The Bermuda Electric Light Company has awarded a total of $215,000 to 19 Bermudians at the organisation’s annual scholarship awards ceremony.

William Gardner is the recipient of the Hon C. Eugene Cox Postgraduate Environmental Studies and Sustainability & Development Scholarship, which is valued at $25,000 for one year.

Mr Gardner will study for a joint Master of Business Administration & Master of Forestry at Yale University.

James (Kent) Simmons has received the Llewellyn Vorley Engineering Scholarship, which is valued at $25,000 for four years.

He will study for a bachelor’s in aerospace engineering at Worcester Polytechnic Institute.

Kascia DaSilva is the recipient of the D. Pimentel Internal Scholarship, which is valued at $10,000 for three years.

She will attend Oakland University to study for a Master of Science in safety management.

The Belco Educational Awards were established in the early 1980s for academic studies leading to the award of an undergraduate degree in science, technology, engineering or mathematics.

Belco said the purpose of these awards is to recognise a scholar’s desire to further their knowledge in the Stem fields and to provide an opportunity for their insight, knowledge and experience to be shared within the company and in the wider community.

The awards range in value between $2,500 and $20,000 for a first degree to an accredited educational institution.

The recipients of the 2023 Educational Awards are:

At the $7,000 level: Za’Nyah Khan, Bachelor of Science in physics with astronomy at the University of Surrey; Thomas Marshall, Bachelor of Science in construction engineering management at Loughborough University; Shayla Cann, bachelor’s in information technology at George Mason University; Ross Cooper, Bachelor of Science majoring in data science at the University of British Columbia; Kyra Viera, bachelor’s in architecture at Nottingham Trent University; Julian Roser, Diploma in Engineering at St Mary’s University; Serena Simmons, Bachelor of Environmental Science in monitoring and management at Mount Allison University; and Gareth Cooper, Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering at University of Calgary.

At the $9,000 level: Jasmin Williams, Bachelor of Science in computing for business management at the University of Sussex.

At the $10,000 level: William Welch, bachelor’s in mechanical engineering at the University of Waterloo; and Jack Dallas, Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Bath.

At the $12,500 level: Kairo Morton, Bachelor of Science in artificial intelligence and decision making at Massachusetts Institute of Technology; and Liam Walker, Bachelor of Mechatronics Engineering at McMaster University.

At the $15,000 level: Seth Hardtman, Bachelor of Civil Engineering at Morgan State University; Riccai Allen, Bachelor of Commerce Technology Management at Ontario Tech University; and Daniel Cabral, Bachelor of Civil Engineering at Dalhousie University.

Belco president Wayne Caines said: “On behalf of our entire team at Belco, we are thrilled to provide scholarships and educational empowerment to these excellent young students.

“As Belco moves Bermuda to a sustainable energy future, the company understands that tertiary education and the skill sets we will need for prospective employees of our company is more important than ever.

“This year we received many outstanding applications, and we are thrilled to empower 19 young Bermudians with a combined $215,000 as they continue their education.

“I wish all recipients of the 2023 Belco scholarships every success in their studies and look forward to them returning to Bermuda to help build a sustainable future.”