The Bermuda Zoological Society has announced the recipients of this year’s Steinhoff/BZS Scholarship as Kahnae Bean, Shane Antonition and Khylah Rogers.

Mr Steinhoff, a former BZS president, launched the scholarship in 2009 to provide educational opportunities for Bermudian students pursuing degrees in the environmental sciences at accredited institutions.

Students must be either in the final two years of a bachelor’s degree, or working towards a master’s or doctorate in their chosen field in order to qualify.

Having completed her Bachelors in Environmental Management last year, Kahnae Bean is now beginning her first year of a postgraduate degree at the University of Hertfordshire studying Project Management. Her course is said to combine project management theory, practice with solid hands-on experience.

Ms Bean said: “Obtaining my secondary education has been an exciting experience with lots of new challenges and opportunities.

“Having the additional skills in project management alongside environmental management will allow me to implement new initiatives, involving a number of activities, people, and deadlines effectively.”

Shane Antonition is entering into his third and final year of his BSc Environmental Science degree at Plymouth University.

He said: “My previous academic year, highlighted by my field course to Malta, has put a different perspective on the environmental threats such as marine pollution and excessive development that can face Bermuda.

“However, my continued involvement with the Kids on the Reef Programme and the conservation project on Trunk Island has maintained my optimism that we can work towards a better future for our island environment.”

The final recipient, Khylah Rogers, is currently study Veterinary Medicine at St George’s University in Grenada.

She said: “I would like to thank the scholarship committee for recognising my efforts and passion towards the pursuit of veterinary medicine. Even though I have recently started the journey towards my doctorate, I look forward to the time when I will be able to return to Bermuda and practice with other respected professionals in the field.”

More than $50,000 has been awarded to students, many of whom are already giving back to Bermuda through conservation and research programmes.

Dr Ian Walker, principal curator at the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo, added: “We greatly appreciate the work of the Steinhoff Family and their support of environmental education. Without them this scholarship would not exist nor the opportunity to assist scholars who are dedicating their postsecondary education to environmental causes. All three of our recipients this year are exceptional and impressed the scholarship committee in their academic excellence and perseverance towards their goals. We wish them every success in their coming year.”