Two “hard-working and serious young women”, Maya Palacio and Caroline Skinner, have been awarded the English Speaking Union scholarships for 2017/18.

A global organisation, the ESU is dedicated to helping others to share their views, and the local branch offers one of the few local scholarships for students focusing on English language and literature.

Ms Palacio, 20, is a journalism student at the University of King’s College, affiliated with Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia. An awarded field hockey player and member of Dalhousie’s team, she was awarded the ESU scholarship for a second year.

A graduate of CedarBridge Academy, Ms Palacio stated in her application: “I regret to inform you that I will not be boxing myself into the natural conformities that society demands are a high priority, for my generation.

“I refuse to be a statistic of the public education system. I also refuse to work with statistics.

“I am a journalist and a writer. More importantly, I am a determined individual set on informing my island and changing the educational system for the next generation.”

Ms Skinner is 19, with a passion for the humanities — English and history in particular. She is to attend the University of Denver in Colorado, and aspires to become a writer or editor.

She was educated at the Bermuda High School for Girls, Berkshire School in Sheffield, Massachusetts, where she was an honour role student, and at Saltus Grammar School.

Ms Skinner travelled through Asia after high school, teaching English and volunteering — including for Friendship Village, where victims of Agent Orange are housed, and Adventures Cross Country, which provides young people with the opportunity to undertake service projects overseas.

“My gap year has given me a renewed enthusiasm for chasing after every opportunity out there, the next being a college education,” Ms Skinner said.

ESU also bestowed the Cedar Chair Award, in recognition of beneficial and unsung service to Bermuda, to Jennifer Gray, for her many years leading the Bermuda Turtle Project.

The coming school year will see a new ESU initiative: the William Zuill Memorial Essay Competition.

Middle school students are invited to write a short essay on “Writing, reading, speaking and listening — why English language skills are powerful”. Winners and their schools will receive monetary awards.

William Zuill, an author known for his engaging narrative histories and observations of the contemporary scene, was a former editor of The Royal Gazette and the first director of the Bermuda National Trust, as well as a dedicated member of the ESU who was known for his enthusiasm for language. He died last year.

To learn more, e-mail esubermuda@gmail.com.