A former Warwick Academy student known for his “exceptional academic achievements and dedication to environmental conservation” has been selected as Bermuda’s 2025 Rhodes Scholar.

The Office of the National Secretary of the Rhodes Scholarship announced that Jayden Parker was chosen for the prestigious international postgraduate award. It noted his passion for veterinary medicine and impactful leadership.

Mr Parker is pursuing a bachelor of science with honours in biomedical sciences at the University of Guelph, in Ontario, where he is said to have consistently excelled.

He secured a 91 per cent GPA and earned a spot on the Dean’s Honours List over the entirety of his university career.

The office said: “Distinguished in academics from an early age, Jayden was awarded the Allan Gray Orbis Foundation Scholarship and was selected for the International Baccalaureate Scholarship for Academic Excellence during his time at Warwick Academy, where he graduated with an impressive 40 points in the International Baccalaureate Diploma.

“His scholastic dedication earned him multiple prestigious awards in biology, academics and community service.”

After his secondary studies, Mr Parker’s abilities earned him further honours, including the Sir Henry Tucker Scholarship for Academic Excellence; the Fessenden-Trott Scholarship for Academic Excellence; and the University of Guelph Entrance Scholarship for Academic Achievement.

Mr Parker told The Royal Gazette he found out he was selected on November 9 while having dinner with his grandparents.

He said: “We were talking in that moment about how I shouldn’t get my hopes up too much. It was a very intense interview. Then I got the call and I was terrified.

“When they told me, I was shocked. It blew me away. The other candidates were all extremely impressive in their own right.

“I immediately called my mom, even though she was 12 hours ahead at a conference in Malaysia. She was so unbelievably proud. Even now, a week later, it feels like dream.”

Mr Parker added: “It is one of the most incredible opportunities I can imagine. It is one of the most prestigious scholarships in the world.

“I wouldn’t be able to be here without my family’s support. It is really special to me because my mom, Julia Parker, a teacher at Warwick Academy, is my inspiration for everything I do. It’s as much her achievement as it is mine.

“I thank her and my family, the selection committee and the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo for the incredible opportunities I have been given over the years, as well as the other scholarships for their academic support.”

He said the most important advice to students aspiring for academic greatness was that success was rarely a solo effort.

Mr Parker added: “Surround yourself with people who respect you, support you and who will always push you to be a better version of yourself.

“You cannot do it alone. It is a group effort.

"The second thing is never, ever count yourself out. I didn’t think I would be able to afford to go to secondary school or university without that scholarship support. There will be obstacles …

“There is a Nelson Mandela quote that comes to mind: ‘It always seems impossible until it is done.’ That resonates with me.”

Beyond his academic achievements, Mr Parker has dedicated more than eight years to animal care, environmental conservation, wildlife rehabilitation, field research and educational outreach locally and abroad.

He has been a team member and leader at BAMZ, where he worked in the animal care and quarantine departments. He has also conducted field research and participated in clinical rotations in several countries.

Highlights of his work overseas include assisting with dairy and beef calf research in Canada; working with peers and researchers on environmental projects in the Galápagos Islands; and serving as a team counsellor during the Great Orangutan Project in Malaysia.

Closer to home, he joined the elite marine biology team of the Bermuda Turtle Project and contributed to vital research on Bermuda’s green sea turtle population and supported critical conservation efforts.

Mr Parker is also dedicated to inspiring future generations, having led volunteer teams, educated young people on conservation and served as a mentor in various capacities. He is a member of the University of Guelph’s Wildlife Club and Future Vets Club.

He intends to further his commitment to conservation and veterinary medicine by pursuing a master’s in science in biodiversity, conservation and management at the University of Oxford, England.

He aspires to become an exotic veterinarian and conservationist, and aims to influence environmental conservation and veterinary medicine both on the island and overseas.

Mr Parker added: “I am truly looking forward to learning what I can from the faculty members and students at the University of Oxford — it is a melting pot for some of the brightest individuals in the world.

“I am looking to obtain a multidisciplinary understanding of conservation and environmental change to understand how to influence policy for the better.

“I think it’s a skill that is becoming increasingly relevant. It’s something I can use beneficially in Bermuda and abroad.”