Information technology student Michelle Walkes, 21, is the latest Ewan Sampson Scholarship recipient.

Miss Walkes is in her third year of a bachelors degree programme at St. Mary's University in Nova Scotia where she is majoring in computer science with a minor in business administration.

She is very pleased to have received the scholarship and said: "Business and IT go hand in hand."

The $12,500 scholarship is in memory of 17-year-old Ewan Sampson, a Saltus Grammar School student, who was accepted at four universities to study computer science before he was involved in a cycle accident which claimed his life four years a go.

Shortly after his parents, Penny and Tyrone Sampson, decided to set up a scholarship fund to encourage other Bermudian youngsters to study computers.

Miss Walkes said: "I saw an article on the scholarship in a magazine and I found out more details from the Bank of Butterfield's scholarship booklet.

Winchester and Global Trust Company Limited is the scholarship's corporate trustee and spokesman William Maycocks said: "There is a worldwide shortage of computer professionals, and Bermuda is no different."

The Sampsons have an outreach committee that holds seminars that create awareness of computer studies, the scholarship fund and the possible earnings for high school students.

This year they are expanding their programme to middle schools. They also hold fund raising events. At the moment there are two other students studying on the scholarship.

Mrs. Sampson said: "There are so many computer jobs in Bermuda filled with foreigners and we are doing our part to help locals to get ahead in the computer industry."

"Whatever you are doing, you need to know about using computers," said Mr. Sampson.