Future public servants honoured at scholarship award ceremony
Eight scholarship awardees and five graduates were honoured for their hard work and dedication to providing crucial services to Bermuda.
The Public Service Scholarship Award Ceremony recognised students from different fields who dedicated their careers to assisting Bermuda through working with the Government.
Ayo-Oluwa Salawu, who received his master’s in architecture from the University of the West of England in Bristol, told attendees through a video testimonial that the award had given him the funds necessary to pursue his passion.
He added: “I will provide a unique experience to support and improve the quality of work produced through the Public Service in Bermuda.”
Meanwhile, Joshua Gilbert earned a bachelor of honours degree in dental hygiene from London South Bank University in partnership with Eastman Dental Hospital.
Mr Gilbert said the bursary helped him receive a “world-class education” that showed him how to “deal with patients in an empathetic and holistic way”.
He added: “In Bermuda’s local communities, I will provide holistic preventative care and periodontal care to all patients with empathy and pride.”
The scholarship programme offers as much as $30,000 a year and is renewable for three years in exchange for five years of public service work after studies have been completed.
Recipients included healthcare workers, lawyers, policy analysts and architects.
The Reverend Emily Gail Dill, the Minister for the Cabinet Office and Digital Innovation, said the event celebrated “achievement, ambition and potential”.
Dr Dill added: “It’s a celebration of Bermudians who have worked hard, pursued excellence and chosen to invest in themselves so that one day they can bring their talents back to Bermuda.”
Dr Dill said the scholarships were an investment into the “talents, skills and leadership” that would strengthen Bermuda and its workforce.
She added that the programme helped to build a stronger and more inclusive workforce for the future.
“As Bermuda continues to evolve, so too must our public institutions,” said Dr Dill.
“Meeting the challenges and opportunities ahead requires highly skilled professionals, innovative thinkers and dedicated public servants.
“This scholarship programme is one of the ways we are preparing for that future.”
Awardees:
• A’Naije Keesee-Ming — Master of Arts in business management and economics from the University of Glasgow in Scotland. Mr Keesee-Ming will join the Cabinet Office as a policy analyst.
• Andreaz Glasgow — Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Gloucester in the UK. Mr Glasgow will join the Cabinet Office as a policy analyst.
• Attiya Talbot — Master of Science in public health from the University of London. Dr Talbot is aiming for a senior medical officer post in the Department of Health.
• Ca’Mya Rose — Bachelor of Science in health sciences at Howard University in the US. Ms Rose will return as a dental hygienist with the Department of Health.
• J’hordon Emery — Doctor of Medicine in health sciences at St George’s University School of Medicine in Grenada. Ms Emery is gearing up to become a medical officer with the Department of Health.
• Kianya Rabone — Master of Science in environmental health at the University of Derby in the UK. Ms Rabone will return as an Environmental Health Officer with the Department of Health.
• Nicholas Terra — Law Degree at the University of Leeds in the UK. Mr Terra will return as a pupil with the Department of Public Prosecutions.
• Zajae Lee — Doctor of Dental Surgery and Oral Healthcare at Howard University. She will return as a dental officer with the Department of Health.
Graduates:
• Ayo-Oluwa Salawu — Master of Architecture at the University of the West of England in Bristol. Mr Salawu will take up an architect post with the Department of Public Lands and Buildings.
• Francis Mussenden — Master of Science in architecture and planning at the University of Liverpool in the UK. Mr Mussenden will work with the Department of Planning as an assistant planner.
• Jhazii Johnson — Bachelor of Science in information technology with the University of the Western of London. He will be an assistant network engineer for the Department of Information and Digital Technology.
• Joshua Gilbert — Bachelor of Science with Honours in dental hygiene from London South Bank University in partnership with Eastman Dental Hospital. Mr Gilbert will return as a dental officer with the Department of Health.
• Makayla Tucker — Bachelor of Science in construction management from the University of Houston on the US. Ms Tucker will serve as a building surveyor with the Department of Public Lands and Buildings.
Jennifer Attride-Stirling, the Deputy Head of the Public Service, said recipients and graduates had “demonstrated commitment to contributing to Bermuda’s future”.
She said: “The Public Service, like the country, is facing an incredibly complex landscape as the world grows more complex.
“Being part of the Public Service requires highly skilled professionals to be dedicated to delivering that service.
“This programme is one of the ways in which the Government is building and preparing for that stronger future.”
Dr Attride-Stirling welcomed returning graduates back into the fold and said that she looked forward to seeing their progress.
She added she was “absolutely confident” in the students’ abilities to enhance the lives of the public.
Dr Attride-Stirling said: “The future of our country depends on talented and committed people like yourselves.
“We count on you as our home-grown talent to strengthen Bermuda’s Public Service, to contribute meaningfully to our country and as the next generation of leadership who will take the Public Service from stride to stride in the future.”
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