David Ferreira anticipated a rejection from the Rhodes Scholarship Trust secretary while talking to him on the phone but was pleasantly surprised.

"When I got the phone call from John Collis (of the awards committee), he said 'I hope you enjoyed the interview, we certainly did'.

"So, then I thought that was the lead to, 'sorry but you did not get it'.

"But then he said we've chosen you. I was so shocked and went blank a little bit. My mom was staring at me while I was on the phone and I was trying not to let her know or give it away. I was still on the phone so I didn't want her screaming," said Mr. Ferreira.

Mr. Ferreira, who attends the University of Pennsylvania, expects to graduate in May with a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Political Science, Philosophy and Economics.

He attended Saltus Junior School and then Cothill House in the UK. In 1995 he entered Eton College in the UK where he achieved 11 GCSEs (all at a grade A or above) and 3 A levels.

He spent a semester in Rome at Temple University while enrolled at the University of Pennsylvania.

Mr. Ferreira is an avid sportsman with a passion for cricket. While at school, he was captain of the cricket team and in Bermuda he has been Southampton Rangers squad.

In 2001 and 2002 he was named Western Counties outstanding player of the year and was a member of the Bermuda Under-19 and Under-23 teams. In the US he plays for the Merion Cricket Club of Philadelphia.

At the University of Pennsylvania he plays squash, football and rugby.

In October he plans to study law at Oxford University and said: "I am eager to finish at Penn and begin at Oxford. I have always been thinking about Oxford because it is the best place in the world to study law. The scholarship was one method of getting there."

When asked why he applied for the scholarship he said: "I heard about the scholarship in 2002 and decided why not. I figured I had nothing to lose."

Mr. Ferreira was born in Bermuda but moved to the UK with his family when he was eight.

His father, Alvin Ferreira, passed away while in England and his mother, Pamela Ferreira, is a lawyer and owner of the MarketPlace chain of grocery stores. His sister, Kristen Ferreira, is also a lawyer and works for XL Capital in London.

Last year's recipient was Fiona Herring.

@EDITRULE:

A Bermudian student has won the Bell Scholarship at a Canadian University.

Christine Mayor, former summer reporter at The Royal Gazette, is studying at Mount Allison University.

The scholarship she won recognises strong academic ability, leadership potential, volunteer work, extracurricular activities, work experience and good citizenship.

The $8,000 award is renewable for four years.

Christine's many volunteer and extra-curricular activities include a trip to Cambodia for a week-long visit to a village orphanage.

She said: "My exposure to a country scarred by the Khmer Rouge regime, was one of the most meaningful learning opportunities I ever had.

"I spent my time there helping to rebuild roads, planting trees, and doing other physical labour to help the village."

Christine, of Paget, is also editor of her school newspaper and she is involved in the Wesley Methodist church orchestra and the school music programme. She is also co-captain of the Bermuda national debate team, plays basketball, was a representative for the first Bermuda Youth Environmental Conference, and was a stage manager of a school play.

Mount Allison president Wayne MacKay said every year the Bell Scholarships recognise students, who are not only academically gifted, but who demonstrate the values of volunteerism, leadership, and community involvement.

"These are values that we cherish at Mount Allison, and we are pleased to recognise those who exemplify them," said Mr. MacKay.

The Bell Scholarship was established in memory of the Bell Family and their significant contributions to Mount Allison University.

Mount Allison University was also proud to announce that starting in the 2004 to 2005 academic year, the Bell scholarship will be valued at $10,000 per annum.