Cannonier & Judd Receive UWC Bursaries

June 26, 2023 | 0 Comments

The Bermuda National Committee for the United World Colleges [UWC] announced that Berkeley Institute student Ayr Cannonier and Somersfield student Imojen Judd have been awarded placements at United World Colleges.

A spokesperson said, “Ayr Cannonier will be the first Bermudian student ever to attend UWC Tanzania.

“With campuses in Moshi [Kilimanjaro] and Arusha, UWC East Africa is a long established and fully accredited independent International Baccalaureate [IB] school in northern Tanzania. Established in 1969 as International School Moshi, the school was the first in Africa to become an International Baccalaureate school, and joined the UWC movement in 2019 as UWC East Africa. It is the 18th UWC school worldwide and the second in Africa.

“Ayr is a Principal’s Honour student from Berkeley Institute and a volunteer for Tomorrow’s Voices – an organisation working with autistic children.

“He also is an active athlete, playing football for St David’s and cricket for St George’s.

About his selection, Mr. Cannonier said, “I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity and extremely excited to be traveling to Africa while continuing my studies and having new experiences that will expand my horizons.”

The spokesperson said, “Imjoen Judd will be only the second Bermudian student to attend UWC Thailand.

“She is an award-winning swimmer, winning gold in 50m backstroke at the Carifta games 2018 andcredits much of her success to her dedication to competitive swimming.

“Imojen is a Montessori learner from Somersfield, has maintained high academic honours and is passionate about diversity, equity and inclusion. She recently represented Somersfield at the NAIS Student Diversity Leadership Conference in Texas. Imjoen looks forward to the UWC experience and the chance to give back to the community in the future.”

About her selection, Ms Judd said, “I am thrilled to be part of the UWC community and to have the opportunity to immerse myself within the culture of Thailand. I feel privileged to represent Bermuda overseas and am excited to share the unique attributes of Bermuda with others while learning within the diverse student body at the school. I want to thank UWC Bermuda for supporting me.”

The spokesperson said, “Located on the island of Phuket, UWC Thailand was the 16th school to join the UWC movement. The school offers a holistic educational programme that encompasses academics, social and emotional learning and mindfulness, service, outdoor education, and activities. Within an environment of authentic differentiation, equal emphasis is placed upon mental and emotional balance and academic rigour. Students learn how to learn, analyse, think creatively, and reach thoughtful conclusions; making it a demanding programme that encourages students to reach their highest potential.”

Zayna Foggo, Head of Selections and Vice Chair for the UWC Bermuda National Committee said, “Both Ayr and Imojen demonstrated strong academic ability, a genuine commitment to their community and embody core UWC ideals. We are excited to see students of their caliber applying for this exceptional programme and are pleased to offer her what will undoubtedly be a life-changing experiences in Tanzania and Thailand. We know both Ayr and Imojen will represent themselves and Bermuda well.”

Sean Smatt, Chair of the National Committee added, “I would like to add my sincere congratulations to Ayr and Imojen on their achievements.

“A UWC education is like nothing else currently available to Bermudian students. It represents an amazing opportunity to explore the world and the cultures within it, while following a challenging IB academic curriculum. Additionally, the UWC movement is partnered with a variety of scholarship programs to help fund university education. It really is an exceptional opportunity for Bermudian students.”

The spokesperson said, “Students selected by the UWC Bermuda National Committee [Charity #346] are offered the opportunity to complete a two year IB curriculum at one of 18 UWC locations including Costa Rica, Japan, India, The Netherlands and Singapore.

“Students are selected on a need-blind basis, with financial support provided based on need.

“Financial support remains key to our ability to continue sending students.

“We would like to thank the various alumni, friends, companies and foundations who have so generously supported our programme this year. We would like to offer specific thanks to Validus Re, the Bermuda Foundation, Butterfield & Vallis, and Willis [Bermuda] Ltd. for their generous support.

“The UWC movement was conceived in the 1950s, based on the idea that students aged 16-18 would be grounded in their culture, but impressionable enough to learn from each other.

“UWC makes education a force to unite people, nations and cultures for peace and a sustainable future. This is accomplished by providing an international education and exposure founded on a combination of rigorous academics, cultural exchange, tolerance and community service.”

Imojen Judd

Imojen Judd with [left to right] Dr. Chantelle Simmons and Zayna Foggo of the UWC Bermuda National Committee, McKeisha Smith on behalf of Validus Re and Nikkita Scott, UWC Graduate and Bermuda Foundation Board member.