Daniel Athill-Jonas, a secondary school student from Antigua, has achieved global acclaim by securing a distinguished special prize at the international Toyota Dream Car Art Contest held in Japan. The young visionary was honored with the “Waku-Doki” Award, a category specifically designed to celebrate exceptional creativity, exhilarating innovation, and groundbreaking conceptual thinking in automotive design.
This international triumph follows his previous success as the national champion of the 2023 Toyota Dream Car Art Contest, which was coordinated domestically by Harney Motors Ltd. The prestigious recognition comes with a substantial monetary award totaling EC$40,000. Athill-Jonas personally received EC$13,500, while his educational institution, Pares Secondary School, was granted EC$27,000 to support its academic and artistic programs.
The Toyota Dream Car Art Contest represents a global initiative that challenges children worldwide to conceptualize and create visionary vehicle designs, fostering artistic talent and innovative perspectives on future transportation solutions. Documented photographs released by Harney Motors capture the memorable moment when Athill-Jonas, accompanied by Mrs. Harney Barnes and Mr. Harney, displayed his official plaque from Toyota Motor Corporation during a special recognition ceremony held in his honor.
This extraordinary accomplishment not only signifies a pivotal milestone in the young artist’s developing career but also positions Antigua and Barbuda as an emerging hub for youth creativity and technological innovation on the international stage.