Young Bermudians in disciplines ranging from cutting-edge medical research to economics and fashion have been awarded scholarships valued at $25,000 each towards their further education.

The Nicholl Scholarship winners for the 2025-26 academic year are An Mei Daniels, Sanaa Simmons, Nate Snelling and Skyla White.

The fund is in memory of the educational philanthropist and Lieutenant Albert Nicholl of the Royal Navy, who came to the island in 1917 and gave widely to charities in Bermuda, particularly related to education.

Widely known as Nicky, Mr Nicholl willed the bulk of his estate to a trust furnishing young Bermudians with scholarships.

Ms Daniels, who will be pursuing a Doctorate of Philosophy at the University of Oxford in Britain, said the award took “a considerable weight off my shoulders”.

The 21-year-old, from Paget, said: “I was quite stressed because even if you are offered a position, there's no guarantee that any funding will be attached.

“It was strongly recommended to me by a family friend that I apply for the Nicholl Scholarship.

“I decided to go for it, as there's limited funding for postgraduate students, particularly in the natural sciences sphere.”

She was “incredibly relieved” to hear of her success while undergoing the stress of referencing and finance checks to rent accommodation in Oxford.

The windfall enables Ms Daniels to keep her sights on studying and research without having to worry about finances or picking up a second job — particularly because “living in Oxford is quite expensive”.

The Warwick Academy graduate, fresh from her Integrated Masters degree in Natural Sciences with first-class honours at the University of Exeter, will start four years of studies in October at Oxford in Interdisciplinary Life and Environmental Sciences.

The doctoral programme comes with a training year, teaching and two two-year rotational projects, as well as an industrial placement before she embarks on a three-year research project with Oxford’s Ineos Institute.

Ms Daniels will explore antimicrobial resistance — the ability of certain bacteria to resist antibiotic treatment.

She said she was “very excited” to remain interdisciplinary in her studies, combining physical, mathematical and computational fields to biological sciences.

“After my PhD, I'd be interested in continuing in research, whether staying in academia or joining the private sector or Civil Service,” she said.

Although Bermuda offers limited research opportunities, she said the Bermuda College’s science days and workshops, as well as the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences student programmes, had been “foundational” in her journey.

Ms Daniels said she would leap at the chance to engage in scientific outreach with Bermudian students.

She added: “I distinctly remember a workshop that introduced us to forensic science and allowed us to try advanced lab skills that Carika Weldon came to hold at Bermuda College, and I would love to be able to come home and contribute to something like that, at the very least.”

Ms Simmons is pursuing a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery degree at the University of Liverpool in Britain, where she will graduate in 2029.

“I am loving my time there,” she said.

The 19-year-old was head girl at Warwick Academy and grew up a competitive gymnast. She represented Bermuda overseas with the national squad in football.

Ms Simmons said she admired the values of the Nicholl Scholarships’ founder.

“My grandmother and my mother have both been educators for young Bermudians, so I have always respected acts of strengthening our community academically,” she said.

“I was prompted to apply and give it a go.”

The good news came via e-mail while she was holidaying with family.

She recalled: “The pop-up notification on my phone was just long enough for me to realise I had been successful. We were overjoyed.

“It felt great to make my family proud and I felt that my hard work had really paid off.

“This award will help me to finance my degree, the costs of living and allow me to enhance my academic journey.”

Ms Simmons was also conscious of the numerous other “well-deserving applicants”.

She added that she was also keen to get into research, and was contemplating the possibility of otolaryngology — specialising in conditions of the head and neck — or endocrinology.

She said: “I would like to return home after equipping myself with credentials overseas to then contribute to healthcare locally.”

Mr Snelling, 18 and “ready for a big change”, is set to pursue a four-year bachelor’s degree in business and economics at Stanford University in the US — putting him on course to graduate in 2029, 40 years after his mother, lawyer Juliana Snelling, finished in the class of 1989.

The Warwick Academy graduate has played for Bermuda on the under 19 national rugby team.

Mr Snelling said: “I applied because it's a generous scholarship and university in the US is very expensive.

“I also liked that it does not require you to be over-specialised in a certain discipline as well.”

He said he hoped to pursue a chartered financial analyst designation after college and “see where my career takes me in the international business world”.

Mr Snelling added: “My plan, at least now, is to get some experience overseas for a few years before bringing it home.

“I really love California, where Stanford is located, so it would be fantastic to get some experience out there, if I can get a work visa, before heading home and giving back here.

“I wish to sincerely thank the Nicholl Scholarship for supporting me in my academic journey and believing in my success.

“I look forward to giving back to Bermuda in the future to say thank you.”

He said he had witnessed the impact of wealth disparity through his work on the island with the Grateful Bread community action group.

“I want to come back eventually and help formulate economic policies that address that problem,” he said.

Ms White, 20, of Paget, is going into her second year at the London College of Fashion at the University of the Arts London.

She said: “I am studying fashion buying and merchandising, and working in Bermuda at the English Sports Shop Group in the buying office.

“I can’t see myself pursuing any other career, as I have completely fallen in love with the fashion industry.

“In the future I will continue working in the buying world, bringing fashion and sustainability together.”

Ms White attended BHS until age 14, when she started high school at the Ethel Walker School in the US.

She took a gap year in 2023 before starting university in London.

Winning the scholarship came with special meaning for her.

She said: “The Nicholl Scholarship has been a part of our household for as long as I can remember.

“My father, William White, was a recipient of the Nicholl Scholarship 40 years ago and he speaks with pride about winning it.

“It’s not just a scholarship; it’s a reminder that some paths run deeper than coincidence. I’m proud to carry on the legacy.”

Ms White said she felt “elated” to get the news that “my efforts over the years have been recognised by the scholarship community — I feel that being awarded the Nicholl Scholarship is a great honour”.

She added: “I believe that this award opens opportunities for a placement year to gain practical experience alongside my studies.”

Ms White is open to gaining experience in one of the world’s fashion capitals, such as London or Milan.

“I will definitely be coming back to Bermuda as it will always be home,” she said.

• UPDATE: this article has been amended to clarify that Mr Snelling played for the under 19 national rugby team, not the national football and rugby teams as earlier reported