Twenty-five Bermudian students were awarded scholarships worth $750,000 to support their further education at the annual Association of Bermuda International Companies Education Awards (ABICEA) luncheon.

Funded by donations from Bermuda international companies, the Education Awards have supported 765 students during their 47-year history. As the International Business sector has grown, so has the size and scope of the programme, and ABIC member companies have donated more than $6 million over the past 10 years alone.

Recipients are selected on a combination of financial need and academic achievement and include qualified Bermudian students pursuing undergraduate or graduate education in areas related to International Business.

ABIC has assigned a mentor to each awardee, a professional from an ABIC member company to provide guidance to the students. Recipients also benefited from an interview and communication skills workshop, led by Jennifer Redburn, Senior Manager, Talent Acquisition and Global Mobility at PwC Bermuda and a member of ABIC’s Scholarship Committee.

Keynote speaker Patrick Tannock, Chair of the ABIC Board of Directors and the retired former CEO of AXA XL’s insurance Bermuda operations, presented the awards and told recipients they could achieve anything they wanted with hard work, perseverance, self-belief and optimism.

“Don’t ever lose your optimism,” said Mr. Tannock, a 1980 ABIC award recipient. “If you speak to a successful person, they’ll tell you they’re not optimistic because they’re successful — they’re successful because they’re optimistic. Park the negativity at the door.”

Mr Tannock said all experiences were valuable, reflecting on the interaction and teamwork skills he learned as a cleaner at the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital, skills he said that proved invaluable throughout his insurance industry career.

Offering advice based on his professional experience, Mr. Tannock said: “Let go of perfectionism. Chasing perfectionism is futile — the landscape is too dynamic and fluid. I would challenge you instead to aim for progress, where you understand you will have setbacks along the way and failures that are powerful learning experiences.”

He urged the aspiring young professionals to embrace opportunities to try something different. “Get comfortable with discomfort,” he said. “We’re conditioned to walk away from the stress of trying new things and we’re afraid to fail. There are two options — you can forget it and run, or you can face it. Experiencing new things is how we learn, to some extent.”

Mr Tannock concluded: “I would challenge you to strive not just for competence — competence is expected.  Excellence is noble. But strive for mastery, so you can do your job better than anybody else on the planet. It’s your choice and it starts with you.”

The 2024 ABICEA recipients were:

Chasity Armstrong: completed an associate degree in Business Administration at Bermuda College and is pursuing a bachelor’s in Computer Science (Cybersecurity) at the University of Kent.

(Mentor: Stuart Quinlan, Conduit Re)

Davis Barnes:  an honours student and 2024 graduate of Mount Saint Agnes Academy, who will this fall attend St Mary’s University to study for a bachelor’s in Commerce, majoring in Accounting.

(Mentor: Andrew Simons, Hannover Re)

Imani Bean: entering her second year at Birmingham University, where she is pursuing a bachelor’s in Accounting and Finance. She plans to gain her professional licence through the ACCA programme. (Mentor: Brianna Pacheco, PwC)

Noah Bothello: a 2023 graduate of Warwick Academy’s IB programme and former Deputy Head Boy, entering his second year at Brock University, pursuing a bachelor’s in Business Administration.

(Mentor: Elaine Miskiewicz, Union Bancaire Privée)

Satya Darrell: a 2024 Somersfield Academy IB graduate and avid athlete and musician, set to attend the University of Manchester, where she will pursue a degree in International Business and French.

(Mentor: Mike Gazzard, AXA XL)

Roshunté Davis: pursuing a bachelor’s in Business Management, majoring in Finance, at Penn Foster College. She holds an associate’s degree in healthcare management.

(Mentor: Charmaine Tucker, Lombard Odier)

Tamiko Douglas: studying for a degree in Data Analytics at Hult International Business School, with plans to obtain an MBA in Finance and working towards his Associate in Reinsurance designation.

(Mentor: Alana Rogers, Bacardi)

Samai Dunn: will start at Howard University this fall, to pursue a degree in Finance, having graduated from Bermuda College in 2023 with an associate degree in Business Administration.

(Mentor: Shanteala Looby, MS Reinsurance)

Jayce Fraser: pursing a degree in in Political Science at Clark Atlanta University, he has plans to continue with a master’s in the same subject; also an avid footballer and youth football coach.

(Mentor: Cathryn Minors, Appleby)

Anthony Gutzmore: will pursue a bachelor of commerce degree, majoring in Finance at St. Francis Xavier University; he holds an associate degree in Business Administration from Bermuda College.

(Mentor: Michael Ward, Artex Risk Solutions)

Simeon Hayward: entering his second year at High Point University, studying for a bachelor’s in Computer Science, with a minor in Business Administration; a college track athlete.

(Mentor: Chonglin Mao, Allied World)

Moses Johnson: pursuing a bachelor’s in Business Management and Economics at the University of West England; a competitive cyclist and member of the Bermuda Rotary Interact programme.

(Mentor: Sean Dunkley, Aon)

A’Naijé Keesee-Ming: entering his third year as a Business Management and Business Economics student at the University of Glasgow this fall; also a Bermuda College Business Administration graduate.

(Mentor: Jamie Schmerer, Fortitude Re).

Asher Mello: will attend Auburn University, where he plans to major in Information Systems Management, also a dedicated pianist and founder of environmental initiative BDA Cleanup.

(Mentor: Nathan George, Talcott Re).

Blake Oliveira: pursuing a bachelor’s in Business and Management at the University of West England; a 2023 Warwick Academy graduate who is an accomplished triathlete, cyclist and swimmer.

(Mentor: Stephanie Lewis-Pullen).

Azré Smith: Azre Smith, a Business Management major, is attending Bath Spa University in the UK. She already has an Associate’s in Business from Bermuda College, and is currently participating in a study abroad program through Bath Spa at Tecnológico de Monterrey in Mexico.

(Mentor: Samantha Froud, Chubb).

Sari Smith: will start this fall at Exeter University, pursuing a bachelor’s in Economics and Finance; a 2024 Bermuda College associate degree in Business graduate and accomplished violinist.

(Mentor: Alleana Lathan, Zurich).

Khalil Smythe: will pursue an MA in Accounting and Finance at the University of Edinburgh; holds an associate degree in Business Administration from Bermuda College and is an accomplished musician.

(Mentor: Chae Brangman, Sun Life International).

Jehrai Tucker: will start this fall at Newcastle University, majoring in Economics and Finance; graduate of The Berkeley Institute and Bermuda College; a history and weightlifting enthusiast.

(Mentor: Jaime Masters, PartnerRe).

Sydney West: entering her final year at St. Francis Xavier University, pursuing a bachelor’s in Business Administration, majoring in International Business; also promotes financial literacy with Enactus StFX.

(Mentor: Verde Brown, FIL).

Anaya West: studying Computer Science at Dalhousie University; graduated with honours from CedarBridge Academy, where he was Head Boy; accomplished track-and-field athlete.

(Mentor: Vincent Savery, Aspen Re)

Kennedy Wilks: pursuing a degree in Global Law from Queen Mary University of London; an accomplished artist who recently held his first solo show in London.

(Mentor: David Hosier, Ariel Re).

Majesty Wilson: pursuing a BSc in Criminology, Law and Society at George Mason University, where she is a Dean’s List awardee; an avid footballer who plays for the PHC women’s team.

(Mentor: Mike Walsh, Legal & General).

Chantae Wilson: a senior at St. Francis Xavier University, where she is studying Actuarial Science; a Bermuda national team gymnast who won a gold medal for the island at the 2017 Island Games.

(Mentor: Kim Gallagher, Everen)

Ywione Darrell: pursuing a master’s in Economics for Development at the University of Oxford, having graduated with a first-class honours BSc in Political Economy from King’s College London.

(Mentor: Collin Anderson, ABIR).