With the intention of ensuring the future of the Island's youth, the Bank of Bermuda recently awarded more than $250,000 to 13 local students.

During an annual scholarship ceremony at the bank's Compass Point branch, the bank provided the students with the encouragement to "achieve their aspirations through the pursuit of higher education''.

The students were presented with congratulatory letters and cheques from bank President and Chief Executive Officer Henry Smith before enjoying a cocktail reception in the foyer of the South Room.

The Sir John W. Cox Scholarship, awarded to a student currently pursuing post-graduate studies overseas, was won by Massachusetts Institute of Technology scholar Douglas DeCouto.

Mr. DeCouto, who is presently completing his Masters of Engineering degree at the US university, will receive annual instalments of $15,000 during the next four years.

The money, as with all of the scholarships, is to be used to cover the costs of tuition, dormitory fees, and travel expenses.

On obtaining his Masters, Mr. DeCouto plans to enter MIT's Computer Science Doctorate programme.

Former Mount Saint Agnes honour student, Nadia Aguiar, was presented with the Sir Henry Tucker University Scholarship.

This award paid recognition to her outstanding academic abilities as well as to her other non-academic attributes.

Also awarded $15,000 annually for the next four years, Miss Aguiar will attend McMaster University in Canada with the hopes of obtaining a Combined Honours degree in English and History.

Runners-up for the award will each receive $6,000 annually for a period of three years: Mandy Wong, winner of several academic and music awards, will be pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree while attending Wellesley College in Massachusetts.

Armand Hammer United World College graduate, Sean Smatt, has plans to obtain a Hotel Administration/International Business degree from Cornell University in New York.

And James Spearing, who attended Ridley College, will stay in Canada to pursue an undergraduate Science degree at McGill University.

The President's Award for Scholastic Achievement awarded five recent local graduates with $4,000 financial support each: Kevin Walsh, who completed the Saltus Graduate Year programme in June, hopes to achieve a Bachelor of Science degree in Fisheries Studies from the University of Plymouth in the United Kingdom.

After having been a student at Bermuda College for the past three years, Reo Peniston plans to attend Lenoir-Rhyne College to pursue a Bachelor's degree in Pre-medical Science.

Jeanne Saltus, who has already earned her Associate of Arts from Bermuda College, will be moving on to the University of Ottawa in Canada where she will begin a degree in Second Language Teaching.

Maxine Lee-Ming, who has also obtained an Associate of Arts degree from Bermuda College, will pursue a Business Administration degree from York University in Canada.

And Ari Ming hopes to attain a Bachelor of Architecture degree while attending the University of Toronto in Canada.

The Information Technology Scholarship was granted to three students beginning IT-related studies on a full-time basis.

These students were awarded $24,000 each on the condition that they complete their first two years of study at Bermuda College: Teresa Whitter, former Warwick Academy honour roll student, will be pursuing an Associate degree in Science.

Another former Warwick Academy student, Ryan Harris, will begin an Associate degree in Arts and Science.

And Kimya Talbot, a Bermuda High School graduate, is enrolled in an Associate degree in the Arts programme.

Having put much effort into getting where they are today, Scholarship Committee secretary Mark Perreault reminded the students to "continue to distinguish themselves through excellence so they can complete their studies successfully and return to Bermuda to contribute significantly to society''.

AIMING HIGH -- Earning themselves a combined total of some $270,000, this year's Bank of Bermuda scholarship winners will continue their education abroad in pursuit of various degrees. The presentations were made at the bank's Compass Point branch. Pictured in back row, from left, are Ryan Harris, Ari Ming, Sean Smatt, Reo Peniston, Bank of Bermuda President and Chief Executive Officer Henry Smith, Kevin Walsh, James Spearing and Mandy Wong.

Seated, from left, are Maxine Lee-Ming, Teresa Whitter, Nadia Aguiar, Jeanne Saltus and Kimya Talbot.