Eleven Bermudians were presented yesterday with close to $200,000 in highly competitive scholarships, education bursaries and awards.

Butterfield Bank chief financial officer Richard Ferrett presented the awards totalling $190,000, but through scholarships not yet awarded and continued support for last years' recipients, the total amount will be $290,000 given by the Bank this year to support education.

Donna Harvey-Maybury, senior vice-president, human resources, said she was extremely impressed by this year's applicants and with these youngsters, Bermuda should feel confident about its future.

"It was the most rewarding experience being able to speak to all of the well-rounded and interesting students during their interview process.

"We should all stay optimistic about Bermuda's future with meeting you young intelligent Bermudians. And it is very competitive to be here. There were 400 applicants for the Sir Henry Butterfield scholarship and we only interviewed eight and chose one.

"We had 300 applications for bursaries, but we only interviewed 10 and awarded two."

Receiving the $25,000, four-year, Sir Henry Butterfield Scholarship is Kelsey Ball, who was unable to accept the award because she was attending a Chamber Music camp abroad, will study psychology at the University of Virginia.

Shammah Williams, who wants to be a cardiologist, accepted the four-year, $25,000 Sir A. Dudley Spurling postgraduate scholarship.

A single mom who had to juggle family responsibilities and studying to be where she is, Laquita Trimm, thanked the Bank for the $20,000 Butterfield Overseas Education Bursary to study accounting at Clark Atlanta University.

Jiney Caines, who attends McGill University, was the second recipient of the Overseas Education Bursary and she plans to be an optometrist.

Receiving the four one-year education awards valued from $5,000 to $10,000 were Erek Fox, Toneka Hayward, Vanessa Smith, Estina Francis and Laura Norman.

Two Visual Art Awards for $10,000 were also given out to Summer Wood, who will study in New South Wales, Australia and Chiuwan Carlos Smith, who already runs his own graphic design company on the Island.

Mrs. Harvey-Maybury added: "Butterfield Bank remains committed to supporting Bermuda's young people as they strive to achieve their educational and career goals."