XL Foundation Limited, the charitable arm of XL Capital Limited, yesterday announced that the 2006 XL Scholarship has been awarded to 18-year-old Bermudian .

Ms Keill will begin her first year of study this September at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Virginia, where she will embark on a four-year undergraduate degree in business and economics.

The full scholarship will go towards her tuition, travel and living costs.

Ms Keil, the daughter of Robert and Tracy Keill of Smith?s Parish, was selected from 13 applicants.

XL president and CEO Brian M. O?Hara said: ?I am pleased to see another promising and dedicated Bermudian receive the XL Scholarship, which reflects XL?s commitment to helping develop future leaders.

?I am increasingly confident that Bermuda has a high calibre of local talent who can make a significant contribution to the Island?s insurance industry, now a global market place.?

Ms Keill said: ?I am honoured to receive this award and grateful to XL for having faith that I will represent them well during my studies abroad and look forward to my return to the Island to pursue a career in the insurance market.? She attended the Bermuda High School for Girls for ten years, where she was on the honours list each year in senior school and was selected by students and faculty for the Year 10 Form Prize for Best All Round Student.

In her spare time, she joined the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital?s Candy Striping programme.

From September 2003 until May 2006, Ms Keill attended Suffield Academy in Suffield, Connecticut.

She was on the honour roll every term and took honours and advanced placement classes throughout.

During her time there Ms Keill was International Student Association vice president (2005-2006), Varsity Dance Team Captain (2005-2006), Peer Tutor Leader (2005-2006) and was awarded the 2005 Junior Mathematics Prize.

Since its inception in 1990, the XL Scholarship (formerly the XL Insurance Scholarship) has awarded a total of $1.3 million to help Bermudians prepare for professional careers in the insurance industry. A condition of the award is that recipients be willing to return to Bermuda on completion of their studies.

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Sales performance and technological advancement have contributed to beingnamed to the Microsoft Business Solutions Inner Circle and Presidents Club.

This is an accomplishment earned by firms whose sales achievement ranks them at the top echelon of the Microsoft Business Solutions global network of value added reselling partners.

Membership in this elite group recognises outstanding partners whose commitment to customers is reflected in their constant dedication to achieving high levels of customer satisfaction. ?We are pleased to welcome MCS Limited again into Microsoft?s Inner Circle,? Microsoft corporate vice president Tami Reller said.

?By achieving Inner Circle recognition, MCS Limited is at the top level of the premier partner channel in the industry. We want to thank them for their commitment to Microsoft, our customers and solutions.?

MCS Limited also recently received recognition from Microsoft for outstanding customer commitment and was named to the Microsoft Business Solutions President?s Club.

This recognition honours Business Solutions reselling partners whose commitment to customers is reflected in their business performance and customer satisfaction.

?Microsoft congratulates MCS Limited on achieving President?s Club status,? Microsoft vice president Craig McCollum said.

?MCS Limited truly understands how important customers are to Microsoft and has gone out of their way to make the customer?s experience a positive one.?

Robert M. Burns, president of MCS Limited, added: ?We are honoured to receive these recognitions from Microsoft for the fourth year in a row.

?We have diligently focused over the past years to successfully build new partnerships and strengthen relationships with existing clients.?

?One of the fundamental reasons that MCS Limited continues to grow and be successful is our belief that our relationship with clients is a partnership and their success is our success ? this is the cornerstone of MCS.