Ross ‘Blackie’ Talbot Education Awards are made for the final time
Nine worthy students were given a $70,000 financial hand-up to help with their studies, thanks to the Ross ‘Blackie’ Talbot Education Award.Students Jeelise Allen, Lauren Furbert, Jasmine Looby, Allison Outerbridge, Shuntelle Paynter and Priscilla Thompson-Tavares were all first time recipients of the award.While Michiko Campbell, Khamani Fox and Kendra Simons were selected by the award committee for the second year in a row.Over the past six years, the Ross Blackie Talbot Charity Classic has raised over $537,000 to help 41 local students in need of financial support to pursue university degrees. HSBC Bermuda has been the lead supporter for the charity classic since its inception.Award chairman Clement Talbot said it was “most gratifying” to know the community will ultimately benefit from the qualifications, skills and knowledge gained by the recipients.He congratulated each of the students for their commitment to pursuing higher education. “Your academic achievements will position you to return to Bermuda and assume positions of responsibility in our community,” he said.This will be the final year that university students will benefit from the Ross ‘Blackie’ Talbot Education Award.Jeanne Atherden, the Selection Committee Chair, encouraged other entities to step forward and fill the void the event would leave behind in the community.She said: “I am saying to all of you out there who are in a position to help others going forward don’t forget this is our last one.“But each and every one of you can step forward and fill the void that is going to be left by us.”She said it was “a great pleasure” interviewing all the applicants this year and seeing the range of degrees chosen — from nutrition to criminology.“I think we were impressed by the range of career paths they were following, all of them very necessary to Bermuda, and not the typical ones.“And when you hear some of the career objectives for these recipients you will hear it’s not just about being a doctor, lawyer or accountant, it’s really about looking at what Bermuda needs and pursuing that career.”Mr Talbot said due to the economic climate, the award committee received a record number of applicants this year.“It is with great regret that we find ourselves in the difficult position of not being able to assist each and every one of the worthy applicants who applied to receive a Ross ‘Blackie’ Talbot education award.“However, it gives me great pleasure to advise we are able to provide $68,000 in RBT Education Awards to nine deserving students this year.”He thanked lead sponsors HSBC Bank Bermuda Ltd, as well as the entire community “for the tremendous support you have all given to the Ross ‘Blackie’ Talbot charity classics”.“It is because of your support we are in this position to provide these nine scholarships to Bermuda’s future leaders. We trust these scholarships will not only help motivate each recipient to realise your full potential, but also will assist you to make your aspirations and dreams come true.”
Ross ‘Blackie’ Talbot was a member of Bermuda’s Talbot Brothers musical group, who turned professional in 1942 and played at many of the Island’s top hotels until the 1970s. They performed before worldwide show business stars and dignitaries, including Winston Churchill, Dwight Eisenhower, John Wayne and Babe Ruth.The Talbot Brothers made their first tour of America in 1953, and many more followed. They were featured in magazines, including ‘Life’ and on TV broadcasts such as NBC’s morning ‘Home Show’, ABC’s ‘Good Morning America’ and ‘The Ed Sullivan Show.’The Boston Herald newspaper declared the group, “The most celebrated calypso singer and players in the world”.In 1993, a golf outing birthday celebration evolved into the annual Ross ‘Blackie’ Talbot Invitational Charity Golf Tournament. Mr Talbot endorsed the charitable golf event each year, always stipulating the funds go to Bermudian charities. He passed away in November 2000, but the charity golf event and scholarship awards that carry his name continued and have helped many Bermuda students to realise their dream of further education around the world.
