Video: Extracurricular Scholarships For Girls
[Updated with video] Today [Sept 17] the Minister of Youth, Families and Sports Glenn Blakeney, as well as the Chairperson of the Bermuda Women’s Council Laurie Shiell and Deputy Chair Melody Parris met with the awardees of the 2012 “Extracurricular Scholarships for Girls”.
Seven girls were awarded the scholarships, which will help to fund their extracurricular activities during the 2012 – 2013 school year.
Recipients are: Tesyah-Mahle Astwood [West Pembroke School - Dance]; Zharia Bean [Bermuda Institute - Sign Language / Spanish Class]; La’Teaka Dehaney [Dame Marjorie Bean Hope Academy - Saturday Social Skills]; Alayah Heath [Harrington Sound Primary - Piano]; Angelae Heath [Harrington Sound Primary – Piano]; Maya Palacio- [CedarBridge Academy – Hockey] and Tatijana Swainson [St. George’s Preparatory School - Dance]
This is the first year of the awards which launched in March 2012 in celebration of International Women’s Day 2012 which had the theme: “Connecting Girls, Inspiring Futures”.
The funds for the scholarships [totaling $2,650] were raised primarily through a fundraising event in March which featured the Head Girls from Bermuda’s Senior Schools speaking on the topic of leadership as well as their time spent as Head Girl. Previous Miss Bermuda Jana Outerbridge was the guest speaker.
Minister Blakeney said: “It was such a pleasure today to meet with the first recipients of the Extracurricular Scholarships for Girls. Extracurricular activities are so important for helping to create a rounded individual as they assist young girls with character building, as well as teaching them lifelong skills which they will carry with them into adulthood.”
Chairperson of the Bermuda Women’s Council Laurie Shiell said: “I am delighted and excited about this scholarship and I am grateful for the Minister’s support with this endeavour. These young ladies will be afforded the opportunities for developing a variety of social and personal skills which may help them to become productive members of our community.
“The Bermuda Women’s Council believes that a scholarship toward extracurricular activities for girls is very important, as studies show that girls involved in extracurricular activities receive higher grades than those who are not involved in such activities and additionally, these activities have been shown to improve the overall student.”
