Three graduates helped by the Government’s bursary programme were welcomed into the civil service as this year’s recipient was named.

Ania Gilbert will benefit from the scheme as she studies for a Bachelor’s of Business Administration-Accounting at Mount Saint Vincent University in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Derrick Binns, the head of the public service, marked Ms Gilbert’s achievement and congratulated the graduating bursary award students of 2020.

They are Kobe Richardson, in the Department of Public Land, Buildings and Surveys, Malik Richards in the Department of Planning and Doreen Burgess in Environmental Health.

Wayne Furbert, the Minister for the Cabinet Office, said: “The Public Service Bursary Award Scheme identifies qualified individuals who will meet the future needs of Government departments, thus ensuring a well-trained cadre of people to fill positions within the public service.

“I am pleased to recognise Ania Gilbert, the recipient of the 2020-21 Bermuda Government Public Service Bursary Award.

“Of the graduates, Kobe will be a trainee building surveyor, Doreen a trainee environmental health officer and Malik has moved to the substantive post of an assistant planner.”

He added: “We are proud of them all as they will be a welcome addition to the ranks of the public service.”

Five bursary recipients will continue with their studies in nursing, nautical science, engineering and accounting.

A Government spokeswoman said that 2020-21 awards were available for accredited postsecondary study programmes on the island and overseas.

The bursaries are valued at $10,000 a year for up to five years.

Applicants must be Bermudian, have completed at least five years of school on the island and be aged 40 or under at the time of their application.

They need to have been accepted into a higher learning institution or be taking courses “leading to a professional, specialist or technical qualification required within the public service” to be considered.

The awards can be for undergraduate or master’s degree programmes and the applicants must be planning a career in the public service after completion.