Two Bermudian girls were awarded scholarships from an American-based sorority for Black women.

De’Asia Symonds and Talliyah Butterfield will attend Bermuda College with the help of funds given by the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority’s Sigma Xi Omega Chapter in Bermuda.

Ms Symonds, a Berkeley Institute graduate, was granted the 2021 Geraldine Lambert Post-Secondary Award shortly after her graduation.

The award was named after Ms Lambert, a former Sigma Xi Omega Chapter member who advocated for education and community service.

Ms Symonds will pursue an Associate of Applied Sciences degree and hopes to one day become a veterinarian.

Ms Butterfield, who graduated from CedarBridge Academy, was given the 2021 Dr Norma Jean Hendrickson Education Award, named after the lifelong educator and former assistant permanent secretary for the Ministry of Education.

She will pursue an Associate of Arts degree in business administration with the aim of becoming an accountant.

Necheeka Trott, the scholarship committee chair for Sigma Xi Omega, said: “We are delighted to provide a financial award to two outstanding females as they continue their educational journey at Bermuda College.

“We wish them much success in their studies.”

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority is the United States’ first Black Greek sorority and was founded in 1908 on the campus of Howard University in Washington DC.

The Sigma Xi Omega Chapter was established in 1990 as a registered charity after several sorority members moved back to Bermuda after university.