Oxford University-bound teenager Kevin Minors has been awarded a full, four-year scholarship by the XL Group plc.

Mr. Minors was selected from a field of 48 applicants for the scholarship, which was open to Bermudians working towards a degree in insurance-related studies.

The 18-year-old, who was Warwick Academy head boy and recently graduated as the Valedictorian of his class with the highest score possible in Mathematics in the International Baccalaureate (IB) exam, is scheduled to begin studies in Mathematics at the University of Oxford in the UK in the autumn.

He is believed to be the first Bermudian in at least the past 30 years to make the transition from high school directly to Oxford without attending an interim college or university.

XL's director of human resources in Bermuda, Leah Dean, said: "We are encouraged by the high calibre of students who applied for the scholarship this year.

"While the selection process was not easy, it was evident that Kevin possesses the academic, leadership, and other qualifications that we look for in an XL scholar.

"Based on his accomplishments thus far, we have no doubt that he will seize this opportunity and make a valuable contribution to the industry as well as the local community."

Mr. Minors is the son of Kevin Sr. and Carol Minors, of Sandys, won the Annual Bermuda Mathematics Olympiad for two consecutive years.

He has also been a member of the Peer Mentoring programme at Warwick Academy for the past two years, and has volunteered regularly in the Dellwood Math Attack programme and at the Matilda Smith Williams Seniors Residence. He was also the captain of Warwick Academy's basketball team and played the viola in the school's Full Orchestra and Chamberlain Strings.

Upon completion of his studies at Oxford, Kevin plans to obtain a Master's and Doctorate in Mathematics and to pursue a career in actuarial science.

Since the inception of the XL Scholarship (formerly the XL Insurance Scholarship) in 1990, approximately $2 million has been provided to help Bermudians prepare for professional careers in the insurance industry.

A condition of the award is that recipients be willing to return to Bermuda on completion of their studies.