These special awards -- five of which were awarded this year -- were instigated under the presidency of Donald Lines. "He noticed the number of individuals who were continually `runners-up' to the big scholarships and who had genuine financial need,'' explains Mark Perreault, senior vice president of Human Resources and secretary of the scholarship committee. "So he wanted an award that would take that into consideration and go to people who possibly could not have gone away without that financial assistance. It is for this reason,'' he adds, "that these particular awards are only applicable to people who have completed the final year of the Bermuda school system or the Bermuda College.'' The President's Awards for Scholastic Achievement have now become an integral part of the Bank of Bermuda's annual scholarship system.

These special awards -- five of which were awarded this year -- were instigated under the presidency of Donald Lines.

"He noticed the number of individuals who were continually `runners-up' to the big scholarships and who had genuine financial need,'' explains Mark Perreault, senior vice president of Human Resources and secretary of the scholarship committee. "So he wanted an award that would take that into consideration and go to people who possibly could not have gone away without that financial assistance. It is for this reason,'' he adds, "that these particular awards are only applicable to people who have completed the final year of the Bermuda school system or the Bermuda College.'' Explaining that these scholarships are administered by the bank's president and a special committee, Mr. Perreault says that those committee members are usually from "middle management, who tend to be closer to these young people's backgrounds from a generational point of view. I suppose you could say that the President's Awards are a way of saying that these are great kids, academically sound but just short of winning the big scholarships.'' This year's winners come from a variety of backgrounds.

When Brunell Spurling passed on his love of fishing and generally `messing about in boats' (which he had built himself) to Kevin Walsh, little did he realise that he was providing the basis for his grandson's future career.

Now, armed with one of the Bank of Bermuda President's Awards, 18-year-old Kevin Walsh is going off to Devon in England where he will pursue a degree in Fisheries and Marine Studies at the University of Plymouth. On the advice of John Barnes, director of Agriculture and Fisheries, he plans to concentrate on the management and environmental aspects as that is perceived as the trend of the future.

"I've loved fishing ever since I could walk,'' he says, "and as my grandfather was a full-time fisherman, I would go out on the boat helping him, and I think that's what really got me interested in a career in marine science.'' Educated at St. George's Preparatory School and Saltus Grammar School, he graduated fifth out of a class of 60 in his Senior Year.

"I also inherited my grandfather's love of boat building,'' he says, "as I actually built one for my GCSE exam in Design Technology. I've built a racing boat and a 14-footer and, at the moment I am building quite a big one. It's hard to fit in all these activities when there is a lot of school work.'' Like many academically successful students, however, he is able to reel off a long and very diverse list of hobbies.

One of the most fascinating, he believes, is bee-keeping. "I have eight hives -- which I also built. We had bees around the house about six years ago and when Billy Peniston came over to catch them I got very interested. Bees are a huge, fascinating subject! Yes, I get stung just about every other time I go into a hive. After the first one, you don't feel it. In any case, I was more fascinated than frightened!'' Other hobbies include playing rugby (for the Teachers team), cricket, scuba diving and, when he was at Saltus, swimming in the school relay team.

Talking about his concern for the environmental and ecological future of the Island, Mr. Walsh, who has two brothers of 21 and 15, admits that he would like to "go back 50 years where there were far fewer people here''. Although he believes Bermuda's natural resources are being stretched to the limit, he also thinks that improved technological methods of fishing, for instance, could be an answer for the future. "Fish farming is a possibility -- it's certainly worked very well in other countries.'' Admitting he was "quite surprised'' to be named a winner in the President's Awards, Kevin Walsh hopes to work for the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries in the future.

"I am very grateful to have received this award. I would also like to thank Mr. Moorehead who was such a wonderful principal at St. George's Prep. He was stricter than most teachers, and demanded more of his pupils. He was been a big part of my life -- even after I left his school, because he is a neighbour and has been a great influence on my life.'' Husband and wife team Maxine and Ari Ming, who achieved quite a rare distinction in that they both received President's Awards, have decided to go back to university to further their education. Headed for Canada in September, the couple who, according to Mr. Ming have now been married "one year, one month and two days'' will, however, be going to different universities.

Ari Ming will attend the University of Toronto where he will follow in his father's (Henry Ming) footsteps by studying for a degree in architecture. His wife, Maxine, will be at York University pursuing a degree in business administration. "I have an 11-year-old son, Tristan, who will be attending school, so we thought it would be better for him to be outside the city,'' she explains.

Making the decision to go back to school has not been easy, reflects Mrs. Lee Ming, who is presently working as a senior administrator at the Bank of Bermuda. "We didn't know if we would get the support to do this so we were quite prepared to take it in turns to work and to study.'' A graduate of Sandys Secondary, she earned as associate degree in business administration from the Bermuda College. "We agreed that Ari would complete some courses at the College while I was at work -- and that's what happened!'' Mr. Ming, who attended Warwick Academy and Senior Year at Saltus, obtained a diploma in engineering from Dalhousie University but admits this was not where his heart truly lay. "While I was in Halifax, I did some courses in architecture at T.U.N.S. (Technical University of Nova Scotia). Partly because of my father, I think, I knew that architecture was really what I wanted to do. Like him, I am very graphics-oriented. I feel I can be successful and give something back to my community.'' Currently working as a draughtsman for Bermuda Air Conditioning, Mr. Ming may not have followed in his mother's graceful footsteps -- she is the choreographer and dance teacher -- but he was persuaded to join the gymnastics club at the Jackson School. "No, I was never attracted to dancing,'' he laughs -- but makes up for that with a long list of musical accomplishments in school bands and choirs. "I did make it to the Fifth Year Revue for Warwick's hip-hop dance group when I appeared in `New Jack Swing'!'' His sporting activities include tennis, swimming (in the school team at Warwick Academy), sailing, rugby and track and field (in Warwick's teams for both), karate, weight training, and volleyball which he played for Warwick and Saltus. He also enjoys `surfing the Net', drawing, painting, model and kite-making, and has fine collections of stamps, coins, shells and rocks.

Mrs. Lee Ming, who fancies ice-skating as a "different'' kind of hobby when she goes to Canada, says she has had little time for herself with a son to raise. "I had him very young,'' she points out, "and I realised that having a child and no degree was a very difficult situation, so I am very grateful to have this chance. Mind you,'' she adds with a laugh, "trying to get both of us to Canada has not been easy. We've had to play it by ear and we shall have to take one year at a time and see how things turn out. But we are determined to succeed.'' Also receiving President's Awards this year were Jeanne Saltus and Reo Peniston.

Ms Saltus attended Warwick Academy and completed an associate in Arts at the Bermuda College. She will be seeking a second language teaching degree at the University of Ottawa. Her special interests include writing for the college newspaper, reading, and playing volleyball and tennis.

Reo Peniston, a graduate of Berkeley Institute, has attended the Bermuda College for the past three years. He will be pursuing a pre-medical science degree at Lenoir-Rhyne College, after which he hopes to be accepted into medical school. His hobbies are of the sporting kind -- he is a member of Wolves Sports Club for soccer and plays cricket with the Flatts Club.

BUZZ OF SUCCESS -- Kevin Walsh, a winner of the Bank of Bermuda's President's Award scheme, finds time for his hobby of bee-keeping at his Ferry Reach home.

Photos by David Skinner TWO AT THE TOP -- Husband and wife applicants Ari Ming and Maxine Lee Ming were both winners of the Bank of Bermuda President's Awards this year.