Minister On Scholarships & Awards Recipients

“On Wednesday, this week, July 17th, the Ministry of Education held its annual Scholarships and Awards Reception, which was a gratifying evening of recognition and celebration of an outstanding group of young Bermudians,” Minister of Education Diallo Rabain said

Speaking in the House of Assembly today [July 19], the Minister said, “The reception brought together over 100 family members and friends who demonstrated a high degree of pride in their clapping, whistling, and shout outs as each student was called to receive their scholarship and award. Although this year’s scholarships and awards recipients reflected different ages, backgrounds, and areas of studies, a common thread revealed their expression of deep commitment to achieve, be successful and contribute towards a better Bermuda.”

The Minister’s full statement follows below:

Mr Speaker,

This morning I rise to share with this Honourable House, the recipients of the Ministry of Education’s 2019 scholarships and awards. On Wednesday, this week, July 17th, the Ministry of Education held its annual Scholarships and Awards Reception, which was a gratifying evening of recognition and celebration of an outstanding group of young Bermudians.

The reception brought together over 100 family members and friends who demonstrated a high degree of pride in their clapping, whistling, and shout outs as each student was called to receive their scholarship and award. Although this year’s scholarships and awards recipients reflected different ages, backgrounds, and areas of studies, a common thread revealed their expression of deep commitment to achieve, be successful and contribute towards a better Bermuda.

Mr Speaker,

This Government shares the same commitment. We not only value education but are investing in education. We are delivering on our pledge to provide greater opportunities for Bermudians to help meet their individual education and training needs, but also those of our community and economy.

We believe that funds for post-secondary education and training be used strategically and in line with our values. Therefore, in putting our children and their futures first, we continue to provide long-standing scholarships and awards, such as the Bermuda Government Scholarships for outstanding scholars; the Further Education Awards for students who need financial support in completing college or university; and, more recently Technical and Vocational Awards, Applied Tech Scholarships and Awards for exceptional students.

Mr Speaker,

Let me share first the names of the recipients of the prestigious Bermuda Government Scholarship Award. The Scholarships and Awards Committee of the Board of Education identified the most qualified students who were well-rounded by way of demonstrating outstanding academic achievement, leadership, community service, and a commitment to contribute to Bermuda upon the completion of their studies. Each Bermuda Government Scholarship recipient receives funding towards the cost of tuition and accommodation up to $35,000 per annum for a period of up to four years.

Mr Speaker,

These high achieving students emanate from Bermuda’s public and private educational institutions. The students are pursuing the fields of medicine, law and psychology.

Mr Speaker,

The 2019 Bermuda Government Scholarship awardees are:

• Taj Donville-Outerbridge, a graduate of The Berkeley Institute and the Bermuda College dual enrollment programme. He is pursuing a degree in medicine at St. George University in Grenada;

• Ryan Robinson-Perinchief, a graduate of The Berkeley Institute, and an LLB graduate of Durham University. He will be completing his Legal Practice Course at BPP University in the UK, and the third awardee is,

• Harlee Purvey, a graduate of Bermuda High School for Girls. She will be pursuing a degree in Psychology at McMaster University in Ontario, Canada, with a focus in Speech-Language Pathology

Mr Speaker,

We are pleased that our top scholarship recipients are pursuing areas of study which are relevant for Bermuda, and in industries that require Bermudian professionals.

Mr Speaker,

As a reminder for my Honourable Colleagues, the next set of scholarships and awards were introduced to ensure more diversity with our awards funding. There are a total of five different categories, which include:

• a. the Minister’s Achievement Scholarship for a graduating student from CedarBridge Academy and a graduating student from The Berkeley Institute pursuing overseas post-secondary study;

• b. the Minister’s Technical and Vocational Award for graduating public school students, or recent public school alumni attending Bermuda College and who are pursuing local or overseas post-secondary study;

• c. the Minister’s Exceptional Student Award for graduating students or school leavers with disabilities pursuing local or overseas post-secondary study;

• d. the Minister’s Applied Technology Scholarship for senior public school dual enrolment students in Bermuda College’s Applied Technology Programme to allow recipients to complete their Associates Degree once they have graduated from senior school; and,

• e. the Minister’s Bermuda College Book Award for the purchase of books by Bermuda College students in financial need.

These Scholarships and Awards are tenable for the duration of the student’s full-time post-secondary programme of study, for a period from one to four years; except the Minister’s Bermuda College Book Award, which is a one-time award valued at $500 for the purchase of books. All other Minister’s Scholarships and Awards are valued at $5,000 for local studies and $25,000 for overseas studies.

Mr Speaker,

Recipients of the Minister’s Applied Tech Scholarship are:

• Malachi Butterfield – he is a graduate of CedarBridge Academy. In September 2019 he will pursue an Associate Degree at Bermuda College on his path towards becoming a Robotics Engineer; and,

• Kiundae Tuzo – another graduate of CedarBridge Academy. He will pursue an Associate Degree at Bermuda College, and his goal is to become a Veterinary Technician.

I am most pleased to add that both students are recent graduates of the Applied Technology Certificate Programme offered at the Bermuda College.

Mr Speaker,

Recipients of the Minister’s Achievement Scholarship are:

• Jordyn Richardson – a 2019 graduate of The Berkeley Institute. She plans to study Psychology and Neuroscience at Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio; and,

• Marley Hines – a 2019 graduate of CedarBridge Academy. He plans to study Economics at Bryant University in Smithfield, Rhode Island.

Also, let me state that both students are recent graduates of the Bermuda College dual enrollment programme.

Mr Speaker,

• Recipients of the Minister’s Technical and Vocational Award are:

• Dimitrius Richardson – a graduate of The Berkeley Institute. He has been accepted to the International Liverpool College to pursue the Foundation Certificate for Business, Law and Social Sciences. Upon completion, he will enter the BA [Hons] in Architecture at the University of Liverpool; and,

• Jahmori Richardson – a graduate of CedarBridge Academy. He has been accepted into Bermuda College and will pursue an Associate of Science in Computer Information Systems.

Mr Speaker,

• The recipients of the Minister’s Exceptional Student Award are:

• CaVon Raynor – he attended Bermuda College and has been accepted to Nova Southeastern University where he will be pursuing a degree in Marine Science;

• Sacred Basden – is a 2019 graduate of the Bermuda High School for Girls. She plans to pursue a degree in Women’s Studies at Mount Saint Vincent University in Halifax, Nova Scotia as a precursor to a career in law and politics; and,

• Keziah Bean-Fostin – a 2019 graduate of The Berkeley Institute. She is of the first cohort of graduates to receive the Bermuda Alternative School Diploma. She plans to pursue a degree in Early Childhood Education at Coventry College in Coventry, England.

Mr Speaker,

The recipients of the Minister’s Bermuda College Book Award are determined by Bermuda College, and the decisions on these awards are pending.

Mr Speaker,

I will now share the recipients of the remaining scholarships and awards determined by the Board of Education.

• The recipients of the 2019 Non-Traditional Student Awards are:

• Noelene Fleming – she will be pursuing a degree in Business Administration at the Mount Saint Vincent University through the Bermuda College partnership affiliation;

• Shari Young – she plans to study Business Administration with a major in Accounting at Mount Saint Vincent University also through the Bermuda College partnership affiliation; and,

• Scott Burrows – he is currently a sophomore student at Warwick University in the UK. He is studying Marketing and Communications.

Mr Speaker,

The recipients of the 2019 Teacher Education Scholarships are:

• Gere Scraders – a junior student at Temple University, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She is studying Science and Mathematics; and,

• Kennisha DeShields – a junior student at Georgia Gwinnett College in Lawrenceville, Georgia. She is specialising in Special Education.

Mr Speaker,

These Teacher Education Scholarships are given to candidates pursuing initial teacher training and who as a condition of their scholarship will work as teachers in the Public School System.

Lastly, Mr Speaker,

The Ministry awarded a total of 30 Further Education Awards which are too numerous to name this morning. However, the full list of all scholarship and award recipients will be available later this morning on the Ministry’s website www.moed.bm.

Mr Speaker,

Let me say that it is refreshing, it is encouraging and it is most gratifying to know that our young Bermudians are bold in their aspirations and pursuit of post-secondary studies that will lead to a mix of professional careers. We are extremely proud of all 49 scholarship and award recipients. I ask my Honorable colleagues to join me in congratulating our students and wishing them success as they further their studies.

Mr Speaker,

In closing, I thank the Chairpersons and members of the Minister’s Scholarships and Awards Committee, the Board of Education’s Scholarship Committee, as well as the scholarship and awards team in the Ministry of Education Headquarters. It is with passion and dedication that they serve to help ensure our students are positioned for ultimate success.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker

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