Five students in the hospitality field received a cash boost on Thursday from the Royal Caribbean Cruise Line Hospitality Endowment Fund to help with their studies both in Bermuda and overseas.

Premier Dr. Ewart Brown presented LeShane Smith, Sara Jackson, Jamari Douglas, Ashley Tucker and Renee Harvey with a combined total of $39,000 worth of scholarships.

The awardees, their family and friends, cruise ship staff and Government officials boarded the AzamaraJourney <$>for the presentation. Dr. Brown thanked everyone for being there and commended the students for their hard work.

“Nothing gives me greater pleasure than to highlight the success and accomplishments of fellow Bermudians who are pursuing careers in the hospitality industry.”

He said the future of Bermuda tourism lies in the hands of the young people and it is the Department of Tourism’s job to develop their futures.

“We want people to be interested not only at the entrance level, but to be general managers and owners of hotels. That’s what time it is,” Dr. Brown said.

Anastasios Lekkas, the captain of the ship welcomed everyone aboard the vessel.

“From the bottom of my heart, I like to wish you congratulations, well done and keep up the good work to improve and put something from yourself into Bermuda Tourism,” he said.

Previous scholarship winner Aaron Swan had a few words of wisdom for this year’s awardees. He said that he had started in hospitality as a bus boy at the former Sonesta Hotel then became a chef at the Royal Yacht Club after studying at Bermuda College.

He now works for the Department of Tourism as a hotel inspector. Mr. Swan said: “Never give up, set your goals and pursue them. Don’t let anyone discourage you. We are all ambassadors of tourism.”

Davida O’Brien, another former winner, congratulated the students on their success and told them the most important thing to remember is to make time for everything in order to be successful. “No one knows what your personal success means other than you. Your happiness should be at your expense and your expense only.”

The big winner was Ms Jackson receiving $15,000 to assist her in her studies at Johnson and Wales University. She said she intends to come back to Bermuda and fulfil her dream of being a general manager of a hotel.

Mr. Smith received $4,000 to study at Bermuda College. Mr. Douglas was given $10,000 to assist him in his studies at Morehouse College in Atlanta. Ashley Tucker and Renee Harvey received $5,000 each to study at Johnson and Wales University and the National Bakery School in London respectively.