The financial pressure is off for two highly motivated college students thanks to prestigious scholarships offered by Butterfield BankAkeila Richardson, 18 and Kevin Minors, 21 were the recipients of the $25,000 Sir Dudley Butterfield Undergraduate Scholarship, and the $25,000 Sir A Dudley Spurling Postgraduate Scholarship, respectively. Both scholarships are valid for up to four years of study.Miss Richardson, 18, is about to enter her second year in college as an undergraduate. She is studying biology, and hoping to go into medicine, and become an oncologist, or a paediatrician. Her first year of college was spent at Kennesaw State University in Atlanta, Georgia but she has since transferred to the University of Tennessee.“Last year I was on a track scholarship,” she said. “Because I am transferring this year, because of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) rules, I wasn’t able to speak with other coaches about scholarships.“By the time I was able to do so, all the scholarships were gone. I really needed this scholarship for me to go back to school and continue my education. I had applied for a bunch of scholarships and had been denied for a few of them. Then I got a call for this one. I thought: I have to put my all into this one, because if I don’t get it I would probably have to sit out the next year or so.”Mr Minors has just completed the undergraduate programme at the Oxford University, and is about to start on a Master’s degree in maths at Oxford. His eventual goal is to become an actuary.“I was surprised to win this scholarship,” said Mr Minors, who attended Warwick Academy. “I know they had a lot of great candidates. It is a great honour, and privilege, to receive the post graduate scholarship.”He said that like Miss Richardson, he had also worried about financing his university education, before he received the scholarship.“I had a frank discussion with my parents about what would happen if I didn’t receive a scholarship,” he said. “There was talk of me working while studying. Receiving the scholarship has been a huge relief. I’m extremely grateful for it. My parents are extremely grateful for it.”Lee Simmons, Scholarship Chairman at Butterfield Bank said it was Miss Richardson and Mr Minors’ self-motivation and high level of achievement in many different spheres which really put them ahead of the hundreds of other applicants for the scholarship.Miss Richardson is a graduate of CedarBridge Academy. While at school she competed in track for Bermuda, and took part in the Carifta Games, winning two medals. She also participated in the Central American Junior Games and the Commonwealth Youth Games. She was also a top student at her school and spent her spare time tutoring other students.“I helped do fund raising for Rotary Exchange while I was in school,” she said. “At Kennesaw, I volunteered with the Diamond League. This is an organisation that arranges baseball games for physically and mentally challenged individuals. It was a very rewarding experience, being able to interact with people who are not normally accepted by our society. There are a lot of things we can learn from them.”This summer she is working at the Orange Valley Centre at the Mid Atlantic Wellness Institute working with people with mental challenges.She said her mentor has been her track coach in Bermuda, Gerry Swan.“One thing he has taught me is that whatever you put into something is what you are going to get out,” she said. “He has taught me that I am in charge of my own destiny. Whatever initiative I decide to go ahead and do the outcome will be solely based on what I do. He has been a great person in my life. He has always encouraged me on the track and off the track.”Miss Richardson’s goal for next year is to improve her academic standing.“I just want to remain focused and get one step closer to my degree,” said Miss Richardson. “I want to continue doing track and living my dreams.”Mr Minors said his mentor had been his Sunday school teacher and basketball coach, Chris Crumpler.“Now he has evolved into my life mentor,” said Mr Minors. “He has always encouraged me to never become complacent, and always remain humble. He taught me to always push myself to be better. He never gave me any slack for anything. I really appreciate that.”Mr Minors shone while an undergraduate at Oxford University and was named as one of the top future leaders in England by Future Leaders 2012-2013 magazine. He was named as the top male by the magazine and placed sixth overall out of 100 future leaders who were chosen through recommendations from universities and colleges all over Britain.In September he plans to cycle from Jodhpur, Rajasthan to the Taj Mahal, Agra in India to raise money for international charity Childreach International. It will be a two week cycle across 700 kilometres. To get ready for it, he cycles to and from work everyday.“I find the cycling to work quite relaxing,” he said. “And I pass everyone in cars along the way.”Last year he raised more than $6,000 for Childreach when he took part in a gruelling sponsored eight day climb of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.“Butterfield has always been committed to helping our students,” said Mr Simmons. “We are always pleased when we are able to continue that particular legacy for Butterfield. These two particular winners exemplify excellence. We can’t think of two better recipients for these two scholarships.”