Education Minister Dame Jennifer Smith yesterday announced the first recipients of the Bermuda-University of the West Indies (UWI) scholarships.Tyka Edness, Amne Osseyran-Foggo, Asha Rattery and Latonae Smith were each honoured with the scholarships, valued at 80 percent the cost of tuitionWhile a memorandum of understanding between Bermuda and the University also offers one scholarship for a graduate student, there was only one applicant this year. That student decided to attend a different school.Bermuda announced it would become a ‘contributing country’ to the university in 2008 in an effort to cut the cost of tuition. That agreement was signed last summer, with the scholarship being announced this May.Along with funding the scholarships, Bermuda contributes $37,000 per year to the University’s hospital, where medical and nursing students do their practicums.Dame Jennifer said: “This year, scholarships have been awarded to four young Bermudians who have demonstrated hard work and commitment to their studies.“Each scholarship is for a programme of study that is of great use to the people and economy of Bermuda.”Ms Osseyran-Foggo, who is currently enrolled at the university’s Mona Campus in Jamaica studying for a double bachelor of Medicine/Bachelor of Surgery, said she felt privileged to be in the programme, which she described as “challenging.”“My experience at UWI has been nothing like the media perception,” she said. “The people are friendly, and the course is challenging.”Ms Ratteray will also be studying for the same double bachelor at the Mona Campus, while Ms Edness will study for a Bachelor’s Degree in Physical Therapy.Ms Smith will be studying for a Bachelor’s Degree in Hospitality Management at the University’s Cave Hill campus in Barbados.Dame Jennifer said that three students have already expressed interest in applying for the scholarship next year.“We are very pleased that Bermudian students are embracing this opportunity to attend UWI,” she said.“UWI attracts students from around the world and has articulation agreements with a number of international universities.”