First Middleton scholar named
Rebecca Middleton has been named.
Sonina Lottimore will receive a $1,000 grant towards her studies at Bermuda College.
It is unclear as to when the presentation will take place and whether or not Rebecca's mother, Cindy, or her father, David Middleton, will fly from their Belleville, Ontario, home to make the inaugural presentation to the 17-year-old student.
Miss Lottimore will join students in Canada who benefit from five scholarships set up following the July 1996 rape, torture and stabbing of the 17-year-old teenager, at Ferry Reach in St. George's.
Yesterday, Mr. Middleton said he was pleased that someone deserving had been found to receive the award, which was originally set up by dentist Dr. Ian Campbell.
He said the idea was to help a young Bermudian, who would hopefully stay on the Island and use the qualifications they gained at college for the good of the country.
"We were looking for somebody who was going to be a needy recipient, not somebody who could afford to study in the US,'' he said. "A home grown person getting a good education to use for a better Bermuda.
"You can't tie people down, but somebody who gets an education and uses those skills on the Island -- that would be great.'' And Mrs. Middleton said the award would be a good positive thing that had come out of the death of their daughter.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Middleton said they were unsure whether they would be able to attend a presentation ceremony.
Miss Lottimore, who will become the first to receive the Rebecca Middleton Scholarship Memorial Fund, is to embark on the qualification year for a course in Computer Information Systems.
She recently completed the College Discovery Programme and could eventually complete an associate degree in the faculty of Hotel and Business Administration.
Dean of Students, Sheridan Talbot, said the student was "very excited'' to receive the award.
She said the Middletons wanted someone who had finished the Discovery Programme, which is aimed at those who, for whatever reason, did not meet the normal conditions for entry.
Fundraising -- which took place here and in Rebecca Middleton's home town -- began soon after the killing.
Weeks after $45,000 had been raised from individual donations and events, including a concert by local bands.
In Belleville, the funds are split between several schools who select deserving students to receive the awards.