The Fresco?s group of restaurants has awarded its first annual scholarship to CedarBridge Academy student Kalijai Simmons.

The Brownie Culinary Arts Scholarship, tenable for three years, is valued at $5,000 per year and will be awarded annually to assist a Bermudian studying culinary arts at an accredited college or university.

Claudio Vigilante, managing director of the group, said: ?Kalijai has tremendous passion for the culinary arts and has demonstrated his commitment to getting fully qualified in the field.?

Mr. Simmons will enter college (he had yet to choose a school, however) this September to study culinary arts and plans to return to the Island to carve out his niche as a chef.

During the summer months, Kalijai will be employed at the Fresco?s group where he will be exposed to a wide range of cooking techniques and styles of food.

?The hospitality sector remains a vital part of Bermuda?s economy and its culture and it needs to be sustained,? Mr. Vigilante said.

?The Fresco?s group of restaurants (Aqua, Silk and Fresco?s) is committed to ensuring support for the education and training of Bermudians interested in various aspects of the hospitality industry.

?This scholarship will help identify and support Bermudians seeking to enter the culinary arts profession. We all know there is a real need for such talent and we wanted to do our part in helping to meet this need.?

The group?s board decided to name the scholarship after Walton ?Brownie? Brown Sr., who was a long-time employee at Ariel Sands where Aqua is located.

?Brownie epitomised the face and vibrancy of the tourism we once had and we want to help to bring that back to the Island.?

?Brownie? worked in the hospitality industry for more than 30 years and was an excellent ambassador for Bermuda.

His career span covered many fine hotels and restaurants, including Bermudiana Hotel, Penthouse Restaurant, Glencoe Hotel, Inverurie Hotel, Riddle?s Bay Golf Club and Ariel Sands Hotel.

Minister of Labour, Home Affairs and Public Safety, Randolph Horton, offered his support for this new scholarship and the role of the private sector in helping to train Bermudians.

?I am very pleased with the initiative shown by the Fresco?s group of restaurants and I heartily congratulate them for this undertaking,? Mr. Horton said.

?The success of the Island?s hospitality industry is of critical importance and the Government is greatly encouraged by the launch of the Brownie Culinary Arts Scholarship.

?The provision of enhanced opportunities, whereby Bermudians might equip themselves for our hospitality industry, is consistent with Government?s focus on workforce development.?