THE Honourable Jennifer M. Smith Scholarship was announced yesterday ? a collaboration between the former Premier's alma mater, the Art Institute of Pittsburgh, and the National Training Board (NTB).

Three awards will be granted annually to successful applicants, with the Art Institute covering tuition costs and the NTB responsible for room and board.

George Pry, president of the Art Institute of Pittsburgh, arrived on the island yesterday, just prior to the launching of the scholarships, valued at $25,000, $10,000 and $5,000.

He explained to the how the scholarships came about: "Jennifer Smith was a graduate of the Art Institute of Pittsburgh in 1971. Two years ago, the Art Institute of Pittsburgh, a four-year college with a focus on the creative arts, honoured her ? she was Madame Premier at the time ? with an honorary doctorate in humanities.

"She came to Pittsburgh (for the acknowledgement) and, during that time we discussed the possibility of setting up a scholarship programme between the Art Institute of Pittsburgh and Bermuda.

"Obviously it took us a couple years to think through it and decide how we were going to do it. About two or three months ago we finally (did). Each year we will award one full-time scholarship, one $10,000 tuition scholarship and one $5,000 tuition scholarship."

Mr. Pry said potential students would be asked to submit a sample of their art or writing to the NTB, which will submit the most promising and forward their selection to the Institute.

"We will then look to see who, in our opinion, has talent and between our academic department and the NTB, we will decide on the first, second, and third place winners. (It encourages Bermuda) really to recognise talent. Obviously we had at least one successful graduate," he laughed.

The president said that successful applicants would have the opportunity to choose from a range of courses.

"Obviously, we have general education and all the other stuff the typical colleges have but our fundamental mission is really in the area of creative arts. We have 11 different bachelor of science programmes, everything from graphic design to interior design, game art and design and media arts and animation ? which is basically computer animation and video production.

"We also have the social and science degrees and we have four diploma programmes. So the student can choose either the associate or the baccalaureate degree depending on the area of interest," he said.