Now hotel management student Christin Butterfield has an extra $5,000 to put towards his education, courtesy of the Rafael Elbow Beach Hotel.

The third-year hospitality administration student at Morris Brown University in Atlanta, Georgia, is the latest recipient of the scholarship, which has been running since 1990.

Elbow Beach human resources manager Robert Calderon said Mr. Butterfield, 22, has worked for the past three summers at the hotel on the concierge's desk.

Mr. Calderon added the former Northlands Secondary and Williston Northampton School, Massachusetts pupil was bitten by the hotel bug and changed his degree course from early childhood education to a tourism-related qualification.

He said: "Christin has been an exemplary employee during his summers working for us and that caught our eye. He is also doing very well in school.

"He changed his major because he felt he had a lot to offer tourists in terms of his character and demeanour and that he could have a major impact on our major industry.'' The scholarship also guarantees a job at Elbow Beach on graduation and the chance to work at two of Rafael's other resorts -- the Mark in New York or the Turnberry Isle in Florida -- during summer breaks.

Mr. Calderon said: "They are two very good hotels and once he graduates he will work for us for a minimum of one year and hopefully longer.'' The 1990 sholarship winner Tracey Wilson, 27, of Southampton, also a graduate of Morris Brown, was taken on staff at Elbow Beach last year and recently won promotion to conference services manager, in charge of group incentive and business travellers.

And Paul Telford, 23, of Warwick, who picked up the scholarship in 1996, is shortly to graduate with a Bachelor of Science in international hotel management from Buckingham University in England and is set to take his place on the front line at Elbow Beach.

Mr. Calderon said: "There are not a whole lot of people going into hotel management, but the ones who are we seem to be getting.'' Sonesta Beach Hotel is set to hand out scholarships to the children of employees.

And on Wednesday, president and managing director of the hotel, Joseph Violi, will present a total of five youngsters with their awards.

The scheme is open to employees who have worked at the hotel for at least three years and candidates must be enrolled at a recognised educational institution.

IN THE BANK FOR BUTTERFIELD! -- Christin Butterfield, 22, (left) is given a cheque for $5,000 from Elbow Beach Hotel general manager Bill Shoaf as this year's winner of the hotel's scholarship, designed to attract Bermuda's brightest and best into the vital tourism sector.