A total of $7500 has been awarded to two students by Hamilton Parish Council.

Sarai Hines won a Members’ Scholarship worth $5000, while Jashun Bean was awarded a bursary of $2500.

Ms Hines is studying fine arts at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, while Mr Bean is a medical student at the Medical University of the Americas in Nevis. Chairman of the scholarship committee Susan Paynter said the awards were made possible by the generosity of Hamilton Parish Council members and the Ministry of Home Affairs.

She added: “We were pleased that the Ministry of Home Affairs, recognising its importance to the community, pledged $5000 towards the scholarship programme and we hope that, going forward, residents, businesses and other organisations based in the parish will also support the initiative by contributing to the fund to ensure that scholarships can continue to be offered to parish residents each year.”

She added the committee was impressed by the high standard of all the applicants — but that Ms Hines and Mr Bean both made “particularly compelling cases” for funding.

The scholarships are awarded to residents of Hamilton Parish who have completed their first year of study and are granted on academic excellence as well as financial need. More information on the Parish Council awards scheme can be found at www.hamiltonparish.bm.