Five student-athletes have become the latest recipients of the Bermuda Football Association Legends Scholarship.

Shavon Nisbett, Evans Welch, Kairo Lewis, Keyan Webb and Matthew Moreno were on Thursday presented with $5,000 each worth of funding. This will assist the five to subsidise part of their studies overseas, while at the same time pursuing their football careers.

Evans, the only female beneficiary, is using the funds to cover her studies at The Williston Northampton School in Massachusetts.

The 14-year-old Dandy Stars midfielder, who is also a member of Bermuda’s under-15 and under-17 teams, received a scholarship honouring Damina Caisey, a former Stars player.

“I’m really grateful to the BFA committee for choosing me,’’ Welch told The Royal Gazette. “I’m going off to The Williston Northampton School in August, and I’ll be there until, hopefully, I graduate.

“I’m giving myself not more than four years to break into the Bermuda senior women’s team.

“I’m inspired by LeiLanni Nesbeth, I've had a chance to speak to her. I also want to play football for any professional club, I don’t have a specific team that I want to play for.”

Nisbett, who was given a scholarship celebrating Janice Bucci, is heading to the US to further his studies. The 19-year-old has played a cameo role in PHC winning the Premier Division twice in a row.

“I’m very proud to get this scholarship, I hope to do good things with this funding,” he said. “It’s good to have initiatives like this at the BFA that provide scholarships to fund education, while still having football as a driving force.

“I’m going to Nova Southeastern University to pursue a degree in sciences. I’ll be hoping to represent Bermuda out there as well, playing football.

“I know for me to play for the Bermuda senior team in future, I’ve to keep working hard, keep my head down and continue to shine.”

The 19-year-old Lewis, a centre back who features for PHC in the preseason and the club’s under-23 in the summer league, is a second-year student at Northumbria University in England. He received funding in honour of Albert Dowling, an ex-Devonshire Colts and Bermuda striker.

“It feels amazing to get this scholarship, it’s such a great opportunity for me,’’ Lewis said.

“It helps support my family, it helps them support me, and it’s something I’m really grateful for.

“It helps me afford my tuition so I can play football. I can’t play football while doing my studies, I’m playing for the university and this funding helps me to go out there and do my best.

“Attending this function and getting to learn about the legends and what they accomplished is motivating for me.”

Webb, who was represented by his parents at the ceremony, got funding in celebrating the exploits of former Bermuda player, Harold Madeiros, while Moreno’s award was in honour of the late Anthony “Toe“ Dill.

At the same event, Dennis Brown, Curtis DeGraff, Neil Paynter, Gladwyn Richardson, and Winston "Coe" Trott received the BFA Order of Merit.