Ace scholarship student hits a perfect GPA grade

Make text smaller Make text larger

Andrew Fleming already made history at CedarBridge Academy when he graduated with a near-perfect 3.98 grade point average — the school’s highest.

On the strength of those marks, the Southampton teenager won the Robert Clements scholarship, sponsored by the Ace Foundation.

Members of the company were astounded this summer when Andrew returned from his first year at college with a perfect GPA of 4.3.

“I didn’t know the numbers even went above four,” confessed Ace communications director Amy Shillingford. “It’s got to be some kind of record.”

In fact, at Mount Saint Vincent University in Halifax, where Andrew is pursuing a Bachelor of Business Administration, the grade scale goes up to 4.3 — eight A-plusses.

“Balance,” is how the former CedarBridge head boy describes his strategy.

“You have to find your balance. I make sure I get everything done, and I make sure I don’t stress. Once an assignment is done, it’s done — I have to be satisfied with what it is when I hand it in.”

He added: “You have to understand yourself and your standards. My standards at CedarBridge were very high, and that easily transfers over to university.”

The prevailing wisdom, Andrew said, is that an ‘A’ student in high school can expect to come in one grade lower at university, he said.

“I thought, they always say that, but I’m going to prove them wrong. It’s never any fun to be told ‘You can’t’.”

Now working for Ace Insurance as an underwriting assistant in the property department, Andrew said he hopes to gain international experience through the company’s connections abroad. Three more years of studies remain.

The 18-year-old said he wants to encourage more local students to take advantage of the scholarships Bermuda offers.

“No matter where you go, if you have good grades, someone will be willing to help you out,” he said. “It was definitely a relief, not having to worry about how I’d return to university next year, not ending up in debt.

“It doesn’t matter if you’re in private or public school. If you’re grades are not the best right now, then keep it as a goal to strengthen them. It does make a difference.”

Useful website: www.bermudascholarships.com.

Make text smaller Make text larger

Take Our Poll