Ashley Farrington and Imani Smith are KPMG’s 2019 Scholarship recipients in Bermuda. The $20,000 per annum awards are renewable for up to three years.

Ms Farrington graduated from Bermuda High School in 2017 and is commencing her junior year at McGill University in Montréal, Quebec. She is majoring in accounting and strategic management and when she graduates in 2020, she plans to pursue her Chartered Professional Accountant designation.

“After I received the news that I was awarded the 2019 KPMG Accounting Scholarship, I felt a combination of thrill and excitement,” she said.

“When I read about past recipients of this scholarship, I found myself admiring and looking up to these individuals as they mirrored the kind of person I have always wanted to be: determined, driven and committed. Through hard work and perseverance, I am pleased to have the opportunity to be in this position and also grateful to KPMG for awarding me this scholarship.

“I look forward to building on the relationships that I have already formed with colleagues while being a 2019 KPMG summer intern in financial services, as well as forming new bonds with other professionals as my journey progresses.”

Ms Imani graduated from The Berkeley Institute in 2016, summa cum laude with advanced honours, and she was the first person to attain an associate’s degree in General Insurance professional designation at such a young age, as a result of simultaneous independent studies. She graduated from Kingston University in London in July, and received her Bachelor of Science degree in Actuarial Mathematics and Statistics with first class honours.

She is now pursuing a Master of Science degree in Actuarial Science at City University, and upon successful completion of her studies will return to Bermuda and begin her career with KPMG.

She said: “Embarking on this professional journey with such a reputable company is truly an honour and a quest that I eagerly await to participate in.

“I was floating above the clouds and at a loss for words upon receiving the news about the scholarship just before attaining my degree in July. I am indebted to KPMG for taking a keen interest and investing in me when there were many (just as) qualified applicants.

“The exposure I will receive and the experience I will gain will lay the foundation to become a positive and influential contributor in both the professional arena and my community in Bermuda.”

The scholarships are awarded annually, by the firm’s managing directors, to two high-performing Bermudian university students who are pursuing a professional accounting designation or another business-related field.

Steve Woodward, managing director, KPMG in Bermuda and chairman of its graduate programme, said: “We have had such incredible interest in our scholarships, and it is great to recognise Ashley and Imani for their academic success.

“While they are completing their studies, they will have internship roles along the way before they officially join our Lift Off graduate programme which, along with financial assistance, includes mentoring and personalised development plans. We can’t wait to see what comes next for these inspiring and bright young women, and all of us look forward to working with and learning from them.”