Belco has awarded scholarships to 13 gifted students pursuing undergraduate and graduate degrees in science, engineering, mathematics and business.

Nadir Wade, the managing director of bulk generation and Belco scholarship deputy chairman, told the recipients yesterday that the company aims to prepare its scholarship recipients for the real world.

He said: “We know that this world has very complex challenges and people need to step up and confront these real challenges.

“We as a company have different challenges that we seek to meet and we know that we have started the race, but the young people in this room are the ones whom we are going to pass the baton to finish the race.”

Mr Wade also told recipients that Belco is committed to them throughout their academic journey and even after they graduate.

The scholarships ranged from $5,000 to $25,000.

The biggest prize this year was the AT Oughton Post Graduate Business and Finance Scholarship, worth $25,000. It aims to increase the number of qualified Bermudians in business and finance fields. This year’s recipient was Di’Neasha DeSilva. She is pursuing a master’s degree in business administration at Barry University.

The D. Pimentel Internal Scholarship, named after former Belco president Dennis Pimentel, offers $20,000 each year for four years of college to someone pursuing a field deemed “important for Belco’s future business requirements”.

It was awarded to Damon Armstrong, who is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in economics, with a foundation year, at the University of West England.

Two $15,000 scholarships were also awarded this year. The recipients were:

• An Mei Daniels, who is pursuing a master’s degree in natural sciences from the University of Exeter

• Seth Hardtman, who will be pursuing a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Morgan State University.

Four $10,000 scholarships were also awarded, and the recipients were:

• Liam Walker, who is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in mathematics at McMaster University

• Imogen Peckett, who is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in environmental geography at Cardiff University

• Kiara Burcher, who is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in mathematics at Western University

• Ayana Bean, who is pursuing an advanced diploma in engineering technology at Cambrian College

Five students received $5,000 scholarships. They were:

• Cormac Sagurs, who is pursuing a master’s degree in aeronautics and astronautics/spacecraft engineering at the University of Southampton

• Giovanni Hollis, who is pursuing a bachelor of science in industrial engineering at Northeastern University

• Ari Harrison, who is pursuing a bachelor of science in mathematics at the University of Manchester

• William Welch, who is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering at the University of Waterloo

• Christopher Skinner, who is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in engineering at Queen’s University.

Belco president Wayne Caines said it was good to see Bermuda’s young people at their very best who are, in turn, the best of what Bermuda as a whole has to offer to the world.

He added: “If our students have a challenge or are struggling with their studies, we want them to feel free to contact a specialist, who can help them or send them in a different direction.

“That is what we [at Belco] want to do differently with our students. We don’t just want to help them from a financial standpoint.”