Deserving students picked up scholarships worth thousands of dollars from the Government at a ceremony yesterday.

Six young people who plan to become teachers were each given awards of $10,000 a year for up to three years by Education Minister Terry Lister.

The same amount was given to nine mature students who have decided on a career change.

Mr. Lister told a press conference at the Senate: "These are awards that give us the opportunity to help support very, very worthy young Bermudians and, in some cases, not so young Bermudians, who are pursuing their dreams.

"This Government has pledged to develop a skilled and educated workforce for the future. The presentation of these awards assists with that cause."

The teaching training awards are "year for year" grants meaning that students must return to the Island once qualified to teach for the same number of years that they received financial assistance.

They are given out to Bermudians who have been educated here for at least five years, who have a grade point average of at least 2.0 and who have an associates degree of at least 60 credit hours.

The Government usually gives the awards to students planning to train in subjects in which the public school system has a shortage of teachers. This year that includes special education, music, physical education and chemistry.

Mr. Lister said the mature student awards were especially close to his heart as he had introduced them after a plea from a woman in her 30s who was struggling to return to further education because of lack of finances.

They are given to those aged 35 or older who want to change profession.

He said: "It's the aim of the Government to be able to fund at least ten scholars each year. Government recognised that persons often embark upon more than one profession during their working life and this is a means of facilitating that change."

The recipients of the mature student awards plan to study subjects ranging from marketing and business administration to social work and divinity. They are: Johnnel Booth, 38, from Devonshire; John Burchall, 36, Hamilton Parish; Alfonso Burgess, 43, Hamilton Parish; Vaughan Clarke, 49; Tracey Moore, 45, Southampton; Donna Outerbridge, 42; Lisza Rawlins, 34; Rhonda Santucci, 44, and Selena Zuill, 39.

The teacher training award recipients are: Kimberlee Allers, 19, of Warwick; Sasha Crockwell, 21, of Sandys; Monica Dunstan, 21, of Warwick; Tammy Goodchild, 25, of Southampton; Melissa Haynes, 22, and Jonathan Tankard, 19, of Warwick.