The Bermuda Hotel Association (BHA) has awarded $18,000 in scholarships to three Bermudians studying hospitality overseas.

The BHA Overseas Hospitality Award is awarded annually and its purpose is to provide financial support for one year of study to qualified individuals pursuing full-time hospitality programmes.

The BHA scholars were selected on the basis of academic merit and aptitude, and the successful awardees will be offered internships at Bermuda hotels or the BHA during their summer breaks.

Applications were reviewed by the BHA Scholarship Selection Committee, and awarded funds will be used to contribute to the costs of books and other related expenses.

The BHA awarded the $10,000 BHA Overseas Award to Ashjuana Thomas, a 19-year-old student at Johnson & Wales University in Providence, Rhode Island, who is majoring in international hotel and tourism management.

Ms Thomas was on the Dean's List with a 3.33 GPA in Fall 2009. She is a certified food safety manager with the National Registry of Food Safety Professionals and received her ServSafe Alcohol Certificate from the National Restaurant Association.

Ms Thomas has also been awarded a member and certificate of appreciation by the National Society of Minorities in Hospitality, the Deloitte High School Student Award, Dr. Roosevelt Brown Award for Community Service, the Royal Caribbean Hospitality Award, first runner-up for the Youth Minister of Tourism Competition 2008, Teen Services Overall Award 2008, and participated in the Bermuda Employers Council Work Ready Programme. She attended Cedarbridge Academy.

A $5,000 BHA Oversees Award was given to Akil Trott, a 20-year-old student, who is also studying at Johnson & Wales University and is majoring in culinary arts and food service management. Mr. Trott is vice-president of the Caribbean Student Society at Johnson & Wales University and is an member of Christ Church, Devonshire. He is a former team member with the Bermuda Under-20 National Football Team as well as a former member of the National Jazz Ensemble. Mr. Trott attended Saltus Grammar School.

The $3,000 BHA Oversees Award was awarded to Tomika Easton, 22-year-old student at Cape Breton University in Sydney, Nova Scotia, majoring in hospitality and tourism management. Ms Easton has worked with Raleigh International in Bermuda since 2006. She is an ambassador for the international students from the Caribbean and Africa at Cape Breton as well as a member of the Afro-Caribbean Society and the International Banquet Committee. Ms Easton attended The Berkeley Institute.

"I'm delighted to award these three dynamic young Bermudians with academic scholarships," said John Harvey, CEO of the BHA. "The students we have chosen to receive these scholarships are not only accomplished and promising but also represent the future of the hospitality industry in Bermuda. While these awards assist the students financially, we also hope they will encourage more young Bermudians to join the vibrant hospitality industry."