The first Ewan Sampson Scholarship was awarded recently to Del-Kee-fha Hanley at an information technology (IT) forum held at American International.

The prestigious scholarship is awarded to first-year university students pursuing Information Technology (IT).

The parents of Ewan Sampson, Tyrone and Penny Sampson, established the scholarship trust after their son was tragically killed in April, 1998 at age 17, in a traffic accident described as a "pure accident which nobody could have prevented''.

Following his death, Ewan was eulogised as an outstanding young Bermudian and a top student.

He was a role model, widely known, respected and loved. He had decided to pursue IT as his career and had worked as a consultant for several Hamilton businesses, including The Royal Gazette .

As a senior at Saltus, Ewan had also helped students with musicals and worked as a volunteer at the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital as a `Pink Panther'.

The scholarship bears a present value of $12,500 -- to be increased to $15,000 as soon as funding permits -- is awarded for the second, third and fourth years of a degree course related to IT. It can be held concurrently with another scholarship or award.

The forum, sponsored by American International, is designed to "focus attention on IT careers and to encourage interaction between young people and IT managers, business executives and IT educators,'' according to Ms Lynne Winfield, the secretary to the Selection Committee.

Ms Winfield said international business was in "desperate need to encourage young people to consider the IT industry as a viable career option''. Fifteen IT managers, business executives from companies such as American International, BF&M, XL Capital, Winchester Global Trust and IT representatives from CedarBridge Academy, The Berkeley Institute, Warwick Academy and Bermuda College were invited to attend the forum.

Thirty five students were also invited to attend the event to get them to interact on a one-to-one basis with IT professionals to show them "international business is not beyond their reach'', said Ms Winfield.

"It would be unthinkable to allow the IT industry -- the young person's industry -- to develop without trying to include all Bermuda's young people and we don't make the same mistake again,'' said Ms Winfield, referring to the perception that not all Bermudians share in the wealth generated by international business.

"International business developed over several decades. The IT industry will bypass many of Bermuda's young people in a few years unless positive efforts are made to involve as many young people as possible.'' Top Scholar: Del-Kee-fha Hanley (centre) recieves the Ewan Sampson Scholarship from Tyrone and Penny Sampson. Also pictured is Tom Davis of Winchester Global Trust.