Three students have been awarded a share of a $100,000 two-year scholarship award funded by HSBC Bermuda.

It is the second and final award made by the HSBC-Knowledge Quest Scholarships.

The awardees are Taja’mes Branch, who is studying kinesiology at Dalhousie University, Canada; Jahfari Tucker who is studying business and accounting, also at Dalhousie; and Azari Thomas, who is studying economics at the University of Virginia.

Three years ago, in celebration of its tenth year in Bermuda, HSBC Bermuda donated $250,000 to Knowledge Quest Ltd, a registered college/university scholarship charity.

The bank’s donation funded scholarships that were to run over the course of five years to six students who had secured college or university placements and had demonstrated financial need.

The first three students to benefit from the scholarships, received their three-year HSBC-Knowledge Quest Scholarships in 2014. The awardees were Jecar Chapman, studying pre med/molecular biology at Dalhousie; Crystal Dill studying psychology at Kean University, New Jersey: and Kiara Wilkinson, studying law at Kingston University, in the UK. All three have now either completed their degrees or are very near to doing so.

Kathy Lines, co-president of Knowledge Quest, said: “Thanks to HSBC’s generous donation to Knowledge Quest, six Bermudians in need of financial support will be able to realise their dreams of obtaining a university education abroad. Knowledge Quest’s mission is to provide financial assistance to bright, eager Bermudian students who want to obtain a college/university degree to better their lives.

“Since 2002, we have been able to help over 155 Bermudian students obtain a university education. We are so grateful to HSBC for its generous donation of $250,000 spanning five years and for supplying a mentor to each of the HSBC-named scholars. HSBC’s commitment to advance the education of deserving Bermudians is a ‘win-win’ for all — the students, their families, future employers and the community in which we all live together.”

Mark Watkinson, HSBC Bermuda CEO, said: “Education is the foundation to a prosperous community. It enables an individual to realise their ultimate potential, enhance their skills set and employability while working towards becoming productive members of our society.

“All young people should be afforded the opportunity for higher learning which is why at HSBC we recognise the importance of supporting educational initiatives such as this. We are pleased to have partnered with Knowledge Quest Ltd. in identifying these motivated, eager and charismatic individuals as HSBC’s newest scholars.”