Two Bermudians at Ace are living proof that one of the Island’s most prestigious scholarships does more than just pay for tuition. Now they’re encouraging more young Bermudians to apply for the scholarship that helped kick start their careers.Kristofer Sannemalm and Patrick Suter, who were both recipients of the Robert Clements/Ace Scholarship, now work as actuaries for the company that awarded them the opportunity when they were in high school: Sannemalm for Ace Tempest Re and Suter for Ace European Group.Both say they were inspired to become insurance actuaries by the same math teacher at Warwick Academy, Richard Hall, who later went on to become an actuary for Allied World.“He was the professional I knew in the industry who said, ‘Patrick, this is a job that you will love. This is exactly what you should be doing with your life.’ He really showed me the opportunity there,” Mr Suter said.“I went and spent the day with him and he seemed to be happy, and was doing things that seemed to be interesting that was enough to get me interested.”“When I went through school you didn’t have that focus on international business or insurance it wasn’t pressed as much at a high school level. If it weren’t for a teacher telling me about this career, I was going into accounting because I thought I’d like to do something with math and accounting is one thing that everyone knows,” said Mr Sannemalm. “I think now, the opportunities are exponentially greater to hear about opportunities for young kids in Bermuda.”Since its establishment in 1996, the Robert Clements/Ace Scholarship has provided financial support to Bermudian university students enabling them to complete insurance-related degree programmes and to pursue careers in the international insurance industry.The fully-funded scholarship is awarded annually to qualified students studying full-time towards an undergraduate or graduate degree in insurance, risk management, actuarial science or other disciplines related to the insurance industry such as corporate law, accounting or economics.Amy Shillingford, a spokesperson for Ace, says the students who are awarded the scholarship don’t have to worry about making ends meet or where they’re going to get their funding from that’s completely taken care of.The scholarship covers tuition and fees, room and board, textbooks, round-trip airfares between the university and Bermuda as well as internship, networking and employment opportunities for four years at any accredited university in the world.“It’s a great opportunity for any young Bermudians considering a career in insurance or reinsurance industry. It takes that financial burden away and leaves them to focus on their studies to work hard, and take advantage of the paid summer internship,” Ms Schillingford said. “With that financial worry taken away, they should be able to focus on their studies and make the most of it.”Both Mr Suter and Mr Sannemalm say it’s not just about lifting the financial burden, it’s about getting a foot in the door.“It’s so much more than just the financial help you get with going off to university. From the day you get here, they sort of take you in and walk you through issues or concerns you have they’re very attentive in making sure your needs are met when you do come back,” Mr Sannemalm said. “So it’s not just them paying for school and you’re left on your own, I think it’s sort of a guidance towards the career that you choose within the insurance industry which I thought was very helpful.”“The amount of people that get hired out of college in Bermuda that didn’t go through the internships there’s almost nobody,” Mr Suter said. “Everybody that gets hired they’ve spent at least a couple of years in one of the companies doing some time and if you don’t do that, that door is nowhere near as open you have to break it down if you want to get in as opposed to being welcomed with open arms.”While the scholarship has put these two young men on the fast track to success, the company says they haven’t seen nearly as many applicants as they’d like to.Mr Sannemalm and Mr Suter say they hope that changes and that more young Bermudians consider the scholarship and a career in the insurance industry.“It’s an absolutely perfect way to get yourself ingrained in the main driver of Bermuda’s economy which is international business and insurance,” Mr Sannemalm said. “It’s the stepping stone that anyone would be very proud to have and appreciative to have. And you can see the advantages of having it are shown quite soon after receiving it. It’s definitely something that can guide your career it sort of pulls out the stops.”“I think Ace does everything they can to help a Bermudian citizen get the best possible start in their career,” Mr Suter said. “I spent the bulk of my education and adult life working and growing with the company. That’s an opportunity that a lot of Bermudians would be stupid not to take advantage of.”Students interested in the Robert Clements/Ace Scholarship can apply online through www.bermudascholarships.com. The deadline is April 30.