Educational charity Knowledge Quest held its twice-yearly party last week, uniting past and present scholarship recipients with donors to the cause.

Founded in 2001, the organisation supports higher education for academically capable Bermudians of limited financial means.

To date, it has helped more than 150 students and raised $4.4 million in donations.

Jeremy Hassell, who received an electrical engineering degree in New York before founding his own construction company, called these numbers “staggering”, in a brief speech at O’Hara House.

“Knowledge Quest is an amazing scholarship, and we really appreciate what the donors do,” he said. “Students, just keep your heads down and you’ll have a bright future.”

Aisha Jones, who is in her third year studying accountancy in Britain at the University of Hertfordshire, added: “I was so grateful to get the Knowledge Quest scholarship.

“It has really helped my career journey and I’m glad to be part of the family.”

Cynthia Cox, director at Knowledge Quest, encouraged scholarship recipients to “pay the good deed forward” by becoming mentors to future students.

“We want to celebrate all that the spirit of giving can create,” she said.

“A wonderful way for Knowledge Quest graduates to do this is through becoming mentors, as they have already been mentored as part of the programme and therefore know the ropes.”