A Bermudian student has declared herself “thankful and ecstatic” as she sets off today for another year of college — made possible by a last-minute outpouring of donations from around the Island.

Supporting her siblings, and $5,500 short of paying for her tuition, 21-year-old Kahnae Bean had her case taken up by the New Beginnings Education Trust, a charity supporting schooling for at-risk young people.

“I just want to thank everybody — I was so stressed dealing with this, my head was everywhere,” a grateful Kahnae told The Royal Gazette. “This ended my summer on a good note.

“I’m happy the community helped me, because they didn’t have to do that.”

After deferring her education twice, she has been able to return to the University of Hertfordshire for a second year, working toward her degree in environmental management.

It comes courtesy of roughly 60 donations sent to the Trust since her story was publicised on August 30.

“I was really surprised by how much people are willing to help when someone needs help — I’ve raised some money for next year as well, so I won’t have to stress,” she said. “A lot of people don’t have that extra cash flow.”

A model student from a destitute background, Kahnae was able to obtain an interest free loan from New Beginnings, but the charity’s funds remain limited.

New Beginning trustee Kerry Judd said she began receiving calls and e-mails as soon as the story appeared. People continued contacting her this week.

Ms Judd said donations ranged from $25 to thousands, coming from “every demographic in the Island”.

“One consistent theme that came through from the people I’ll call investors was that this young woman deserves to go — she’s accomplished so much given her challenges,” Ms Judd said. “When we hit the point where we knew we’d covered this semester, investors were advised that we could still collect for next year, depending on her scholarship plans.”

Added Ms Judd: “One thing you can always say about Bermuda is that, at the end of the day, we come together to take care of our own.”

Kanae said she’s set on returning to the Island once she qualifies in her field.

Environmental management, which deals with the human impact on the environment, encompasses “social issues, economic issues, energy issues — trying to deal with what’s coming, from climate change to the displacement of people and economic crises, the gap between the rich and the poor”, she said.

“I think this Island needs that, especially when it comes to the energy we have from the sun that we just waste.”

To learn more about the New Beginnings Education Fund, contact Ms Judd at info@newbeginnings.bm.