Eight young hospital volunteers were given more than $21,000 in scholarship funds to further their education.

The Hospitals Auxiliary of Bermuda granted the awards to candy stripers at its annual ceremony last month.

Glen Gibbons, the president of the HAB, said his organisation was “proud” to spread out $21,500 across eight volunteers.

He added: “I am so impressed with our young men and women and thank each of you for your service to this organisation.”

Candy stripers are HAB student volunteers and the programme provides an opportunity for them to develop through teamwork and by taking on responsibilities.

The Bermuda Hospitals Board website said: “Above all, they are learning to make a difference in their community by undertaking rewarding and satisfying work.”

Aidan Medeiros was granted $6,500, making him the recipient of the largest bursary this year.

A candy striper since 2021, he completed 126 hours over the past three years.

Aidan said that his interest in health was piqued after his grandfather died of cancer, prompting him to pursue a medical degree.

He will attend the University of Western Ontario, Canada, where he will study health science and kinesiology.

Chrishante Dill and Dominique Brown were awarded $3,000 each by the HAB.

Chrishante had been candy striping since 2019 and completed 154.5 hours of volunteer work alongside other extracurricular activities.

She will attend Mount St Vincent University in Halifax, Canada, to study psychology and French and hopes to become a clinical psychologist.

Dominique completed 110 hours of community service since she started candy striping in 2021.

She was one of the HAB’s Proficiency Awardees and also played for the under-20 and under-17 Bermuda women’s national teams.

Dominique will follow her passion for machines and physics by studying mechanical engineering at Grambling State University in the US.

Ty’Esha Smith, Jolie Davis and Vintage Thomas Lightbourne, all of whom started candy striping in 2021, were awarded $2,000 bursaries.

Ty’Esha balanced her 41 hours of service with her position as deputy head girl of Warwick Academy’s International Baccalaureate programme and dancing with In Motion School of Dance.

She will attend the University of Tampa this autumn, where she will study international business and management, as well as Spanish.

Jolie, who completed 60.5 hours of community service, carried out her duties alongside her work at school as a prefect and the leader of its diversity, equity and inclusion committee.

With a keen interest in mental health conditions, particularly schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, Jolie will attend the University of Manchester with hopes of becoming a psychiatrist.

Vintage completed 50 hours of service and last year served as deputy head of students at Bermuda High School.

She will attend the University of Leicester in England to study business management.

Malaysia Johnson and Naysaa Tucker were each given $1,500 bursaries.

Malaysia graduated from the Bermuda Institute in 2023 — a year early — and was accepted into Bermuda College in January.

She is pursuing an associate degree in science for diagnostic imaging technology.

Malaysia completed 189.5 hours of community service through the candy striping programme and will continue her volunteer work until December.

Naysaa, who was awarded a $2,500 HAB scholarship in 2022, became the organisation’s first two-time recipient of a scholarship this year.

She will continue her studies at the American Music and Dramatic Academy to study dance.

HAB scholarships are awarded annually and can be given to any candy striper in the programme who has completed at least two years.

The organisation said: “Previous awardees are now eligible to make an application for a second award.

“The awards may be used for continued studies in Bermuda or at an institution of higher learning abroad.”

It added that 102 candy stripers were in the existing HAB programme, which took in about 40 students annually.

Anyone interested in applying can do so in writing before their 14th birthday.

• For an application, e-mail jane.wright@bhb.bm