2013 Bermuda Government Scholars Named
Rachel Ball, Jesse Marshall, Xiaoyu Sun and John Russell were announced as the recipients of this year’s Bermuda Government Scholarships.
Yesterday [Aug 15] Minister of Education, Nalton Brangman announced the names saying “To all of you who were fortunate enough to be selected, we are delighted that we are able to recognise you and provide you with that much needed monetary boost which I am sure will assist you all greatly.
“Today we recognise our new Bermuda Government Scholars, recipients of Further Education Awards and the Mature Student Award. These scholarships and awards recognise the brightest talents in our community.
“Each of you represents an investment for this Government. We understand that the important studies that you will undertake over the next few years will serve this community well upon your return home.
“You are an impressive group, you are the future leaders of this Country and you are a testament to what can be achieved with hard work, focus and determination,” said Minister Brangman.
Bermuda Government Scholars 2013
- Rachel Leah Ball is currently a Health Science Pre-Med student at Columbus State University pursuing a goal of becoming an Orthopaedic Trauma Surgeon. She volunteers for YMCA to address the need created by the lack of funding for health care and enjoys mentoring aspiring medical students. She achieved the President’s List for Spring 2013 in recognition of superior academic performance – Ms. Ball has already left to begin her classes.
- Jesse W. Marshall is currently in his second year at the University of Southampton pursuing a degree in Natural Sciences which he feels fits perfectly with Bermuda and his hopes of returning to Bermuda focusing on Oceanography. He is an avid sportsman who enjoys tennis, golf and soccer.
- Xiaoyu “Yuki” Sun is a 2013 Saltus graduate who achieved the Headmaster’s prize for GCSEs and is an Advanced Placement Scholar with Honors. She will be pursuing an actuarial science designation at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, Scotland.
- John Russell has been invited to join the University of Exeter to pursue a Mechanical Engineering degree commencing September 2013. He has achieved the Duke of Edinburgh Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards and wants to help drive Bermuda towards a more energy sustainable country.
The scholarships were recently capped at $35,000, and the length extended from 3 years to 4 years.
Wow, that photo looks like an accurate representation of Bermuda’s demographics.
sad isn’t it but I don’t think we can knock them too hard cause we don’t know who actually applied.
next time ill submit my name. SoMuchMore
Good luck!
I always felt that government scholarships should be predominantly for students who are educated in the government system. Perhaps spots can be reserved for private school kids, but the majority should be for the public school students who are doing very well.
Yes. Agreed. Public school students. If you paid for private school, you can pay for University.
Not all private school students are rich.
I attended public primary and private high school in BDA. The only way that I was able to attend the private school was grade based bursary from the school due to my family’s financial situation.
I agree they aren’t all rich…but for the ones that are not rich, perhaps they should have saved money for college, rather than exhausting all resources paying for private school from age 5.
But the same argument can be put forward toward public school students (i.e. they didn’t have to pay for high school, so they should have saved for college during those years).
I don’t agree with either argument to tell you the truth.
Lol, the same can be said for public school students considering they have never paid for education. Your argument makes no sense.
Parents of private school students pay taxes to fund governement schools so they should be eligible for governemnt scholarships. The ministry of education still has responsibility and oversite of private schools.
Good job,looking after our youth!
Government scholarships should be for all students who have parents that have contributed to payroll tax and have a certain amount of schooling years WITH a guarantee of 4 years of service to Bermuda.
“Service to Bermuda” – please explain.
Firstly, congrats to the above.
Secondly, and off topic, to Bernews:
Any chance that you could create a Premier League section on the website for the posters to post banter and debate on the sqauds/players/games/league?
Explain further what you mean please?
Just a page/section which highlights the score of the games being played and maybe procuring a match analysis from an AP or other media source (as opposed to having write up an analysis yourselves). Also, maybe allowing local guest columnists submit their analysis on their teams, the league or any other Premier League related issue.
I imagine the posts/debate/banter would be pretty funny amongst the footie fans in BDA. And it would provide a much needed respite between the political “debates” which seem to occur here and on other media sources on a daily basis.
Just a thought, and thanks for the reply.
Keep up the good work!
My daughter applied for the scholarship as well as a bursary but was not successful, she had numerous accomplishments. I just don’t get it!
Maybe other students had more accomplishments?
I completely agree unless you got a scholarship to go private school you should not be able to apply for a government scholarship. Also does Sun have any bermudian ties? Or in that manner any of the reciepents. I feel sorry for those bermudian public school students that applied but weren’t chosen for the scholorship.
Why would you assume they didn’t have Bermudian ties?
Ohhh, I know why…
Bet if you saw the pictures (not pictured above) of the other recipients (Ms. Ball and Mr. Fubler et al) you wouldn’t ask that of them.
But, around and around we go.
.
Sad isn’t it.
The Bda Government Scholarships are reserved for students who have been educated for a minimum number of years (I think 5yrs) in Bermuda and for those who are also Bermudian or who have at least one Bermudian parent yet this is the question that is on the minds of most readers of this article about exemplary students.
FYI Marshall and Russell are two “Bermudian” names. They may not look like what you think counts for Bermudian but I assure you they are.
As for restricting the pool of applicants to those educated in the public school system. Why? Is there mention of any other high school besides Ms Sun’s? Unless we know them personally we don’t know where they went to high school do we? Further this award is open to applicants until their mid20s. A lot of things can change in a few short years so how do you restrict an award for a student whose parents paid for private school but have since become unemployed?
Xenophobia only takes the argument so far and to a very limited audience.
because if you aint Black you aint Bermudian. didnt you know this?!?
Right, Double Standards – because Sun is such a typical Bermudian name.
Well unfortunately for you and others that think like you BDA’s demographics are changing much like the rest of the world.
You guys are seriously beginning to sound Republican in your rhetoric. Hate gays, don’t want foreigners in the island and now have even constructed what you perceive to be a “real Bermudian” which is akin to being a “true red-blooded American.”
Anyways, the poster above, to whom I responded, also questioned the “Bermudianess” of not just Ms. Sun, but also Mr. Marshall and Mr. Russell as well.
But it wasn’t so much the last name their query stemmed from, and you know what I mean.
Demographics may be changing – but not much else is. The Island is as divided between the haves and the have nots as it always was. Awarding Government money to children who have been privileged to attend private school only perpetuates that divide.
You infer that people have these ingrained notions and prejudices, yet you fail to address your own prejudices and notions by assuming that 1) these kids are much brighter than any child that attends Cedarbridge or Berkley, therefore, THEY deserve the scholarship, and 2) that they are probably not wealthy and therefore must need the assistance.
You can label me whatever you want, but I will continue to stick up for our public school kids – because this Government certainly is not.
Please highlight in any of my posts where I inferred or suggested that these kids are smarter than public school children? Just one example please.
The only inference in this thread is where the poster inferred that the kids pictured above are not Bermudian due to their appearance.
Instead of deflecting why don’t you address this incorrect stereotyping?
And as noted above not all kids that attend private schools are rich or privileged as that is just another stereotype.
So back to my first paragraph and request. Please show me anywhere where I have inferred what you say I have inferred. You can’t make up stuff to justify your own arguments/beliefs.
The criteria for the scholarships cam be meet by any student including those in public school. The very wide criteria can be meet by ANY Bermudian student IF they apply and meet it early, not as an after thought. The fallacious of any family that sends a kid to private school is ‘well-off’ is driving some of the above drivel.
Please review the criteria…
(taken from the Bda Gov website)
2. Eligibility
The Bermuda Government Scholarships Act 2008; includes, inter alias, the following provisions:
>. The applicant must be a British Subject, born in Bermuda or, if not born in Bermuda;
>>. The child of at least one parent who possesses Bermudian status under the provision of the Bermuda Immigration and Protection Act 1956, or,
>>. The child of at least one parent who possessed at the time of the
parent’s death, Bermudian status or Bermudian domicile under the provisions of the Immigration Act 1937.
> The applicant must have been educated in Bermuda for a minimum of five years.
> The applicant must satisfy at least ONE of the following requirements:
>> Possession of no less than two subjects of the General Certificate of Education at the Advanced Level;
>> Successful completion of the two -year Associate Degree Program at the Bermuda College (or an equivalent institution)
>> Successful completion of the first year at an approved college or university;
>> Documentary evidence that the candidate has successfully completed the International Baccalaureate Diploma program;
>> Documentary evidence that the applicant has successfully completed a secondary program approved by the Ministry of Education that, for the purpose of this regulation, qualifies the candidate for entry into college or university.
> The successful applicant is required to demonstrate outstanding academic performance.
> The successful applicant is required to demonstrate participation in extra-curricular activities and in community service.
> The applicant must be not less than seventeen years of age and must not have passed his/her twenty-third birthday by 1st
October, 2013.
> Short listed applicants will be interviewed in July 2013
Private school students get everything, scholarships, internships, jobs right out of college. Seems like if you have BHS, Saltus etc on your resume you stand a pretty better chance at getting employment after college. If you have Cedar Bridge or Berkley on your resume ive seen that resume get pushed to the side. COME ON BERMUDA! Private school students should not be able to apply for government scholarships. Give the minority a chance for once.
Who is “the minority” in your mind?
@Frustrated based on the last census data. Who are the minorities in Bermuda?
Bermuda has had and will have a majority black population for some time and most of them are very well educated and solidly middle class if not upper middle class on any reasonable scale of such things. The minority claim is misguided at best and sadly ignorant of all known facts.
i am still trying to figure out how nalton brangman got the position of ed min. he did not run in the election nor have i even heard his name floating around during the election.
can someone explain plz.
He is trying to further his education
All I can say is that the three young people pictured with Minister Brangman, do not “look” like they attended the Berkeley or Cedarbridge.
Secondly, the Minister does not choose the recipients by himself. I am sure that there is a selections committee.
Mr. Brangman I am sure that your father must be proud of you
Good Day, please allow me a little space to voice my thoughts, I have a son who is overseas in college we have applied for several scholarships for him and it is always the same answer “did not qualify” whats that all about, he has maintained 92-96 percent in his studies and still can’t get a scholarship, someone told us “it’s not what you know,but WHO you know” I feel that saying is so TRUE to the young BLACK males and females who have tried to get scholarships and have failed for what ever reason,keep trying!!!!!!!!!!!! cause we will continue to try for my son. There is so much bad press about our young black males, here is just one of them that is trying to do the right things in life and he opens the paper today and sees this, “How do you think that made him feel?” he has worked very hard and he to has come from a single parent household but not by his choice, you see his father has passed away leaving me ( his mother ) doing what I can, and that is BY ANY MEANS NECCESSARY.So if those 3 students you say got it cause their parents pay taxes then what am I paying? taxes to keep paying for the young black males in our prisons? Come on people lets see it and call it as it is. Everytime you see students getting scholarships 1-2 out of 10 will be black. So whatever comments follows this comment will be meanless to us parents who are trying to give our kids the gift of futhering there education. Have a Great Day.
Nalton Brangman is a Senator and therefore can serve in cabinet, just as Col Burch did for so many years, and others too in the past.