Sadia Wilson Awarded Butterfield Scholarship
The Bank of Butterfield announced the recipients of its 2019 scholarship awards: Sadia Wilson [Sir Harry D. Butterfield Undergraduate Scholarship]; Barisse Griffin [Butterfield Post-Graduate Scholarship]; and Alexander Yang [Atlantic Undergraduate Scholarship for Employees’ Children].
Sadia Wilson, Sir Harry D. Butterfield Scholarship Recipient
The Sir Harry D. Butterfield Undergraduate Scholarship is awarded to a Bermudian student commencing, or already pursuing, a degree overseas at an accredited university.
“This Scholarship has been offered every year since 1978 in honour of Butterfield’s late Chairman, former Rhodes Scholar, Sir Harry D. Butterfield, whose distinguished career in public and business life was dedicated to the betterment of Bermuda and Bermudians,” a spokesperson said.
“The award has an annual value of $25,000, tenable for up to four years. The 2019 recipient Sadia Wilson is currently enrolled at the University of Bristol where she is pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in cellular molecular medicine.
“Ms. Wilson hopes to become a dental surgeon to help combat poor dental hygiene and the resulting oral ailments. In addition to her academic achievements, Ms. Wilson is a passionate gymnast, who has won many medals for Bermuda and England.
She said, “I am applying the same drive to working towards becoming a dental surgeon that I have successfully applied to becoming an elite gymnast.”
Sadia Wilson with Butterfield Scholarship Committee members McKeisha Smith and Dwayne Outerbridge
The Butterfield Post-Graduate Scholarship is available to students in all ten Butterfield jurisdictions globally who are studying disciplines related to the preservation and improvement of island environments at accredited institutions. The award has an annual value of $25,000, tenable for up to four years.
The 2019 recipient, Barisse Griffin, from The Bahamas, is currently enrolled at King’s College in London, UK where she is pursuing a Master’s degree in disasters, adaption and development management.
Ms. Griffin said, “Throughout the Caribbean, we are experiencing unfamiliar climate patterns, such as prolonged and repeated droughts, intense rainfall, and rising sea levels. These conditions disrupt our marine environments and coastal areas resulting in pollutants and debris drifting into the sea, and rising seas consuming our beaches.”
Ms. Griffin’s goal is to develop strategies that will improve crisis response throughout The Bahamas and the Caribbean, helping to combat natural disasters and protect the islands.
Barisse Griffin, Butterfield Post-Graduate Scholarship Recipient
The Atlantic Undergraduate Scholarship for Employees’ Children is awarded to a child of a Butterfield employee who is commencing or already pursuing a degree at an accredited institution.
One scholarship is awarded in each of three regions: Atlantic, comprising Bermuda and Canada; Caribbean, comprising the Cayman Islands and The Bahamas; and Europe for Guernsey, Jersey, the UK, Switzerland, Mauritius and Singapore. Each of the awards has an annual value of $25,000, tenable for up to four years.
This year’s Atlantic Undergraduate Scholarship is awarded to Alexander Yang from Halifax, Canada, who is pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in pharmacy at Dalhousie University. Mr. Yang recently completed a volunteer mission at the Balapitiya Base Hospital in Sri Lanka where he assisted resident physicians in serving their community.
During this mission Mr. Yang experienced the tragedy of losing a life in the emergency room. “This is the unfortunate reality of healthcare; sometimes we cannot save everyone,” Mr. Yang said. “From that day forward, I have dedicated myself to learning as much as possible to prevent a tragedy like that from happening again.” Alex’s goal is to qualify as a pharmacist and combine his first-world medical training with his experiences in the third and provide a wider range of options to patients.
Alexander Yang, Atlantic Undergraduate Scholarship for Employees’ Children Recipient
Each year, Butterfield selects scholarship recipients from among hundreds of deserving applicants. Criteria used in selecting scholarship recipients include academic achievement, financial need, character, leadership qualities, civic attainment and involvement, and achievements in non-curricular activities including the arts and sports.
McKeisha Smith, Chairman of Butterfield’s Scholarship Committee said, “Butterfield attracted a large pool of talented, deserving young candidates for this year’s scholarships.
“Sadia, Barisse and Alex all demonstrated unwavering passion for their chosen fields of study, exceptional leadership abilities and a commitment to make a positive impact on their communities. We are delighted to assist them in their pursuit of higher education, and excited to follow their career progress. Congratulations to all three recipients. We wish them all the best in their studies.”
Thank you Butterfield’s and to all company’s who help our young people pursue their dreams.