When student Priscilla Thompson-Tavares started to notice the violence escalating on the Island she didn’t just turn a blind eye.The 21-year-old decided the best way to combat the problem would be to hit the books. She is currently in her last year of criminology studies at Nottingham-Trent University in the UK.She said: “I saw all the things that are going on in Bermuda right now and I felt a void needed to be filled within that area and specialists needed to be brought in.“I decided why not start locally, instead of always having to contract out for people dealing with crime?“There has been a rise in crime and they need someone to find the answer and find the solutions and I thought I could be that person.”Ms Thompson-Tavares is one of nine recipients of the Ross (Blackie) Talbot Education Award, which has a total value of $68,000.Jeelise Allen, Lauren Furbert, Jasmine Looby, Allison Outerbridge, Shuntelle Paynter, Michiko Campbell, Khamani Fox and Kendra Simons are the remaining scholarship winners.The criminology student said the scholarship was “crucial” in helping her continue her studies. “If it wasn’t for this education award I probably wouldn’t be progressing in my last year.“It means everything to me and I am eternally grateful for it,” she said.The Ross Blackie Talbot Education Award is currently in its sixth and final year. Over the years it has provided 41 needy students with approximately $538,000 to pursue their education overseas.The aim is that they eventually return to Bermuda, so the community can benefit from their qualifications, skills and knowledge.Jeanne Atherden, the award committee chairwoman, said there was a large number of applicants this year and she was pleased with the range of degrees chosen — from English to bereavement care.“I think we were impressed by the range of career paths they were following, all of them very necessary to Bermuda, and not the typical ones,” Ms Atherden said.“And when you hear some of the career objectives for these recipients you will hear it’s not just about being a doctor, lawyer or accountant, it’s really about looking at what Bermuda needs and pursuing that career.”Allison Outerbridge, age 20, is currently in her third year of nutrition studies at the University of Tennessee.She said she was looking forward to returning home one day and helping the community, particularly young people, become more aware of healthy living.Considering the high rates of obesity, heart disease and diabetes on the Island, she said it was important to educate people on what they are consuming and how it affects their bodies.Ms Outerbridge said she was “relieved” to get the award and said it would take some of the financial burden off her parents, who also contribute to supporting her sister and nephew.She believes the scholarship would make a world of difference to her next year at school. “It has definitely been a challenge to find the finances to go to school. I got cut short on other scholarships, but I am just grateful to get this one. Every little bit helps.”Teesside University student Shuntelle Paynter decided to get into forensic sciences because of her love of science and investigative work.“Even though it’s limited and there aren’t many jobs as you need to be qualified and experienced before coming back and working in Bermuda, I wanted to follow this path.”Ms Paynter, age 20, said she ultimately wanted to come back to Bermuda and help the community. She told The Royal Gazette the scholarship was extremely important to help her accomplish her academic goals.“My father is self-employed and my mother is not working so it takes the burden off of them.“I was excited when I found out I was chosen and felt self-accomplishment because I applied for a lot of them, but the Ross (Blackie) Talbot award actually gave me the opportunity to further my education.“It definitely makes things easier because I would have had to think about how am I going to finance my next year and things like that.”