Heart Love Affair, Lifelong Crush, Kate and Kent Hammond, and Miami Ad School for making this possible. It is a dream come true. Thank you from the bottom of my heart”, shares Xiomara.
Raquel explains, “I've been working very hard to break into the industry. I'm super excited and grateful for this opportunity! I know that this scholarship will provide me with the hope and stepping stones needed to propel my career forward”.
For more information about the Miles Philip Hammond Scholarship, please visit here.
