Butterfield has awarded its annual scholarship to five promising students including a combined $55,000 to Bermudians Chiaje Rudo and Ramaya Edwards.

The scholarships can be maintained for up to four academic years.

Ms Rudo, a student of The Berkeley Institute and Bermuda College, was awarded the Sir Harry D Butterfield Undergraduate Scholarship, which has been offered since 1978 in the name of the bank’s late chairman.

It grants $30,000 a year towards Ms Rudo’s studies of Psychology at the University of Western Ontario.

She aspired to become a child psychologist while having a positive impact in the community.

Ms Rudo has supported and volunteered at a number of charitable organisations and plays netball and football for The Berkeley Institute and Dandy Stars.

She also represented Bermuda in track and field at the Caribbean Union of Teachers Games in 2018.

Ms Edwards received the Butterfield Undergraduate Scholarship for Employees’ Children [Atlantic], one of three regional scholarships available to Butterfield employees who are parents or guardians of a student pursuing postsecondary education.

She was awarded $25,000 per academic year towards her studies of biochemistry at Dalhousie University, in Nova Scotia.

The banks said that Ms Edwards was a co-president of the Black Student Support Association, where she advocates for a safe and inclusive space for students, and is an active member of her church youth group.

She is passionate about helping people and charities and is a volunteer cook for children and parents at IWK hospital in Halifax.

Jody Feldman, Butterfield’s managing director in Bermuda, said: “We are delighted to award these scholarships to Chiaje and Ramaya, two fantastic young women who have set themselves apart as exceptional students with a commitment to making a positive difference to others.

“We are proud to be able to play a part in supporting their future and look forward to following their successes.

“For the last 40 years, Butterfield has awarded scholarships and we continue to invest in the education of our young people. We want to empower the next generation to pursue their academic ambitions and career goals.”