Yesterday at the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute (BUEI) 23 students received Awards at the International Companies Education Awards (ICEA) 2004. Along with the representatives from the major companies of the Association of Bermuda International Companies (ABIC), the young scholars attended a luncheon at the La Coquille Restaurant.

Michael Morrison, Vice Chairman of Allied World assurance Company presented the students with their scholarships. The students all received $20,000 scholarships and awarded an additional $4000 dollars for the Michelle Outerbridge Award was Jennifer Gracie.

This award was created after Ms Outerbride, a student who was awarded an ICEA scholarship in 2000, died in an accident prior to the start of the academic year.

Receiving the ICEA scholarships were Nishanthi Bailey who was sponsored by Montpelier Re, Vashun Blanchette who was sponsored by Endurance Insurance, Jessica Cabral sponsored by Elan Insurance, Kanika Cameron who was sponsored by Partner Re and Raquel Correia sponsored by Allied World Assurance.

Also Receiving scholarships were Zuri Darrell sponsored by Renaissance Reinsurance, Hataya Desilva sponsored by Swiss Re ,Gelena Dill sponsored by ACE Group of Companies and Kara Harris sponsored by JLT Risk Solution.

Waynette Hollis sponsored by Lombard Odier, Shaki Hughes sponsored by Intelsat, Ashley Mayne sponsored by HSBC, Tiffany Nelmes sponsored by Marsh, Kelli Nusum sponsored by OIL Group of Companies, Amanda Oliver sponsored by Bacardi Limited and Alicia Phillips sponsored by XL Capital.

Andrew Robinson sponsored by Zurich Insurance and Investment companies, Kelly-Anne Robinson sponsored by Shell, Tyrika Simmons sponsored by XL Reinsurance company, Vanessa Smith sponsored by Platinum underwriters Bermuda, Kijauna Tucker sponsored by Rosemont Reinsurance Company and Romari Tucker sponsored by Orbis Insurance.

The ICEA program has been in existence for nearly 25 years now and is among the largest of the scholarship programs in Bermuda. Not only did they receive scholarships but the students were also given advice by Peter Everson, ABIC Director and Chamber of Commerce Vice President.

Mr. Everson talked about how knowledge is a lifelong process he listed some of the professions that students were interested in pursuing and told the students how nobody ever starts at the top of their trade ?...you will start off as an assistant...and eventually move up the ladder, gaining knowledge and experience?

As he talked to the students he told them very important things about life and how ? learning is a lifelong process? in closing his speech Mr. Everson told the students ?It?s up to you to make your dreams come true.?