IN July 2002, Police Commissioner Jonathan Smith reported that an average of 8.5 traffic collisions had occurred on each day between April and June. That statistic measured a staggering increase of nine per cent over the same period in the previous year, and 13 per cent over 2000.

The most unfortunate part of such statistics, however, is that they don't just relate to minor scrapes or fender benders; there is sometimes a loss of life.

In 1998, Ewan Sampson, at the age of 17, became one of those statistics. While many parents can do nothing but grieve over the death of a child, Tyrone and Penny Sampson decided to do a bit more, establishing the Ewan Sampson Scholarship Trust in honour of their son and his career interests.

THE Ewan Sampson Scholarship Trust (ESST) was created in the wake of one family's tragedy. Tyrone and Penny Sampson lost their only child, Ewan, through injuries he suffered in a head-on collision with a bakery van. He was only 17.

In his final year at Saltus Grammar School, Ewan was a gifted musician - he played the trumpet in the school band - had worked for three years as a Candystriper at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital (KEMH) and was planning to attend college in the coming months to pursue a degree in computer science.

On April 21 of 1998, however, his death was recorded as the island's fifth road traffic fatality of the year. At 4.45 p.m. on that day, Ewan is thought to have pulled out of the Shell gas station on Middle Road in Southampton when his bike stand caught on the ground and he collided with a Wonder Bread van.

Ewan was taken hospital by ambulance but died while in Intensive Care. The accident scene lay ten yards from the site of the island's fourth road traffic fatality - which took place less than two weeks earlier. It was his parents' idea that a programme, including a scholarship fund, be set up to encourage other Bermudians to enter the field. "We're very pleased with all that has been achieved by the Trust and the support we've received," Mr. Sampson said. "The joy we get is to see others benefiting from it."

The scholarship was this week praised by police, especially in light of the two road traffic fatalities involving minors this year - Oshea Stowe, 15, died at the end of last month and Troylisha Outerbridge, 19, died in March.

"The Bermuda Police Service is very, very pleased to see the community benefiting from a tragic death of one of our promising young men," said police spokesman Dwayne Caines. "We salute the organisations that choose to honour the life of Ewan Sampson in such a positive and meaningful way."

SINCE its inception, five Bermudians have reaped the benefits of the $12,500 award, while many others have benefited from the ESST Outreach programme created to inform young people about the many job possibilities which lie within the computer science field.

Explained Lynne Winfield, a member of the ESST Outreach Committee: "The scholarship is established not solely to fund or to recognise one outstanding Bermudian university student per year, but, more importantly, to be a means by which many young Bermudians can be encouraged to learn about the information technology (IT) industry in Bermuda for themselves; (so they can learn) about its opportunities, and prepare themselves to take advantage of them."

As part of its work, the ESST Outreach Committee holds student seminars with definite goals - to create an interest in pursuing computer studies beyond the minimum level required, to increase awareness of available computer studies and job opportunities, and to provide information on the scholarship fund itself.

Made annually to senior secondary school pupils in co-operation with the Computer Society of Bermuda - and to be extended to middle school pupils this September - the presentations rely on four distinct methods, Mrs. Winfield added.

"The first is the forum or reception," she explained. "Businesses who are our benefactors have kindly held receptions in their business premises at which their executives and IT personnel have attended. Students from high schools all over the island have been invited so that they can meet and discuss on an intimate level opportunities in the IT field. Other receptions have been held at Bermuda College and at the Chamber of Commerce."

In addition to having the opportunity of a one-on-one meeting with company representatives, Mrs. Winfield says students are informed of career opportunities in IT and telecommunications, and how IT serves as a basis for most business activity today.

Business cards are also offered to those students who express the wish to have further contacts. Such meetings are usually conducted outside of school hours whereas the second method of presentation is made before the school assembly.

"(In such instances, we'll have) four or five business people make brief addresses to the upper class or classes of secondary schools in their assembly halls during school hours about IT and telecommunications before answering questions."

As part of the Outreach programme's classroom presentation, officers of the Computer Society of Bermuda speak to high school classes of IT students regarding further education in IT and telecommunications.

This method has proved useful to many students, the secretary explained, as it shows students how to avoid choosing the wrong courses in university, how to seek and obtain practical experience through summer employment, and gives advice based on what the student wants to do in employment after graduation.

"The fourth (method), which is now being developed, is arranging with businesses, Government and a variety of other organisations to allow groups of students to tour their IT and telecommunications facilities and to have (employees present) explain to them how IT and telecommunications are fundamentally important to their operations, how they serve the organisation and its customers, how they are controlled, and answer questions.

"The Selection Committee of the Ewan Sampson Scholarship Trust believes a significant improvement in the calibre of applicants for the scholarship may be resulting from this work with students," Mrs. Winfield said.

"However, other methods of attracting the attention and interest of students, and helping them understand how to plan their university IT programmes, are constantly being found. It is our hope, the scholarship will encourage and assist young people to pursue opportunities in IT, and Ewan Sampson scholars will, in their time, become valuable role models for others and encourage and mentor them.

"Ewan was a young Bermudian who recognised vividly the great opportunities available in information technology. (He) was pursuing them with vigour, to the benefit both of himself, and of those many others whose lives were influenced by his enthusiasm, positive thinking, and broad humanity. He planned to work his way to the top in information technology and remains a role model for holders of his scholarship."