Students Maya Palacio and Kallan Thomas will receive $3,000 towards further education in their English-related studies after being granted scholarships from the English Speaking Union.

Maya, 19, has completed the first year of her bachelor’s degree, studying journalism with a minor in English at the University of King’s College in Canada.

She is also a top athlete and a member of the Dalhousie University field hockey team — named the Atlantic University League’s rookie of the year and all-star player in 2015.

“I love sports. I’m an athlete and I figured that I’m not going to become a professional and I’ve always been good at creative writing so I just decided to start writing about it when I was in high school,” Ms Palacio told The Royal Gazette.

“I used to go to all the games and I’d do a recap and I’d go on the radio station every Thursday and talk about all the public school sports and the scores for the week.

“Then I just really started to love it.

“It became a passion of mine and it just continued.”

She attended CedarBridge Academy and was a prefect, a National Honour Society member and named Miss CedarBridge in 2014.

Kallan will begin his undergraduate degree in education at the University of Brighton’s School of Education in the fall.

The aspiring English/music primary schoolteacher has earned his associates of science in education at the Bermuda College, while working full-time mentoring in some of the local schools for the Bermuda Police Service.

He is also a Lance Corporal in the Royal Bermuda Regiment Band, teaching music theory and technique lessons to new band members.

“I am the section leader of the core drums and have been since 2006, working under the drum major.

“It’s definitely a difference with teaching children and adults but not that much,” he said.

“I’ve been sent to army music school in the UK by the Regiment and since I came back in 2014 I’ve just continued my roles in teaching and instructing.

“I love it. I’ve had all good experiences working with them and the opportunities that have been opened up to me have just been countless and amazing.”