Nine students gained valuable on-the-job training this summer -- and a head start in their future careers.

Donnie Martin, Roderick Nesbitt, Lamumba Tucker, Gary Bolieiro, Roderick Ferguson, Lisa Murray, Rebecca Lindo, Kevin Dallas and Kenneth Caesar took part in the Centre Re Student Programme.

Programme coordinator Janet Percy yesterday told The Royal Gazette that the reinsurance company solicited applications from secondary schools for promising students who had an interest in business and reinsurance.

Ms Percy said the successful students -- who were employed for approximately eight weeks -- were placed in various departments of the company.

The students, she said, spent most of their days providing back-up and general assistance to permanent staff.

"They also obtained valuable daily hands-on experience and training in five different departments,'' Ms Percy said.

She added that the students were also given a weekly presentation on various aspects of the business by officers in each department.

In an attempt to introduce as many students as possible to the company, Ms Percy said students would only be employed in the programme for one summer.

"If we feel that a student had developed an affinity for a specific discipline within the reinsurance field and has a desire to pursue a career in this field, the student is placed in the intern programme for the following year,'' Ms Percy explained.

Recent Whitney graduate Lamumba Tucker said he was impressed by the attitude of the staff.

"They act like you are equal to everyone else,'' Mr. Tucker said.

Intern and Bermuda College student Rebecca Lindo said the most important thing she had learned from the programme was the proper way to communicate with people in the business world.

Fellow intern Kenneth Caesar pointed out that the students were given plenty of work and responsibility.

All the students agreed that if given the opportunity they would return to Centre Re next summer.

HANDS ON TRAINING -- Donnie Martin, Lamumba Tucker, Roderick Ferguson, Kenneth Caeser, Rebecca Lindo, Kevin Dallas (back row) and Roderick Nesbitt, Gary Bolieiro, and Lisa Murray (front row) participated in Centre Re insurance's Student Programme headed up by Coordinator Janet Percy (far right).